The NFL Draft has concluded! The Vikings drafted nine players in the 2026 Draft, with a heavy focus on the trenches and defense. Learn about each new Viking below.
Vikings Draft Picks:
- 1st round, 18th overall: Caleb Banks, DT
- 2nd round, 51st overall: Jake Golday, LB
- 3rd round, 82nd overall: Domonique Orange, NT
- 3rd round, 97th overall: Caleb Tiernan, OT
- 3rd round, 98th overall: Jakobe Thomas, S
- 5th round, 159th overall: Max Bredeson, FB
- 5th round, 163rd overall: Charles Demmings, CB
- 6th round, 198th overall: Demond Claiborne, HB
- 7th round, 235th overall: Gavin Gerhardt, C
Caleb Banks, DT
With the 18th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Caleb Banks!
The first pick of Rob Brzezinski’s drafting career couldn’t have been a more polarizing selection. At 18th overall, the Vikings selected Caleb Banks, Defensive Tackle from the University of Florida. Initial reactions from Vikings fans have been mixed, with many on the negative side. But why?
Banks does come with major red flags, but also has a ceiling that can make this pick a home run. The Vikings had a need at IDL, and Banks can become an instant impact player this upcoming season.
Overview
Caleb Banks started his college career at the University of Louisville, where he was a Cardinal for two years, including being redshirted his Freshman year. In 2023, Banks transferred to the University of Florida, where he played three seasons and accumulating:
- 46 tackles
- 5.5 sacks
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 pass deflection
These stats aren’t eye-popping, and that’s due to multiple factors, including Banks’ sample. In his collegiate career, he only played in a total of 34 games. Also, playing on the interior d-line does not always stuff the stat sheet. IDLs are often tasked with clogging lanes and taking up space for the middle level of the defense to fly around and make plays. This is where Banks’ difference making will mostly be seen.
Banks is a humungous human, standing just over 6’6″, and weighing nearly 330 Ibs. Not only is he huge, but he is also a freak athlete. At the Combine, he ran a 5.04 40, with a 10 yard split at 1.76. For a man of his size, this speed and quickness is very good, and his first step is a big strength in his game.
Banks’ skill is that of a power player, who uses his size and strength to overpower the o-linemen assigned with blocking him. Although he did not participate in the bench press at the combine, his film showcases the strength he plays with.
The biggest red flag on his profile is his injury history. Since 2024, Banks has undergone three surgeries on just his left foot. This includes the most recent procedure in March, just after he broke his foot again at the Combine, in what he called a freak incident.
For a man his size, recurring foot injuries can be a huge risk to take on. Historically, it has been more likely than not that the foot injuries may negatively impact Banks’ career.
On Thursday night, Kevin O’Connell mentioned that Banks’ most recent surgery cleaned everything up and is on track to participate starting in on-field activities in late summer. He even went as far to say that the previous surgeries were botched in his end of night press conference.
In the 48 hours leading up to Round 1, many reporters reported a positive update on Banks’ foot injury and the expectation of when he would be ready to participate in football activities:
Obviously, this history is a major red flag that cannot be ignored. However, if the Vikings and the staff do believe that his foot injury history is more behind him, then this pick can be a difference maker for the defense.
Pros:
- Elite size, length and physical traits
- 35″ arms with a 7ft wingspan
- Good short-area burst and quickness
- Good change of direction skills, flashes of strong spin move
- High-level strength to dictate blockers and separate at point of engagement
- Powerful hands and punch, with ability to control the action
- Good rush and disengagement moves, especially when clubbing/slapping lineman
- Combines power well with swims and arm over moves to close a hole/gap
Cons:
- Foot injury concerns, only played three games in 2025
- Needs to develop as a better tackler, missed tackle rate of 25%
- Plays with high leverage occasionally, giving double teams an advantage
- Has plays where he allows lineman to get in tight, needs to play with size & length at all times
- Can get knocked back/off his path with some blocks, better balance is needed for a man his size
- Raw technique, needs to have strong coaching to clean it up and develop
Scheme Fit
Caleb Banks comes in and can be plugged in at the 4i & 5-techniques:
The same spot that Jonathan Allen was brought in to occupy last season. In BFlo’s odd front looks, Banks will force offenses to decide to assign a guard to block him, or double team him depending on his alignment.
