2026 Draft: RB Nick Singleton anyone?

[Knucklehead]

https://gbnreport.com/2026-selection-order/

The worthless win streak has now dropped us to the 17th pick...far outside of Jeremiah Love, Caleb Downs, and even Mansoor Delane range. We are now in the mid-round "taking the second or third cornerback off the board" range. Our standard general draft position. 

I do concur that we have a long list of needs and whoever we draft, needs to hit. This whole draft needs to hit and it's not comforting knowing who we'll have making those decisions again.

We're now into the 4th year of this regime, the optimist in me thinks that Kwesi has had to improve his drafting even if only by osmosis.

[MaroonBells]

I mentioned this in another thread, but an ILB that can both stop the run & provide pass coverage is a priority given that Cashman is frequently dinged & our ability to stop the run is noticeabley affected when he's not on the field.

My current draft crush is Sonny Styles from OSU. Styles is projected to be drafted in the mid first round, right where we'll be picking.

I like how mature he is. He's 21 but looks and sounds like he's 30. I know that's a weird thing to add to a scouting report, but I think it matters. Eric Wilson showed us how good this defense can be with a sound, consistent linebacker next to Cashman. Pace is a great pass rusher and penetrator, but he struggled with tackling this year and he's horrible in coverage.

[supafreak84]

This is one of the better linebacker crops to come along in a while. Talent and depth. IMO a major Kwesi struggle is identifying talent groups in drafts and taking advantage of it. Like last year, a potential historic draft class at running back, and what does Kwesi do? Trades for Jordan Mason and bypasses the position completely in the draft.

[dadevike]

It appears we will draft outside the Jeremiah Love zone, so how about Singleton from Penn State? Decent size, very good speed, great hands. Definite 3 down back that could be such a weapon in the pass game as well. Not sure where he'll go in the Draft. Need to pair up a nice RB1 with JJM moving forward.

I was more in on Singleton at the start of the college football season. I have settled on Jadarian Price as the next back after Love. Price has tremendous talent not just great speed. He would be RB1 anywhere else. May be a genius move to have stayed at ND. He will have minimal wear and tear coming into the NFL while being on TV every week. I would be fine taking him with our second pick; he may not be there in the third round. 

I do not see a first round C in this draft. Take Logan Jones in the 5th. He is small-ish but very strong and incredibly athletic. I would not take him if he were anywhere other than Iowa or maybe Wisconsin.

[MaroonBells]

I was more in on Singleton at the start of the college football season. I have settled on Jadarian Price as the next back after Love. Price has tremendous talent not just great speed. He would be RB1 anywhere else. May be a genius move to have stayed at ND. He will have minimal wear and tear coming into the NFL while being on TV every week. I would be fine taking him with our second pick; he may not be there in the third round. 

I do not see a first round C in this draft. Take Logan Jones in the 5th. He is small-ish but very strong and incredibly athletic. I would not take him if he were anywhere other than Iowa or maybe Wisconsin.

Been watching some Price lately. Like him almost as much as Love. He can return kicks too. 

Regarding center, I'm curious to see what the Vikings will do there. Michael Jurgens gave up 0 pressures, 0 hurries and 0 sacks for a PFF pass blocking grade of 83.7 against Detroit. In his last four starts at center, Blake Brandel graded 59.2, 78.2, 79.1 and 84.6 in pass pro. Both of them have had a couple bad outings as well, so I don't know if the Vikings try to upgrade there or stand pat.

[JimmyinSD]

BFlo doesnt play with the Big Fatties over the Center though...He likes em lean and athletic vs a Jordan Davis type. 

I could argue for or against it - and I sure thought our run D suffered w/out Phillips in there this year. 

Needs (not in order)
OL 
DT
S/CB
RB
TE

I guess thats everything except WR and Kickers lol!

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We both love the guy AJ Sr is, but I think it was needed last year TBH...shame on Vikings for not tapping into that rb class depth.

They essentially did get RB help from the draft last year,  they used what were essentially 2 -7th round picks for Mason.  Would we have found a better RB on day 3 than what we got out of mason this year?  I'd argue that we had deeper needs than RB,  the fact that they didnt fill them with starters outside of round 1 is a debate for a year or two down the road.