Best guess for what Minnesota does in round 1?
Can be a trade up, trade down or player. Last year, I made a bit of a wild guess and that was for offensive guard in round 1. I had the wrong player, but right idea.....thought Booker (but he went way higher) and we nabbed Jackson of course. Love the pick. I'm feeling a similar vibe: if its not S Dillon Thieneman, who I feel if he's there, that's the pick outside of a BPA slider....its going to be DT Kayden McDonald. Might be a bit of a surprise for some, but I think the dude is coveted by NFL GMs on the down low. We'll see...
If the Vikings trade down, I think McDonald is in play, but taking a two-down player in the top 20 is a hard pill to swallow. But one can make a a pretty good argument that S and TE in the top 20 are equally as unsettling. Maybe the only thing that makes value sense is a trade down for a Faulk, McDonald, Woods. You're maximizing value and getting another day two pick to boot. Easier said than done though.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
MaroonBells wrote:
If the Vikings trade down, I think McDonald is in play, but taking a two-down player in the top 20 is a hard pill to swallow. But one can make a a pretty good argument that S and TE in the top 20 are equally as unsettling. Maybe the only thing that makes value sense is a trade down for a Faulk, McDonald, Woods. You're maximizing value and getting another day two pick to boot. Easier said than done though.
I mentioned this in another thread, but their will still be OTs on the board at #19. If the Vikings don't want one, they should receive some solid trade down offers.
KC's Veach was quoted earlier in the week saying he believes there will be a bunch of trade up/down this draft. Speaks to how flat it is in spots and so few blue chippers this year.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
KC's Veach was quoted earlier in the week saying he believes there will be a bunch of trade up/down this draft. Speaks to how flat it is in spots and so few blue chippers this year.
I don't get worked up over this stuff because its almost always wrong. Nothing is close to reality until really tomorrow night/Thursday morning as far as rumors go and then the Draft itself is always different than what the media has forecast. Always. There'll be 2 to 3 players that will go MUCH higher in round 1 than projected as NFL GMs use their boards which obviously no one gets to see prior. And sliders slide harder than projected as well.
StickierBuns wrote:
Yeah, we'll see. I'm not great at slotting the draft prospects for depth, etc. like some other guys on the board, but I'm ok guesstimating and focusing in round 1 what Minnesota might be side-eyeing. Last year had the right spot (OG) when it wasn't trendy, now its just a gut feel on a riser that is going to be a hell of a NFL monster in the middle with some incremental upside as a pass rusher/lateral mover in McDonald. I think the safety position is deep enough for Minnesota to let it slide in round 1 and catch a guy in round 2 or 3. I think it might go DT, RB, S and CB for their first 4 picks. Some thought it was a few picks too early for Donovan Jackson at the time of the selection, I think the same thing happens with Kayden McDonald.
Well Chris Simms just added a log to the fire..
My first & only mock draft. This is where I think players WILL go, not where they SHOULD go. pic.twitter.com/Nx353E4vzH
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 20, 2026
MaroonBells wrote:
What if Thieneman IS the BPA?
I guess they take him.. I don't like that pick.
comet52 wrote:
Well Chris Simms just added a log to the fire..
https://x.com/i/status/2046298215444807740
That also has Thieneman and EMW falling out of the first. So consider the souse, er, source 🫤
A guy at CBSSports articulated what I've been unable to conjure up for some reason, but felt as an issue with Minnesota....'light boxes' inside for quickness/pass rush and that vulnerability. And what McDonald would provide to remedy that. Most have Kayden slotted more toward the end of round 1:
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
McDonald is the best pure run-stopper in the draft class. He can plug gaps against double-teams and shed blocks to make plays. That ability is becoming more valuable as light boxes increasingly stress front sevens to stop the run.
StickierBuns wrote:
For @JustInTime ....Toddy McShay's latest mock:
I mean, we NEED bodies there. That iDL room is pretty sparse.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
StickierBuns wrote:
A guy at CBSSports articulated what I've been unable to conjure up for some reason, but felt as an issue with Minnesota....'light boxes' inside for quickness/pass rush and that vulnerability. And what McDonald would provide to remedy that. Most have Kayden slotted more toward the end of round 1:
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateMcDonald is the best pure run-stopper in the draft class. He can plug gaps against double-teams and shed blocks to make plays. That ability is becoming more valuable as light boxes increasingly stress front sevens to stop the run.
Man how it would be great to have an actual big boy run stopper again.
Is this thing STILL on? | Skol Vikes! |
Trade down would be best thing that could happen ir Downs and Thieleman are gone, really don't want a DT taken at 18, I don't see any DT having top 25 value and most are 2nd round prospects. WR if one of top 3 falls to us.
People sleep peacably at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
rf54 wrote:
Trade down would be best thing that could happen ir Downs and Thieleman are gone, really don't want a DT taken at 18, I don't see any DT having top 25 value and most are 2nd round prospects. WR if one of top 3 falls to us.
Thats where I'm at...
Downs will be gone, Thieneman maybe...I'm not sure I want a S this early given the optty in later rounds for one.
18 is just no mans land, they'll be surprises this draft for sure - just not sure as late as 18
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Vikings defensive line room, heading into tonight
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) April 23, 2026
Draft investment:
5th (TID)
7th (LDR)
UDFAs
Total cap hit: $5.31M
...effectively zero above replacement
Total NFL experience:
20 starts (Redmond 17)
1894 snaps (Redmond 1029)
149 tackles (Redmond 80)
10 sacks (Redmond 7) pic.twitter.com/MplhacoQXp
We booted about 1300 iDL snaps from last year. I mean, is it that simple?
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
Can you imagine Minnesota getting Caleb Banks and Kayden McDonald in the first 2 rounds? Having a 3-4 with Banks, McDonald and Redmond? Talk about weakness to an unbelievable strength. Could easily be done with the ammo a Greenard trade would bring. Let Dallas eat. Get a center, RB and safety in rounds 3 and 4.
StickierBuns wrote:
Can you imagine Minnesota getting Caleb Banks and Kayden McDonald in the first 2 rounds? Having a 3-4 with Banks, McDonald and Redmond? Talk about weakness to an unbelievable strength. Could easily be done with the ammo a Greenard trade would bring. Let Dallas eat. Get a center, RB and safety in rounds 3 and 4.
Caleb Banks looks like he could realistically fall to 49.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
MaroonBells wrote:
Caleb Banks looks like he could realistically fall to 49.
Yep, that's what I'm reading, hence my pie in the sky post that's not as in the clouds as you'd think. That would be an epic Draft for Minnesota.
"All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand." —Steven Wright
MaroonBells wrote:
One of my all time favorites. I wonder if those mafia know how viral this became?
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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