What makes Banks so intriguing is his power and first step. He can be viewed as a bit of a unicorn, as he is a huge man with a quick first step, forcing offensive linemen to cover their gap quickly without getting overpowered.
When he lines up in a 5-technique, outside shoulder of a OT, he has the burst to get off the ball quickly, and can translate it to strength and power in a quick manner. Tackles need to be able to cover their corner and edge, but also anchor without getting driven back. Banks will also have opportunities to rush more inside of the OT, forcing the OT to get hands on and the guard picks him up.
When lined up as a 4i-technique, inside shoulder of a OT, Banks has the first step agility to shoot the gap between the OT & OG to cause chaos. Banks can be an immediate gap stuffer, and his size and strength makes the o-lines job of getting double teams to the second level much more difficult.
Pass rushers, like Greenard, AVG, and Turner will all welcome Banks, as he will make their job much easier. If Banks can stay healthy, he immediately gives the pass rushers an advantage, especially when turning the corner to get home to a QB.
The Vikings have been on the lookout for a power IDL for the last few seasons, and Banks fits the mold of what they need to a tee. While he is a raw player in terms of skill and technique, his power and strength will immediately translate and provide an instant boost to the DL unit, even if the numbers don’t show up on the stat sheet.
He can be effective on run and passing downs, and has the type of build and skill that should not be schemed off of the field. He has some conditioning concerns, but joining a NFL team should help get that corrected. He has the opportunity to be an every down player in terms of skill, filling a much needed gap on the defense.
At the Senior Bowl, he showcased his raw strength and power all over the field, and had many great reps in one-on-one pass rushing drills:
I understand the pessimistic reactions by fans for this pick, and I even had a similar initial reaction. I was a fan of Banks throughout the early pre-draft process, and followed the herd of dropping him on my board with the additional surgery in March.
However, he has the potential to be a difference maker, and if the injuries were not present, he would have more than likely been a top-10 pick this year. It’s not every day you find a player of Banks’ stature half way through the first round in a weaker draft class, and if he stays healthy he can become a mismatch monster in the NFL.
That’s the question that remains to be answered: will he stay healthy? If the team doctors and officials believe his most recent procedure cleaned everything up and will allow him to gain strength and trust in his foot, then this can be the missing piece in BFlo’s defense.
His recovery now moves to Tyler Williams, VP of Player Health. Banks isn’t expected to be ready for football activities until the summer, and the next few months will be crucial as he continues recovering and learning the playbook.
It will be a top storyline for the next few months, and I’m sure KOC & the staff will get many questions in the build up to Training Camp on Banks’ healthy and recovery.
If healthy, Banks can be a wrecker on the d-line and an immediate impact type of player. I’m excited to see the different games and stunts that BFlo can use with Banks, Redmond, and the rest of the pass rush unit.
Final Thoughts
Grade: B-
I was higher on Banks before the re-injury at the Combine. If he can fully recover and make this a thing of the past, then this can be a high reward type of pick. Since the injury concerns are very real, it’s a higher risk pick, and the grade will get knocked down slightly. Initially, I was hoping to get him at pick 49, but was he going to be there? We will never know. The Vikings taking a chance on him at 18 shows that they believed others may have been high on Banks, too.
Jake Golday, LB
With the 51st pick in the 2026 draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Jake Golday!
The Vikings traded pick 49 to the Panthers for pick 51, trading a 6th (196th) for a 5th (159th).
