RE: 2026 NFL Draft

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RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/28/2026 9:46:58 AM

Phil Riewer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
we've had one hell of a ride with o'neill, and we've done a lot of cap-work with his 2021 contract...it feels like 2026 is his final season as a viking, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was traded before the deadline....

31 is not that old for a T. I'd ext him he has a few more years left in the tank.

It isn't an age issue for either of the Tackles......they signed one and drafted one so with Rouse there are 3 backups. They aren't sure about either of their OT health if you look at that offseason so far.

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Post #: 501

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/28/2026 11:22:13 PM

TJSweens

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After combing through this list of players I never watched, I have decided that I am satisfied with this draft. For starters there were no disastrously inequitable pick swaps. Further, there was no spending an exorbitant amount of draft capital to get a single player. With those first two high bars cleared, I'll move onto the picks themselves.

I take the first three picks as a group. The Brian Flores defense is built on his front seven (not the corners). Banks, Golday and Orange infuse that front seven with young, talented playmakers. Banks and Golday have the alignment flexibility that Flores utilizes. Orange is potentially that big butt in the middle the Vikings have often lacked. We all know about the health risk with Banks. A lot of fans wanted a safer choice. The Vikings decided to take the big swing on a guy who, when healthy, is a monster on the line. That's ok with me as long as they are right.

The rest...

Caleb Tiernan: despite the angst over t-rex arms, pretty much every big board had him rated at least 30 slots higher than Vikings took him. Short term line depth who could be starting in a year or two.

Jakobe Thomas: big, hard hitting safety, who seems to fit the Bflo system. Looks like we drafted him in the range is ranked. He grades out high on cover skills.

Max Bredeson was a pure need pick. He will primarily be fullback, but at 252 lbs, has the size to deployed in ways Hamm wasn't. Team captain indicates he is a character guy.

Charles Demmings: good size and appears to have good cover skills. The Vikings apparently scouted him a lot. I'm guessing Flores likes him. A developmental CB for Flores to develop behind his veteran starters.

Demond Claiborne: was picked at 198, while assorted big boards graded him anywhere from 87 to 141. He is supposed to be a home run threat every time he touches the ball. A nice change of pace back.

Gavin Gerhardt: graded out well enough for where he was picked and was a 3 year captain. What the hell. It's a 7th rounder.

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Post #: 502

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:11:59 AM

Tom Sykes

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Good post. Really looking forward to seeing these guys and how many stick.

A lot of weight for this draft will be on Banks’ health. Part of me thinks it was a gutsy choice given the last four years of being injury dismissive … part of me thinks, because there were other options, this continued flirtation with low availability will burn us.

That will play itself out.

Agree with your take on the other picks. Knowing next to nothing about them but ranking and draft profile … interesting how the lower picks seem to have more backstory and scouting investment than the higher rated ones.

Post #: 503

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:22:10 AM

Trekgeekscott

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

Good post. Really looking forward to seeing these guys and how many stick.

A lot of weight for this draft will be on Banks’ health. Part of me thinks it was a gutsy choice given the last four years of being injury dismissive … part of me thinks, because there were other options, this continued flirtation with low availability will burn us.

That will play itself out.

Agree with your take on the other picks. Knowing next to nothing about them but ranking and draft profile … interesting how the lower picks seem to have more backstory and scouting investment than the higher rated ones.

A Truly important point here. What makes a draft truly successful is how you do on the later round draft picks. The top rounds are the flashy biggest upside players, but if you knock it out of the park on the lower rounds you can add a ton of contributors and that is just as important to your teams success as one of the top picks.

Everybody knows Banks upside as a beast and downside is injuries.

Not everybody realizes to possible value of a Demond Clemings or Chucky D

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RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:43:29 AM

Phil Riewer

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From Daily Norseman:

The Philadelphia Eagles announced that assistant general manager Alec Halaby is leaving the team after ten years serving under Howie Roseman, widely regarded as one of the best general managers in the league. Halaby had been with the Eagles for 17 years, climbing the ladder from intern in 2007 to being named assistant general manager in 2022. Halaby is 39 and while his future plans were not detailed, he is leaving to pursue “other football related activities.” Halaby is a prime candidate for a general manager position, given his background, and there is only one general manager position open right now- with the Vikings. Halaby has previously interviewed for open general manager positions with other teams.

