7-Round Minnesota Vikings 2026 Mock Draft: Brand new mock draft simulator gives immense talent to Kevin O’Connell
A to Z Sports has launched its brand new mock draft simulator and the Minnesota Vikings should take notes after an excellent haul.
The NFL Draft will be fun to watch for the Minnesota Vikings. With just 22 days left, there isn’t a great read on what their strategy will be.
- Is safety the apple of their eye?
- Will cornerback finally take priority?
- Are the Vikings going to replace Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave?
- Is Kevin O’Connell going to take another weapon just because he can?
All of those are fascinating questions to look at, and there isn’t a clear direction yet. How will they approach the draft? I took a look at it with the new A to Z Sports mock draft simulator and ended up with 11 picks.
The A to Z Sports NFL mock draft simulator offers a deeply customizable and data-driven experience with never-before-seen features. Try the mock draft simulator today, before the 2026 NFL Draft arrives!
The Vikings made multiple trades
In this mock draft, we made four different trades to maximize the picks in this class. Maneuvering up and down the board helped land a really good class. Here are those four trades.
| Vikings Send | Opponent Sends |
| No. 18 | No. 20 and 112 (Cowboys) |
| No. 49 | No. 51 and 200 (Panthers) |
| No. 82 and 112 | No. 65 and 183 (Cardinals) |
| No. 163, 183, and 235 | No. 141, 203, and 243 (Texans) |
All in all, the Vikings ended up with two extra picks on day three to round out the depth of the roster. Two small trades down in the first two rounds helped them leap up 17 selections to snag one of the top slot cornerbacks in the draft.
20. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
When you look at the Vikings’ depth chart, defensive tackle is arguably the biggest position of need. It became a major one after cutting Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Woods is an interesting player. His 2025 season was relatively disappointing after being a projected top-five pick over the summer. He can do everything that Brian Flores wants in terms of penetration, stunts, and stopping the run. It’s a risk selecting Woods after a rough 2025, but that was the story of Clemson’s season.
51. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Wide receiver isn’t a major need for the Vikings, but the future is far from clear right now. Jordan Addison just got his fifth-year option picked up to lock him up through the 2027 season. Even so, Tai Felton isn’t someone you can 100% trust going into the season. Having competition for that spot is a smart play.
Bernard is everything that head coach Kevin O’Connell wants in a wide receiver. He is a fluid route runner, nuanced in his movements, has explosive feet, and creates yards after the catch. While is similar stylistically to Addison and Justin Jefferson, Bernard is available at this spot because he isn’t as twitchy as they are. Even so, he can be a serious contributor early on.
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65. Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
The safety position is one the Vikings need to address in the NFL Draft. Mock drafts are convinced they will address safety in the first round. However, it would behoove them to wait, as there are talented safeties on day two. One player they should target is Stukes.
Even though he’s coming off a torn ACL in 2024, Stukes thrived when they kicked him inside to play mostly slot in 2025. He displayed tremendous ball skills, with four interceptions and six passes batted down, and shot his draft stock to the moon with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash.
97. Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
Speaking of safeties, that might be the best position for Louis. He played linebacker for the Panthers in college, but his size and movement skills might move him to a hybrid safety/linebacker. Louis is incredibly explosive in his movements, both linear and lateral. He can turn and run with both tight ends and running backs, while also being the pole runner in Tampa-2. Versatility is huge for Flores, and Louis will provide that in droves.
141. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
Cornerback has been devalued by how this defense operates. It’s built upon maximizing pressure and having capable cornerbacks on the back end. What they don’t need is stars at the position. With how deep the class is, waiting until later is a smart strategy.
Demmings is being overlooked right now, and it’s mainly due to playing at the FCS level. He has excellent ball production and ran a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash. Give him a year to learn and play special teams before putting him on the field defensively.
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196. Beau Stephens, IOL, Iowa
When in doubt, select an Iowa offensive lineman on day three. Stephens is a powerful player on the inside who does a great job of identifying what is happening in front of him. He lacks good enough length and athleticism to be a top-line starter, but he should provide great depth on a rookie contract.
200. John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
Day three should be about filling up the special teams units and taking high-upside wagers on talented players. Gyllenborg is a fascinating player. He’s got the size and athletic profiles to thrive in the NFL, but there are some major inconsistency issues he will need to overcome. Being late to the game of football won’t help either.
203. Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy
When it comes to a running back to take a chance on late in the NFL Draft, it’s Heidenreich. He thrived at Navy being used in multiple roles, as both a running back, wing back, and versatile wide receiver. There is both special teams and third-down utility right away, with potential to grow more in that role. He will also be a great special teams player right away and throughout his rookie contract.
234. Eric Gentry, LB, USC
Gentry is a fascinating profile. He is an off-ball linebacker, but is among the weirdest builds for one in NFL history. He’s 6-6 5/8 and 228 pounds with near 36″ arms. His unique frame leaves a lack of play strength, which is a huge issue for a middle linebacker. However, the length he has is a true weapon in coverage. It’s hard to bet on outliers, but in round seven, take the chance every time. He could easily become a core special teams player.
243. Jalen Catalon, S, Missouri
It feels like we’ve been waiting for Catalon to enter the draft for years. He’s had quite the run in college football, spending four years at Arkansas, followed by one each at Texas, UNLV, and Missouri. That veteran leadership is exactly what Flores has shown to want in the secondary.
244. Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
August 30, 2025Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Vikings fans have wanted a center in the NFL Draft the entire process. With the Blake Brandel news, waiting until later has some merit to it. It only took this long with how the board fell. Burton is a good athlete for the position, but lacks the technique and strength profile to go higher. It’s a good bet to take in round seven.
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