Day two started with another addition to the defensive unit, selecting Linebacker Jake Golday from the University of Cincinnati. Golday is a versatile linebacker, who played snaps all over the defense during his collegiate career.
The Vikings clearly have a mandate to get bigger and faster on defense, and BFlo appears to be banging the table to get his guys in this year’s draft. Golday is the next man up, and should provide an instant impact in his rookie season.
Overview
Jake Golday is a 6’4″ linebacker, who weighs 239 Ibs. Golday joins Banks as a freaky athlete with a huge frame. At the Combine, he ran:
- 4.62 40
- 1.6 10-yard split
- 7.02 3-cone
- 4.34 20-yard shuffle
Another top RAS performer, he scored a 9.85 RAS score with his combine performance:
Golday started his collegiate career at Central Arkansas before he transferred to the University of Cincinnati for his final two seasons.
He started in all 24 appearances during his time as a Bearcat, and accumulated:
- 163 tackles
- 5 sacks
- 5 pass deflections
- 3 forced fumbles
The biggest strength with Golday is his versatility. He wasn’t just a traditional LB, he played all over the defense, including snaps at EDGE and lined up as a Nickel defender. In 2025, Golday logged:
- 313 snaps as off-ball LB
- 245 snaps as a slot defender
- 123 snaps as an edge rusher
This type of versatility is exactly what BFlo desires in his defense, and Golday will provide an instant impact this upcoming season. He may not be a full-time player, and I envision him playing a similar “joker” role that we’ve seen AVG and Metellus play.
Pros:
- Elite frame with excellent size and length
- Explosive athlete, especially factoring in his size
- Gets down hill fast, aggressive when engaging blockers
- Strong use of hands when engaging blockers
- Strong tackler with great tackling fundamentals
- Smart zone defender, knows to stay home
- Immediate special team contributor
Cons:
- Quickness and agility is average for a box LB
- Occasionally forces himself into bad spots, losing leverage on blockers and run fits
- Can struggle if assigned with man coverage on a shifty WR/RB
- Needs to develop stronger pass rush moves if asked to play more on edge
Scheme Fit
Golday is a day one contributor, and should project as a rotation piece immediately. His versatility, size, and athletic ability are attributes that the Vikings and BFlo have dipped their toes into a lot recently, and Golday’s strengths will allow the defense to be multiple.
He will rotate in on multiple positions on the defense, and will play a similar role to Eric Wilson and AVG. He has the ability to rush the passer, fit the run, and drop into zone coverage, and can, and will, lineup all over the defense.
With the Vikings 3-4 defense, he will have the chance to start on day one at the other MLB position, which has Eric Wilson penciled in for now. With the Vikings Double A Gap looks, Golday will have plenty of options to either blitz, or be a strong zone coverage linebacker.
The Vikings have had issues covering the middle hook and curl zones in recent seasons, and Golday should help relieve coverage concerns moving forward.
Overall, Golday will have a role, and depending on the looks the Vikings defense wants to give will have Golday lined up all over the field. He’s an exciting player, and brings more talent to an already elite defensive unit.
Final Thoughts
Grade: B+
Golday is a fun player and athlete, who will plug in and immediately contribute to a multiple look defensive scheme. His position versatility and athletic ability will provide BFlo a new tool as a “joker” style player, lining up all over the field, potentially even in the slot. With the trade of Greenard, he may also see snaps at EDGE, providing another strong rotation piece to an already strong defense.
Domonique Orange, NT
With the 82nd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Domonique Orange!
The man nicknamed “Big Citrus” has joined the reshaped Minnesota Vikings defensive line. With Caleb Banks already joining the d-line, Orange will come in and be an impact player at Nose Tackle.
Some may question: why take two interior lineman so early? The answer is quick: it fills needs across the interior, voided with the departures of Allen and Hargrave.
The “Big Citrus” projects as another instant impact player, especially on early downs, and in the run game. He fills the missing piece that Harrison Phillips left when he was traded last summer.
