3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Minnesota Vikings’ offseason focus to win now reflected with early contributors

Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah need to win now, and this mock draft focuses on players who will contribute right away.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion (7) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Kyle Field.
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

We are three months away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Minnesota Vikings are at a fascinating crossroads.

Going into year five of the Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era, there are numerous questions that need to be answered. The quarterback position is arguably the biggest one right now with questions surrounding J.J. McCarthy’s future. After that, it was with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. With his return nearly 100 percent likely at this point, it gives us a clearer picture of the offseason.

One thing is for certain: the Vikings need to win now, which is something that could impact how they approach the upcoming draft. Taking players who will be day-one contributors could be a viable strategy we see in April. What could that end up looking like? Let’s break it down.

Minnesota Vikings 3-Round NFL Mock Draft

18. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Wide receiver doesn’t necessarily feel like the biggest need in the world, but it is a position in the first round that would be a good contributor on day one. It’s especially so when rumors are beginning about a Jordan Addison trade.

Even if one doesn’t happen, retaining Jalen Nailor could prove to be difficult for the Vikings, especially if they want to retain Addison long-term. Concepcion offers quite a bit of playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, along with explosive movement skills to attack all three levels of the field. His skill set works really well with O’Connell’s offense.

49. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Safety is a position the Vikings need to attack. Harrison Smith is likely to retire this offseason, and there are no starting-level players on the roster outside of Josh Metellus. Luckily for the Vikings, the second round is loaded with talented players who could be impactful right away.

McNeil-Warren may play at Toledo, but he’s got the goods to be successful in the NFL, not just right away, but long-term as well. He is a plus athlete who is unafraid of going downhill in the run game and has disciplined eyes. He could play in the Smith role or play more of a free safety.

82. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

Running back isn’t necessarily a position that the Vikings need to address. I have it as the fifth-biggest need for the team going into the offseason, and it has more to do with needing another young player than anything. Aaron Jones’ future is up in the air, and if they do move on from him, Coleman is a really good fit.

He’s a similar style player to Jones, but weighs about 20 pounds more. Coleman attacks zone concepts really well, along with being a net positive as a receiver out of the backfield. He is a member of the All-Forno team and would fit really well in either gap or zone concepts.

97. Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

Cornerback is a really weird position for the Vikings. With Flores’ defense, he needs experienced cornerbacks who have a high football IQ to run the coverage structures they do. Even though the scheme hides the secondary, those two elements are still very important.

Since Flores took over as the defensive coordinator, they have taken just two cornerbacks, both of whom have been older prospects.

While some see Lee mostly as a man coverage cornerback, I believe he’s a zone cornerback who thrives in gaining depth to prevent wide receivers from stacking him. He also has nice length to pair with his height, giving him an edge when it comes to attacking the football. Because of those factors, I think the Vikings might play Lee early and often.

Related Articles