Draft Order

Knucklehead wrote:
The OC prospects in this upcoming draft project to be extremely good. When can you remember a draft that had multiple quality OC prospects? Even if Brandel improves over the remainder of the season, I still don't want to leave this draft without taking a swing at an OC. Not in the first round but certainly on Day 2. Maybe with the Darnold 3rd round comp pick.

I think it was A&M I was watching last weekend...And they rolled 3-4 different guys in at C during a game. Their OT, OG and of course their C too. 

Crazy flexibility along their OL. I've never seen nothing like it b4.

Knucklehead wrote:
The OC prospects in this upcoming draft project to be extremely good. When can you remember a draft that had multiple quality OC prospects? Even if Brandel improves over the remainder of the season, I still don't want to leave this draft without taking a swing at an OC. Not in the first round but certainly on Day 2. Maybe with the Darnold 3rd round comp pick.

A center I really like is Pat Coogan from Indiana. 6'5"/315 pounds. Leader of that Hoosier line. Ton's of experience. Transfered from Notre Dame to Indiana (this one hurt me) after the Irish loss in the National championship game. The kind of player you want in your locker room. Anybody wanting to add a jolt in your step should watch his pregame speech prior to the Georgia playoff game. Epic stuff

MaroonBells wrote:

Both Allen and Hargrave's cap hit next year is $21M. Allen will likely be restructured to avoid that hit. Don't think he'll be released due to a $17M dead cap hit. But Hargrave might, since his dead money is a slightly more tolerable $10M. Or they both could be back under restructured deals. Both were invisible early on, but both have started to play a lot better lately. Could be the Flores learning curve. 

So at minimum, one of those guys will be back, plus Redmond, LDR and TID. I think LDR could be ready to start in 2026. So yeah, while we do need help there, I wouldn't put it above ILB, CB or S.

I think it may be finally getting into shape than the Flores learning curve. Either way, it is about time.

supafreak84 wrote:

I agree with you and think it's highly likely either Hargrave, Allen, or both will be gone next season. This isn't a great draft crop of DT's, but what I do like is they are big guys. I don't know if that will ever suit Flores and what he wants on the defensive line, but I think there's certainly some benefit to being able to counter what offenses are trying to do against you.

Watching Tonga with the Patriots I realize that Flores does not need a big DT.

kmillard wrote:

Watching Tonga with the Patriots I realize that Flores does not need a big DT.

He's always preferred the lighter, quicker DT's that are more penetrators then brutes that stack against the run. Certainly a risk vs reward philosophy.

McShay had his latest notes on things he's heard from scouts. Of note;

- Was tipped off to watch South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, and now thinks he might be CB #1 in this draft (a name to watch for the Vikings)

- Carson Beck is liked more in the scouting community then the fan community.

- Dante Moore will return to Oregon next season

- Ditto on Lanoris Sellers, although it might not be for South Carolina

supafreak84 wrote:

He's always preferred the lighter, quicker DT's that are more penetrators then brutes that stack against the run. Certainly a risk vs reward philosophy.

McShay had his latest notes on things he's heard from scouts. Of note;

- Was tipped off to watch South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, and now thinks he might be CB #1 in this draft (a name to watch for the Vikings)

- Carson Beck is liked more in the scouting community then the fan community.

- Dante Moore will return to Oregon next season

- Ditto on Lanoris Sellers, although it might not be for South Carolina

Knucklehead wrote:
I recently found McShay's podcast. Lots of hot takes. I haven't listened long enough to figure out if he's a true insider or if he's just throwing crap against a wall.

He's been in the game long enough that he certainly has his contacts in league circles and all these guys get tipped off by scouts on players to watch, who's stock is falling, etc. I enjoy listening to his podcasts much more than anything he ever did at ESPN

supafreak84 wrote:

He's always preferred the lighter, quicker DT's that are more penetrators then brutes that stack against the run. Certainly a risk vs reward philosophy.

Been saying this a lot over the last few years. Flores has had many opportunities to bring in a true nose. Every year Viking fans clamor for one of the 340 lb. behemoths like Jordan Davis, Mazi Smith or Kenneth Grant, and every year we avoid them and bring in smaller, quicker guys. His is just not a defense that uses a fatty in the middle.

NFL Draft Files@NFL_DF

Random NFL Draft takes:

This OT class kinda sucks

Tate, Lemon, Tyson are 1a 1b and 1c at WR

This is a GOOD quarterback class. Stop complaining

LB class is the best I’ve ever seen

I like Kayden McDonald even more than I did Tyleik Williams

The NFL is being blessed by a strong LB and IOL class because the NFL is thin at LB and IOL

This RB class also kinda sucks

MaroonBells wrote:
NFL Draft Files@NFL_DF

Random NFL Draft takes:

This OT class kinda sucks

Tate, Lemon, Tyson are 1a 1b and 1c at WR

This is a GOOD quarterback class. Stop complaining

LB class is the best I’ve ever seen

I like Kayden McDonald even more than I did Tyleik Williams

The NFL is being blessed by a strong LB and IOL class because the NFL is thin at LB and IOL

This RB class also kinda sucks

If it's the best LB class some have ever seen, that just means Kwesi will trade for or sign a veteran LB in free agency prior to the draft and that position will be taken off our draft board. It's how the man works 

How shitty is it as a fan to have a GM that you don't trust to do anything right on draft day? Let Kwesi cook, huh? Only if you want food poisoning...