Overview
Another big body joining the Vikings defense, Orange stands at 6’2″ and weighs 322 Ibs. The team has added a TON of mass to the middle of their defense, continuing the mandate of adding size and strength to that side of the ball.
Orange spent his whole collegiate career as a member of Iowa State University, playing in every game during his four year career as a Cyclone. In those four years, he played in a total of 50 games, accumulating:
- 66 tackles
- 7 TFLs
- 1 sack
- 2 pass deflections
His production will not fill the stat sheet, which is common for a traditional NT, as his impact will be felt when watching games on Sundays.
Orange projects as someone who can compete day one for a starting spot along the d-line, and will be in the rotation early on, mostly attributing to slowing down opposing teams running games.
Similar to Banks and Golday, Orange possess great athleticism for a man of his stature. Orange has a strong first step, and plays with power to control blockers to eliminate holes in the run game.
Orange will not provide much, if any, pass rush support, but that’s not the type of player he is. He is a true gap stuffing, run defender, who will be taken off the field on true passing downs when the Vikings come out in their NASCAR/pass rush first defenses.
Pros:
- Great size and reach
- Explosive power, generating from his lower body
- Impressive reactions, with strong first step
- Great at creating gap penetration
- Hard to reach block and double team due to quick instincts and first step
- Extremely strong anchor, hard to push back into second level of defense
- Long arms and strong hands, can disengage blockers fairly well
Cons:
- Zero support with pass rush
- Needs to improve at lateral movements
- Can display weak hand placement, especially when getting double teamed
- Average body control
Scheme Fit
Domonique Orange adds strength and run defending prowess to a defense that regressed in the run game in 2025. He is a true NT, playing a 0 & 1 technique in BFlo’s scheme.
Orange will be responsible for stuffing gapes and run lanes, making it harder on the o-linemen to push up field and close off the second level of the defense.
He will come off the field on true passing downs, and projects as a strong first-and-second down player. He has the task of improving the Vikings run defense back to their 2024 level, where they were top-5 in the NFL in rush yard allowed per game.
He’s an exciting piece to the defense, and will close a gap that was clearly missing in last year’s d-line room. Joining Banks, the Vikings new d-linemen with Jalen Redmond brings a strong unit. The investment into the trenches has been very real the past two off-seasons, I’m excited to see how it pays off.
Final Thoughts
Grade: A
Admittedly, I am very high on Orange, as I believe he excels in the run skills that any NFL defense desires. He was the ideal NT that I wanted the Vikings to invest in, and getting him in the third round is the perfect slot. The investment early to the defense is exciting; I’m expecting an already elite unit to improve in 2026.
Caleb Tiernan, OT
With the 97th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Caleb Tiernan!
The Vikings have been infatuated with giants thus far in the draft, and have taken the need to address the trenches extremely serious.
Welcome Caleb Tiernan, an Offensive Tackle from Northwestern. The team has hinted about finding more depth at OT, and Tiernan joins Van Demark as the newest depth tackles joining the room this off-season. With Darrisaw and O’Neill’s injury histories, depth needed to be added, and Tiernan brings a great amount of experience that he can leverage right away.
Overview
Tiernan is another extremely large human, standing over 6’7″ tall, and weighing 323 Ibs. He also joins the rest of the draft class as another athletic freak, putting up a strong 9.37 RAS rating:
The man staying in purple, spent his whole collegiate career with Northwestern, starting back in 2021. In his five seasons as a Wildcat, he played in 52 games, notably putting up a 84.3 pass-blocking grade in 2025.
He projects as a depth piece, and I expect the Vikings to spend time developing him more as a swing lineman. He has concerns about his arm length, with it being below average for NFL OTs, and some draft experts mentioning considerations for him to make the move to guard.