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Post #: 505

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:45:10 AM

Phil Riewer

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Dillon Bell WR Georgia

Recruits CFB
@recruits_cfb
·
Apr 11
Legendary NFL receiver Steve Smith had some HARSH words for Georgia QB Gunner Stockton (swipe) 😬

When doing a scouting report on WR Dillon Bell, he expressed his frustration watching Stockton, saying that he’s “awful” and that he wouldn’t go to work or run routes until the Dawgs got a better passer.

“The quarterback play from the Georgia Bulldogs… uhh… awful. Uhhh dog doo-doo.” 😭

Thoughts?

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Post #: 506

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:45:53 AM

Phil Riewer

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From: MN
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Dustin Baker
@DustBaker
·
Apr 27
Georgia HC Kirby Smart on new Vikings UDFA WR Dillon Bell, who is 6'1" and 210 lbs with 4.5 speed:
"He’s a positionless player. He can play tight end. He can play Wildcat quarterback. He can play tailback. He’s certainly a good receiver. He’s a great returner. That’s what people are moving to in the NFL, guys that can go out there and create matchups. He does that."
"He can be in the backfield and create some problems for the defense. But more important than that, he’s a great person. He led by example here. He never complained once about snaps and touches, and that says a lot about what he brought into the team."

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Post #: 507

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 9:47:48 AM

Bill Johanesen

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Agree with the player/pick rundown and follow-on comments. Although Banks' injury aside, the concerning piece is the lack of actual production by Banks and Orange. Again, the hopeful scenario is that they were asked to occupy blockers to the extreme. I have visions of them stonewalling the majority of the OL while Turner, AVG, Metellus, Redmond, and more - to include Golday and Thomas - finish up things at or behind the LOS.

Post #: 508

RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 10:49:23 AM

Tom Sykes

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

Agree with the player/pick rundown and follow-on comments. Although Banks' injury aside, the concerning piece is the lack of actual production by Banks and Orange. Again, the hopeful scenario is that they were asked to occupy blockers to the extreme. I have visions of them stonewalling the majority of the OL while Turner, AVG, Metellus, Redmond, and more - to include Golday and Thomas - finish up things at or behind the LOS.

Hope Flores sticks around for another year or two.

DLineman that 'like to sit on people,' as opposed to rush the passer or stop the run, won't be for every DC.

But! I keep hearing about traits and athletic abilities in our draft class that were under-utilized ... part of our formula seems to have been projecting stud-athlete team-captain prospects that will make better pros than college players. I thought we were magnifying the opposite, pure college production but not so.

For instance, didn't like the Bredeson pick at all initially but after listening to input in here, the prospect has grown on me. I now see the value of his neanderthal skills on our roster and in our locker room.

Didn't really like a small school cb who can't tackle then you hear him talk about being disappointed in his combine 42" vert and 11" broad and read that his rare explosiveness leads to incredible recovery speed ... like you can't shake the dude ... ok, I like that. If he can learn to tackle.

Maybe more background information has been given out / social media makes a lot more information on these late picks more available ... you see a lot more of the vetting process and non-obvious reasons why we were interested in DTs with no production, a FB/TE with no production, a cb who can't tackle, etc etc

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RE: 2026 NFL Draft - 4/29/2026 11:10:51 AM

Tom Sykes

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just to add to that ... wanted a RB with speed / rec skills but was unimpressed with Claiborne's write-up as a small dude with 'modest run strength' and 'stiff hands' and 'low ball security' (in 2025).

I mean 6th rd ... you're not being too choosy. But he's like the one dude we moved up for in the draft, so we didn't just take him on his speed, elusiveness, kr ability. probably.

"There was an example back in '24, the Louisiana game, that coincidentally Kyle Caskey who's our new assistant running backs coach was coaching on the opposite sideline and he dislocated his kneecap — gruesome injury — [but] came back after halftime and went back to work, finished the game," he said (Claiborne had a 60-yard TD in the second half). "So it's just that competitive spirit, the passion for the game, the toughness to match with that speed and juice that he brings that we're really excited to add." (Director of College Scouting Mike Sholiton)

< Message edited by Tom Sykes -- 4/29/2026 12:52:43 PM >

Post #: 510