MaroonBells wrote:
NFL Draft Files@NFL_DF

Random NFL Draft takes:

This OT class kinda sucks

Tate, Lemon, Tyson are 1a 1b and 1c at WR

This is a GOOD quarterback class. Stop complaining

LB class is the best I’ve ever seen

I like Kayden McDonald even more than I did Tyleik Williams

The NFL is being blessed by a strong LB and IOL class because the NFL is thin at LB and IOL

This RB class also kinda sucks

Definately hear mixed opinions on this potential QB group. I think at this point Mendoza has kind of separated himself as QB1. Strong opinions Dante Moore and Sellers return to school. Ty Simpson has played very efficient football for Alabama, but is he blowing anybody away?

I'll just say I'm happy the Vikings aren't having to look at quarterbacks early (at least I don't think) in this draft.

supafreak84 wrote:
Definately hear mixed opinions on this potential QB group. I think at this point Mendoza has kind of separated himself as QB1. Strong opinions Dante Moore and Sellers return to school. Ty Simpson has played very efficient football for Alabama, but is he blowing anybody away?

I'll just say I'm happy the Vikings aren't having to look at quarterbacks early (at least I don't think) in this draft.

I hope we're set at the position for a while...

As of 11/16/25? I would be comfortable with a QB room of JJM/Brosmer/Wentz and maybe a late rounder to take a flyer on.

purplefaithful wrote:

I hope we're set at the position for a while...

As of 11/16/25? I would be comfortable with a QB room of JJM/Brosmer/Wentz and maybe a late rounder to take a flyer on.

Agreed, although the reluctance to play Brosmer when Wentz was cleary hurt and ineffective gives me some pause. Preseason is preseason, but maybe he's not as good as most would like to believe? I'm never opposed to trying to upgrade the quarterback room and bringing in the best competition possible

StickierBuns wrote:
I'll tell you if Minnesota keeps losing games, they'll be right there in the draft spot to pick RB Jeremiyah Love. The only silver lining to a shit season.

As of today, we are at lucky #13

Titans/Giants/Browns/Saints are the top 4. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nfl-draft-2026-current-draft-123000409.html

purplefaithful wrote:

As of today, we are at lucky #13

Titans/Giants/Browns/Saints are the top 4. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nfl-draft-2026-current-draft-123000409.html

The Vikings have picked 13th in the 1st round only once before in their history. Keith Millard 1984.

MaroonBells wrote:

The Vikings have picked 13th in the 1st round only once before in their history. Keith Millard 1984.

One of my all time faves....I mean, he's up there with Alan Page on my own fan affinity meter.

 I suspect they'll pick in that 8-14 slot.  

Probably not enough for Love, but enough to get (on paper) a stud on D.

StickierBuns wrote:

...and with some continued losses, we'll be firmly in top 10 territory which is where I'm guessing Love will go. I could see Minnesota somewhere between the 7th and 10th pick in round 1.

If that happens then Love will get drafted somewhere between 6th and 9th  :P :@

purplefaithful wrote:

I hope we're set at the position for a while...

As of 11/16/25? I would be comfortable with a QB room of JJM/Brosmer/Wentz and maybe a late rounder to take a flyer on.

Gotcha late flyer!

He's already beat Drake Maye  ;)  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQWa6KggJn4/

Haynes King is projected as a Day 3 prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, potentially a seventh-round pick, according to sources like NFL Mock Draft Database and NFL Mocks. While his toughness, football intelligence, and athleticism are seen as positives, scouts have durability concerns and note inconsistencies in his short-throw accuracy. His overall draft status is considered borderline. 
Draft Round: Projected as a late-round pick, possibly in the seventh round.
Strengths: Physical running style, toughness, leadership, football intelligence, and athleticism. His competitiveness and intangibles are considered "off the charts".
Weaknesses: Concerns about his durability, especially in goal-line and short-yardage situations. Inconsistent accuracy on shorter throws is also a noted issue.
Overall Projection: A borderline draft pick with potential to earn a spot in the draft due to his intangibles, but his overall draft value is debated.

All the kid does is play great ball, lead and win.

Not to add more bad news, but with Atlanta at 3-7, they sit at #8 in the 2026 draft, and stand a pretty good chance of rising even higher with the news about Penix. They're one game away from the 2nd overall pick and two games away from the 1st overall pick. 

Problem is, they traded this pick to move up last year. This pick now belongs to the 8-2 Rams. Oy veh.