Pros:
- Played both left and right tackle
- Lots of playing experience, was a team captain
- Plays with good core strength despite his height
- Smart player, takes excellent routes on blocking routes
- Strong hands, can create great leverage when engaging
- Strong at point of attack, with good hand pop during pass blocks
- Agile, can be a plus in stretch and screen plays
Cons:
- Can lean and lose balance during pass pro
- Shorter arms, below average for NFL OTs
- Long defensive linemen can use their length against him
- Average play strength and positioning, needs to become more consistent
- May not have a true “home”, may be a swing lineman
Scheme Fits
The Vikings have spent a lot of capital and assets on improving their o-line over the past two off-seasons. Tiernan will have a hill to climb on the depth chart, and I wouldn’t expect any instant impact in year one, barring injuries.
He projects more as a swing lineman at the next level, and it’ll be interesting to see if KOC has him play more tackle or guard in training camp and the pre-season.
I’d expect him to stick to either tackle or guard early as he gains his sea legs in the NFL, then start to become more versatile in the future. Ideally, he can become the future swing lineman, the spot that is/was held by Blake Brandel. With Brandel appearing to be in contention to start at center, an opening at the swing spot may be available.
Tiernan has plenty of experience that he may not need a lot of development, just polishing to clean up some mechanics and fundamentals.
Overall, this is a good get as a depth piece, and the continued investment in the trenches has been nice to see. He’ll be a player to watch early in camp and pre-season.
Final Thoughts
Grade: B
Tiernan brings a lot of playing experience with him to the next level, but he may not have a true home position. It will be interesting to see what position he plays early on. Having experience on both sides of the line will do him wonders, and should provide a solid floor in case of spot starts. Strong depth piece to a o-line that experienced a plethora of volatility and injuries in 2025.
Jakobe Thomas, S
With the 98th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Jakobe Thomas!
The Vikings concluded day two of the draft by finally addressing their need at safety. For months, the team was mocked a safety in round one, but threw a bit of a curve ball by waiting until pick 98 to finally address the position.
The new man patrolling the final level of the defense is Jakobe Thomas, from the University of Miami.
Thomas broke the trend of drafting uber athletic giants in the 2026 Draft, but still possesses a lot of skill, size, and athleticism that the backend will need heading into the 2026 season.
Overview
Finally bucking the trend, the Vikings drafted the smallest player in their draft thus far. However, Thomas still has adequate size and length for an NFL safety.
Standing at 6’1″, and weighing 211 Ibs, Thomas has adequate size to be a solid safety for the Vikings. He isn’t the uber athletic mold that the Vikings have fallen in love with recently, but he still does possess good athleticism with average speed. At his pro day, he ran:
- 4.57 40
- 1.63 10-yard split
The 40 time is right on the NFL average. The speed concern comes more with his quickness and agility. He doesn’t possess explosive twitch or burst, which could put him slightly behind on plays against quicker players.
Jakobe had a long collegiate career, spanning across three teams. Starting in 2021 at Middle Tennessee State, he appeared in 24 games across three seasons. His most notable early career season was his redshirt Freshman year, where he collected four INTs.
In 2024, he transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he played in all 13 games. He only racked up 22 tackles and a sack in his lone season as a Volunteer.
Finally, in 2025, he transferred to the University of Miami, where he helped the Hurricane defense make the leap on their route to a National Championship appearance. Last season, he stuffed the stat sheet and accrued:
- 76 tackles
- 3.5 sacks
- 5 INTs, including a pick-six
- 2 forced fumbles
He was one of the many bright spots on the Hurricanes defense, and was an instant playmaker. While he stuffed the stat sheet, his profile does come with some concerns.
As mentioned above, he lacks explosiveness and quickness, which did result in big plays behind him. This occurred in 2025, where occasionally a receiver got behind Thomas, due to him being just a step or two behind.
He’s also a big hit hunter and wants to make the big play at all times. This can cause him to attempt to force a play that isn’t there, resulting in the potential to give up an explosive. He’ll need to tone down his aggressive nature slightly in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see how Gerald Alexander threads the needle with this development.
