Story by
These Vikings Players Could Bust Out in 2026
- Story by
- These Vikings Players Could Bust Out in 2026
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
One of the more fun articles from VikingsTerritory each year after the draft, we present the possible breakout players for the 2026 Minnesota Vikings . The draft is over; so is free agency. Let's look at the men with opportunities to bust out into stardom.
Minnesota's roster has improved, which means a few holdovers are running out of excuses.
Advertisement
Annual reminder: rookies are not included in this article because, of course, rookies have their first chance to emerge in Year No. 1.
The Pressure Has Shifted to Minnesota's Recent Investments
The players below are ranked ascendingly (No. 1 = most likely to break out).
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton warms up before a preseason matchup against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium, with Aug. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis capturing pregame preparation as Felton worked through drills and positioning ahead of live action during a key evaluation stretch. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
4. Tai Felton (WR)
No, Felton didn't play much on offense as a rookie. Yes, he's the WR3 by default right now.
There's a chance the Vikings drafted Felton in 2025, planned for a full redshirt year as a rookie, and are ready for him to erupt in 2026. Of course, those are best-laid plans, but they must be mentioned for full disclosure. If any other team in the NFL had drafted a Round 3 wide receiver and let the existing WR3 walk in free agency ( Jalen Nailor ), that team's fan base would just assume the 3rd-Rounder was on deck for the job.
Advertisement
But Felton was a pick by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah , so onlookers don't know if he fundamentally stinks or is just taking a while to develop.
Perhaps Vikings fans have not shown enough patience with Felton. The time is now for him to seize the WR3 by the neck.
The Viking Age 's Nik Edlund on Felton : "The Vikings recently met with free-agent wide receiver Juaun Jennings, and signing him would likely eliminate Felton from having any chance at WR3, but if they were to draft a receiver, his career in Minnesota would've been over."
"Like him or hate him, Felton was a big-time reach by former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was projected as a mid to late Day 3 pick, and Minnesota traded down a few times and ended up taking him with the last pick of the third round."
Advertisement
If Felton does emerge, he certainly has the speed for the job: 4.37 at the 2025 NFL Combine .
Edlund added, "Felton rewarded them with that risk by looking so far from contributing in camp that the team felt they had to go out and waste a fourth-round pick to get a local hero who was washed in Adam Thielen ."
"With the lack of a draft pick at the position, Felton's spot on the depth chart is likely safe for at least one more year. So now he can still call himself an NFL player for one more season."
3. Bo Richter (OLB)
Before the draft, Minnesota arguably had one of the NFL's deepest OLB rooms. That changed after the Jonathan Greenard trade to the Philadelphia Eagles . Folks are left wondering if the Vikings will sign a veteran, such as Jadeveon Clowney , for the OLB3 spot — or just roll with in-house contributors.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter lines up during an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale showing postseason intensity as Richter contributed on defense during a high-stakes playoff environment. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
If the solution already lives on the roster, Richter is the next man up. Like the Felton example, the Vikings may already know that Richter is an undercover baller ready to make the most of his opportunity.
Advertisement
2. Jay Ward (S)
Ward quietly yanked Theo Jackson's job away late in 2025, electrifying fans with gritty and aggressive safety performance. He has one year left on his contract, and if he wants an extension, the time is now for Ward to take the next step.
For his sake, the path to playing time may already be clear with Harrison Smith not on the current roster. Smith's full-time safety snaps must go somewhere, and the Vikings did not draft Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren last week. The entire NFL mock draft community expected Minnesota to pick Thieneman. Minnesota did not.
Therefore, the fallback plan is a guy like Ward or a newcomer, such as 3rd-Round safety Jakobe Thomas from Miami .
Advertisement
If you want Ward to receive more playing time, he's not far from that assignment.
1. Dallas Turner (OLB)
The trade of Greenard to Philadelphia altered Turner's outlook. A lot.
Minnesota sent the veteran outside linebacker to the Eagles for two 3rd-Round picks, effectively clearing the path for Turner to start in 2026. While Turner saw decent playing time late in 2025 with Greenard sidelined, the trade now gives him a permanent starting role to Turner rather than just a fill-in opportunity.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner takes the field during an NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale highlighting his role in a playoff setting as the rookie defender gained valuable postseason experience. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For two seasons, Brian Flores struggled to find a consistent full-time spot for Turner, the Vikings' 2024 first-round pick. With Greenard's departure, that challenge is now addressed.
Come September 2026, Minnesota will finally see whether Adofo-Mensah's significant trade investment in drafting Turner proves worthwhile.
