Vikings 7-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Brian Flores gets significant talent additions to elevate his elite defense
With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah out of the building, the Vikings need to get this NFL Draft right.
The NFL Draft was one of the biggest reasons the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. There were other reasons, but the lack of success in the NFL Draft has been a massive talking point for years with this team.
With Adofo-Mensah out the door, longtime executive Rob Brzezinski takes over as the interim general manager, and the hope is that he will end up having more success in this area.
What could a draft run by Brzezinski look like? There are many ways it could go, but maximizing the defense is likely a priority, which is the focus of this seven-round mock draft.
Minnesota Vikings 7-round NFL mock draft
Round 1, pick 18: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
There are a handful of positions that the Vikings need on defense. One of those positions is linebacker. Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr (restricted) are free agents, and Blake Cashman has one more year left on his contract. They need at least one more player added to the room, and the first round could be exactly where they do that.
Allen is a versatile second-level player who isn’t too dissimilar from Cashman. He thrives as a blitzer and gap filler, and calls the defense well. Man coverage remains a weakness for him, but he has the aptitude and athleticism to improve.
Round 2, pick 49: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
The Vikings didn’t have a nose tackle last season, choosing to prioritize the pass rush over a solid run defense. To a point, it worked, as the Vikings had the No. 7 overall defense and the No. 2 pass defense. What would it look like with a penetrating run-defender who can also attack as a pass rusher?
Hunter was on the best defensive line in the nation this season, and he continued to force double teams due to his combination of quick penetration and power. This could take a huge step forward on a defensive unit that honestly doesn’t need it.
Round 3, pick 82: Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
If you haven’t heard of Stukes by now, you will soon. He is a star nickel for the Wildcats and thrived in multiple ways. He’s a bigger player at 6-2 and 200 pounds, but that’s a really nice place to be for a STAR/slot defender.
Stukes was a menace this season with four interceptions and six passes batted down. Flores loves to have versatile defenders on the back end, and Stukes would be the next player to thrive in a big nickel role.
Round 3, pick 97 (projected compensatory): Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
Edge rusher isn’t a major priority for the Vikings, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves versatile players. Sapp is one of the more intriguing edge rushers in the draft because he can do a little bit of everything.
While he might be best suited as a base 4-3 defensive end, Sapp can play all over. He is a capable enough athlete to drop into coverage, but his best traits could be maximized inside at 3T/4i on pass rush downs. Sapp’s production cratered in 2025, mainly due to the injuries on the unit. He proved at the Senior Bowl that his skill is much closer to the 2024 season production than 2025.
Round 5, pick 161: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
T.J. Hockenson is getting close to 30 years old, and there is already talk about him being a salary-cap casualty. He has a $21+ million cap hit for 2026, and his production doesn’t match that. However, he’s still a more than capable player. Finding a developmental tight end should be a priority at some point.
Koziol flew under the radar during his college career, with him starting at Ball State. This past season, he looked the part at Houston and is a monster at nearly 6-7, 245 pounds. Give him a couple of seasons to build up his strength and technique, and you may have a true weapon in the red zone.
Round 6, pick 195: Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
Center is a spot many believe should be a top priority for the Vikings. It was tough to have Ryan Kelly miss the majority of the season due to concussions, but Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens were capable enough. Even so, it would be good to bring in competition.
Brailsford was a starter for three years between the Washington Huskies and the Alabama Crimson Tide, including four starts in the College Football Playoff. He’s slightly undersized, but can thrive in the NFL with some development.
Round 7, pick 234: Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
Black was one of the better players in the College Football Playoff and looked the part of a talented running back. He isn’t just a one-trick pony, either, as he displays really good vision, contact balance, and provides value in the passing game. He’s a good player to have in your running back room.
Round 7, pick 235: Eric Gentry, LB, USC
Gentry might be the oddest player in the NFL Draft. He is a linebacker, but is built like an X-receiver.
That puts him in a fascinating spot. What do you do with a player with that kind of unique size, but he can’t be a traditional linebacker, like Cashman? However, he would be a fascinating player to use in a big dime package as a LB/S hybrid because he can clog passing lanes with his arm length.
That’s worth a selection on Day 3 to see what you can make happen, and he could be a really good special teams player.
Round 7, pick 244: Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
Do the Vikings need a quarterback? Yes, of course, but taking one in the seventh round? It’s honestly a spot where the Vikings could try to upgrade QB3 late in the NFL Draft, and Altmyer showed he’s worthy of a shot during the Senior Bowl.
He was the most consistent quarterback throughout the week and could be a backup quarterback for a decade.