He isn’t ready to jump in from day one and start on defense. However, he does have the tools to eventually develop into a solid third-level defender. He comes in as immediate depth, especially with the pending decision of Harrison Smith, and can be a nice development project for future seasons.
Pros:
- Productive, multi-year starter
- Playmaker, forcing turnovers and big plays
- Smart disguiser, knows when to time and disguise his assignment
- Not afraid of contact, looks to make big hits on ball carriers & blockers
- Solid zone defender, especially in short-zone assignments
- Strong vision, reads keys well and triggers to make plays
Cons:
- Average, to below average speed and agility
- Below average closing and make-up speed, prone to play a step or two behind
- Can be too aggressive and lose leverage on blockers and pursuit angles
- Can lunge early on tackles, attempting more aggressive tackle vs. wrapping up
Scheme Fit
Thomas’ scheme fit is intriguing, as his skill set and athleticism project him more as a box, hybrid safety. He has a strong ability in disguising his looks, and timing up snaps which give him an advantage, even with his lack of explosion.
I don’t envision him playing the traditional safety roles that we’ve become accustomed to in BFlo’s defense. He has the mental ability that would allow him to be a Swiss army knife in the secondary, but his lack of long speed and quickness may limit his looks as a true deep defender.
He needs some development, especially with tackling and becoming slightly more conservative on his pursuit angles and game style. He has the tools that would allow him to be a solid starting safety in the NFL eventually.
For now, he is a nice depth piece, joining a fairly crowded room, especially if Harrison Smith decides to give it one last go. I’d expect Thomas to be a special team contributor, and further develop behind the scenes this year.
Final Thoughts
Grade: B
Day two of the draft watched a few safeties fall father than expected. There was a run in the middle parts of rounds two and three, with the cupboard drying up quickly. Thomas is a solid player, and can be developed nicely. He’s an instant special team contributor, with the projection as a long-term developmental starter. Gerald Alexander gets his first puzzle, time to put the pieces together.
Max Bredeson, FB
With the 159th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Max Bredeson!
The first Fullback in the draft is off the board! Insert the C.J. Ham replacement. Bredeson, the two-time Captain for the Wolverines, is a true blocking Fullback who will have an immediate role carved out on the offense. Bredeson is a strong blocker, and will be a nice fit in the Vikings 2-back sets.
He’ll also be an immediate contributor on special teams. The value of the pick is to question, but he will provide an instant impact on a team that highly leverages a FB in their offense.
Overview
Bredeson was the top ranked FB in the 2026 class, and brings ideal size as an NFL FB. Standing at 6’2″, and weighing 252 Ibs, Bredeson has the ideal size to be a lead blocker in today’s game.
The FB has become a forgotten role in the modern NFL, but KOC and the Vikings have traditionally used FBs regularly in their game scripts. Frank Smith had Alec Ingold in Miami, and used him in a multitude of ways in the run game.
As I wrote in the Vikings Run Game breakdown, the team has a desire to get tougher and improve their run game, especially with gap-scheme runs. Bredeson immediately plugs in and plays to provide a boost on the ground game.
One of Bredeson’s strengths is his position versatility, where he lined up as a FB, H-back, and TE during his collegiate career in Ann Arbor. However, he is a primary blocker, and does not provide much, if any, support in the pass catching game.
He won’t be a true 1:1 replacement for Ham, but he does bring position versatility and blocking support on run and pass downs for the Vikings offense.
Pros:
- Two-time captain
- Strong pass protector, can be relied on in pass-pro if only RB on field
- Strong run blocker, strong strikes with hands
- High-effort blocker, finishes his blocks no matter what
- Tough player, brings tenacity in all facets of his hame
Cons:
- Shorter arms may provide difficulty with reaching on blocks
- Not a true “clean-up” blocker, especially on iso/lead blocks
- Average hands, not a threat in pass catching game
Final Thoughts
Grade: C-
Bredeson will be an instant impact player on, both, the offense and special teams. He brings a strong blocking presence and has an immediate role, previously carved out by C.J. Ham. He is not a threat in the pass catching game, but has strong pass-pro recognition that he can stay on the field on passing downs if need be. The value of being selected 159th overall is questionable, which hurts the overall grade.
