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.
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
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.
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