We have just 10 days remaining until the NFL Draft, and the Minnesota Vikings could be a turning point in the first round.
You can make a serious argument for the Vikings to take just about any position. Safety , cornerback , linebacker , defensive tackle , edge rusher , and wide receiver are the most likely positions they will choose from.
Over the last 15 weeks we have gathered 428 mock drafts, including 42 this week. Here are the results of those mock drafts, with a heavy focus once again on safety.
"This is one of the more popular projections in the collective mock draft community. It just fits. With Harrison Smith 's time in Minnesota at an end, the Vikings turn to the ballhawking Thieneman. His athletic profile should allow DC Brian Flores to use him in a variety of roles." – Lewis
"After checking every box at his highly anticipated pro day, some reports suggest McCoy may not make it this far down the draft board, as he looks like the same athlete he was before tearing his ACL and missing the entire 2025 season. Turn on any of his tape from a year ago, and you will see a cornerback who plays with unmatched tenacity. He is a perfect culture fit under Brian Flores." – Carragher
"McNeil-Warren is a tall, rangy safety who plays with high energy and is vocal in the defensive backfield. We're still not sure if Harrison Smith will be back at 37 years old, but McNeil-Warren can be the torchbearer once Smith does choose to call it a career. He had five picks over the past three seasons." – Schrager
"The interior of their defensive line needs a boost after they let go of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave . Woods was dominant in 2024, but his play tailed off some last year. The talent is there." – Prisco
"The Vikings' base 3-4 defense has a very weak front three. Their pass rush at EDGE isn't the problem. But with no DT really worth taking here, the Vikings turn their attention to a different solution to the issue.
Keldrick Faulk is an elite run stuffer and at 280 pounds could probably slot in at a 3-4 defensive end spot, with the athleticism to stand up as an EDGE as well. By bringing in Faulk, the Vikings charge their pass rush even more with a guy who's more than athletic enough to win his matchups with IOL, and strong enough to set the edge as a run defender." – Newman
"A. . . . less sensible pick. The Vikings have their top two receivers set with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison . But Tyson might just be the best talent available at this point, so it's not as if it's a reach and a bad fit." – Suss
"Avieon Terrell is a Brian Flores corner through and through, and one of my favorite players in this draft class. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, Terrell plays much bigger than his size as a tackler and at the catch point, and he breaks on the ball extremely well. He could be an even better nickel than outside corner, but in Minnesota, with Byron Murphy Jr. and James Pierre , he can be a versatile matchup piece Flores uses as a havoc creator." – Acosta
"The Vikings have a few flavors of prospects they could go after with their first-round pick. There are a couple of interesting safety options: They could look to find the T.J. Hockenson replacement in Kenyon Sadiq, or they could add some tangible beef to their defensive line. Brian Flores is going to scheme pressures and big plays for his defense, but the Vikings could use someone to eat up blocks to let teammates fly to the football. McDonald isn't the sexiest prospect, but his ability to hold up against the run is his calling card, while also having light enough feet to be used on the twists and stunts that Flores loves so much. McDonald is basically the defensive version of the line of thinking that led to the Donovan Jackson selection last year at offensive guard: a tangible trench talent who can let the creative coaches be creative." – Tice and McDonald
"Another trade, as the Minnesota Vikings see superstar running back Jeremiyah Love falling further than some expect, and they make a bold trade up. They lose a third this year and a fifth next, but land a difference maker that could reshape their running game immediately. Their quarterback situation is still a bit of a mystery. This makes their need for a reliable running game even more important and worth this kind of investment." – Adams
There is no way to sugarcoat things. 194 of the 428 mock drafts have had the Vikings taking a safety. The consensus is overly confident about that fact, when in reality, it's far from a certainty. There are multiple positions you can make an argument for the Vikings to select at 18th overall, including the likes of wide receiver and linebacker.
We are now up to 28 total prospects with the inclusion of Omar Cooper Jr.
| Player |
Selections |
|---|---|
| S Dillon Thieneman |
141 |
| CB Avieon Terrell |
73 |
| S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren |
50 |
| CB Jermod McCoy |
26 |
| DT Kayden McDonald |
21 |
| DT Peter Woods |
20 |
| DT Caleb Banks |
16 |
| CB Mansoor Delane |
14 |
| RB Jeremiyah Love |
12 |
| CB Colton Hood |
10 |
| CB Brandon Cisse |
6 |
| WR Denzel Boston |
5 |
| TE Kenyon Sadiq |
4 |
| LB C.J. Allen |
4 |
| OG Olaivavega Ioane |
3 |
| 3 |
|
| WR Jordyn Tyson |
3 |
| EDGE Keldric Faulk |
3 |
| DT A'Mauri Wasthington |
2 |
| WR Makai Lemon |
2 |
| 2 |
|
| OL Spencer Fano |
2 |
| WR Carnell Tate |
1 |
| OT Kadyn Proctor |
1 |
| QB Ty Simpson |
1 |
| EDGE T.J. Parker |
1 |
| EDGE Akheem Mesidor |
1 |
| WR Omar Cooper Jr. |
1 |
| Total |
428 |