Charles Demmings, CB
With the 163rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Charles Demmings!
The secondary gets another addition in this year’s draft, adding Charles Demmings, a Corner from Stephen F. Austin State. Demmings is a tall, athletic corner who thrives in more physical press systems.
He’s a good value pick in the fifth round, and a welcome addition to the Vikings Corner room. The team has proven to take fliers on athletic lengthy corners in the past, and Demmings matches that mold.
Overview
Demmings is a long, physical player, standing over 6’1″, and weighing 193 Ibs. He has excelled in press-man coverage, something the Vikings haven’t used much in BFlo’s scheme to date.
Where Demmings stands out is with his athleticism and speed. Similar to others in this year’s class, Demmings has an elite RAS score:
He possesses all of the tools that are needed to be a Corner in the NFL. However, he will be project, and joins Jakobe Thomas as a project for new DBs coach, Gerald Alexander.
A four-year player at Stephen F. Austin State, Demmings appeared in 42 games, putting up:
- 63 tackles
- 35 pass deflections
- 9 INTs
He hasn’t faced elite competition before, so it will be interesting to see how his game translates to the NFL. He has some work to do with his technique, specifically in play recognition and his route mirroring, but is the type of athlete that can be molded properly.
The biggest area of improvement will need to be in run support. Demmings is a below average tackler, and does not provide much support in the run game. It’s not abnormal for corners to not want to tackle, but BFlo’s defense will need him to make strides in that area.
Overall, a gold value pick this far into the draft. He won’t be an instant impact player on the defense in 2026, but will have a chance to get into the action on special team coverage units. He has experience fielding kicks, but it was low volume.
He’ll be behind the scenes for all of 2026, and depending on his development, could carve out a role in 2027 and beyond.
Pros:
- Good production as a four-year player
- Smooth hips and turn ability
- Elite speed and length to stay and squeeze routes in man coverage
- Strong man-to-man defender
- Good ball tracker, attacks the ball at opportune times
Cons:
- Poor tackler, won’t provide much run support
- Needs better slide and mirror ability at start of plays
- Needs to improve plant and driving ability, can be hesitant to drive on stop routes
- Average instincts and recognition, mostly in zone coverage
Final Thoughts
Grade: B+
I like Demmings as a fun project player. He won’t be an immediate playmaker, and it’ll be interesting to see how he develops into the future. I expect to see him be a contributor on special teams, and can learn a lot of James Pierre. Fun project player with elite tools, can turn into a future starter if developed correctly.
Demond Claiborne, HB
With the 198th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Demond Claiborne!
The Vikings traded 234th & a 2027 6th to the Patriots for the 198th pick.
The Vikings finally addressed the RB room, adding Demond Claiborne from Wake Forrest University. Claiborne is a perfect fit for the Vikings wide-zone run offense, and should be a part of the committee early on.
Claiborne was one of the last RBs available that has a skillset that fits into the Vikings offense naturally. He provides excellent speed, with the ability to press the edge on runs, exactly what KOC wants with his running scheme.
Claiborne doesn’t have elite size, and isn’t the strongest pass catcher, but has game breaking speed that can make a defense regret letting him get outside.
Overview
Demond Claiborne is one of the fastest running backs in the 2026 class, running a 4.37 40 at the Combine. He doesn’t have great size, standing over 5’9″, and weighs 188 Ibs, but his speed makes up for it.
He doesn’t project as a three-down RB in the NFL due to his size, but can be a strong contributor as a part of a committee. In a rotation with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, Claiborne brings an element of speed that the RB room needed.
The Vikings trading up over 35 picks to get him, showing the investment and commitment to Claiborne and his skills. In KOCs wide-zone run schemes, Claiborne will be able to press the edge, stretching the defense horizontally.
Linebackers and safeties will need to quickly get downhill, attempting to beat Claiborne to the hole. If they miss, Claiborne has the speed and quickness to create an explosive on the ground game.
He also will bring a strong element to the run option game, as his speed can force defenses to flow hard to the run play side, allowing the QB to pull the ball and see more green grass than normal.
Claiborne spent his whole collegiate career at Wake Forrest, where he had a very productive career. In four seasons, he played in 44 games, putting up:
- 2,599 rushing yards
- 4.7 YPA
- 26 TDs
- 55 receptions
- 424 receiving yards
- 2 receiving TDs
This is an exciting piece to add to the RB room, and should be a multi-year contributor during his rookie contract. He brings a new element to the run game that the Vikings have been searching for. The committee should be strong, as all three guys have different strengths and skills.
Claiborne also has kick return experience, and should be in play with Myles Price on kickoff returns. Claiborne has two career kick return TDs, and can translate that to the NFL right away.
Matt Daniels can be creative with the returns and setup with both players, and has speed that can make him a positive on returns. I’d expect him to play second fiddle to Price, who had a strong return season in 2025.
Pros:
- Excellent speed and twitch
- Great start and stop footwork
- Good blend of patience and urgency on run plays
- Elite burst into the second level of defenses
- Creates explosives when making defenders miss
- Stacks moves, strong elusive runner
- Kick return experience with 2 career TDs
Cons:
- Can take on big hits on inside run plays
- Doesn’t always trust blockers, can stretch/bounce when not necessary
- Had some ball security issues in 2025
- Not a strong pass catcher
- Not a strong pass protector
Final Grade
Grade: A
Claiborne was one of the best RB fits for KOC’s offense, and brings a new level of speed to a room that desperately needed it. The Vikings now roster a strong committee, with all three guys sharing their own strengths. Claiborne can be an immediate contributor, sharing a small share of touches early on in the season. With Jones and Mason having injuries in 2025, there may be opportunity to see Claiborne’s role grow in 2026 if injuries happen again.
Gavin Gerhardt, C
With the 235th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select….Gavin Gerhardt!
The final pick of the Vikings 2026 Draft is a Center from the University of Cincinnati. Addressing another position of need, and adding another rookie to the trenches.
Gerhardt is a depth piece, and will be a developmental player heading into 2026. This cements Brandel and Jurgens as the competition for starting Center this season.
Overview
Gavin Gerhardt is the final investment to the trenches in the 2026 NFL Draft. Gerhardt possesses good size for an NFL Center, standing at 6’4″, and weighing 310 Ibs.
Gerhardt was at the University of Cincinnati for six seasons, from 2020-2025. In those six years, he appeared in 54 games, and started 49 of them. His 49 starts is third-most all-time at UC.
He projected as a 7th round prospect, and needs time to learn and develop. He doesn’t posses great athleticism, and isn’t the most agile Center prospect:
He should perform fine if called upon in the Vikings zone-run scheme offense, but he projects more as a backup. With Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens expected to compete for starting Center, Gerhardt will more than likely be third-string and a practice squad candidate after camp.
Pros:
- Strong experience and history
- Multi-year team Captain
- Solid pass blocker, lowest among pressure rates in FBS
- Supported a line that was semi-finalist for Joe Moore award
Cons:
- Does not possess tools for high ceiling
- Average athleticism, d-linemen with quick first step will cause problems
- Average strength and hand placement, both need to improve
Final Thoughts
Grade: C-
A bit of an underwhelming end to the Draft, as Gerhardt was a lower ranked Center in a pretty solid class. He’ll provide depth, and more than likely join the Practice Squad post-camp. The lack of major investment shows strong belief in Brandel & Jurgens in 2026.
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