Minnesota Vikings prioritize the defense and take a very high-upside dart throw at quarterbacks in 2026 7-round NFL mock draft
It’s never too early for the Minnesota Vikings to look at the NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings sit at 4-7, and the vibes surrounding the team are incredibly low.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy had one of the worst games not just of his career, but in recent memory. It didn’t help any when McCarthy ended up reporting concussion symptoms after the game. It’s not great when the quarterback you trusted your franchise to is struggling at this historic level.
With the playoffs essentially out of reach, the focus here goes toward two things: development and the NFL Draft. We will continue to look at how things grow with this current roster through the rest of the season, but it’s not too early for a mock draft.
What will the Vikings end up doing in April? Defense is likely the focus, unless they choose to replace McCarthy in the first round, which honestly isn’t out of the question.
Minnesota Vikings seven-round NFL mock draft
Round 1, Pick 12: Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Vikings have prioritized the trenches so heavily over the last two offseasons that cornerback has taken a back seat. Pressure can ease things for the secondary, which is how defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to live. Even so, the secondary finally gets to be the priority.
McCoy is a fascinating prospect. He hasn’t played a single snap this season for Tennessee after tearing his ACL last year, but he will be plenty healthy for the NFL Draft process. McCoy is a prototypical man-coverage cornerback who thrives at the catch point. In Flores’ defense, McCoy’s presence will allow for more versatility in coverage structures.
Round 2, Pick 44: C.J. Allen, ILB, Georgia
We’ve seen how much having two balanced linebackers has helped Flores’ defense. Eric Wilson has played well this season, but it’s obvious it’s not a long-term solution.
Sonny Styles would be a good candidate in the first round, but Allen is a great option as well. He has excellent instincts and the acceleration to maximize them. He still needs to work on some man-to-man coverage skills, but that can improve over time. Having Blake Cashman next to him will certainly make an impact.
Round 3, Pick 76: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
After having Harrison Smith for years at safety, the Vikings are finally in a place where they need to make it a priority. The selections of Lewis Cine and Jay Ward didn’t do what they had hoped, and this class has a couple of interesting players in it to maximize the position, with Josh Metellus the only incumbent starter.
McNeil-Warren is the next in a line from Toledo Rockets to be a top 100 pick. In the last two years, they have seen cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell (first round) and Darius Alexander (third round) go in the top 100. McNeil-Warren has a lot of ball production, which is one of his best traits, and he has the work ethic to match.
Round 3, Pick 97: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Offensive line isn’t a major priority for the Vikings right now, but there is a lingering question at center with Ryan Kelly and potentially right guard with Will Fries not quite living up to his contract.
Bisontis has been one of the best pass protectors on the interior this season, and a good year of development from him could result in Fries being a cap casualty.
Round 5, Pick 168: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
A quarterback in round five? Didn’t the Vikings try this with Jaren Hall? Yes, they did, and it unfortunately didn’t work out. Does that mean they shouldn’t try it again? No, it doesn’t.
Allar would have likely gone in the top five if he had entered the NFL Draft last year, but decided to return to Penn State for a shot at a national championship. It didn’t go well: the Nittany Lions cratered, and Allar suffered a season-ending injury.
He needs a lot of work between the ears, but he has a big arm and plus rushing ability, paired with a large frame at 6-5 and 235 pounds. It’s worth a dart throw, and you can use him in short-yardage situations. It’s a potential home run pick that nobody will criticize you for trying.
Round 6, Pick 206: Jordan Castell, S, Florida
Another safety is a smart play, and Castell is one of the better players at the position in the nation. He shows plus ability and willingness to play the run with zero problem getting physical in doing so. Along with that, he shows plus ball skills with multiple interceptions this season for the Gators. It’s a nice developmental pick for the Vikings.
Round 7, Pick 225: John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming
As it is with any player who is selected late on day three, you need a player who can play special teams. Gyllenborg has experience playing on multiple units, which is a plus. He’s at his best as a receiver with the versatility to line up in multiple alignments on offense. He’s not the biggest guy and will need to get a lot stronger, but there is a good profile to work with.
Round 7, Pick 227: Patrick Payton, EDGE, LSU
Want an edge rusher with an insane athletic profile at 6-5, 256? That’s exactly what you get with Payton. He has a lot of tools, but doesn’t know how to use them well enough yet. Getting him into a room with someone like Jonathan Greenard is a smart play.
Round 7, Pick 230: Noah Whittington, RB, Oregon
This is not a good running back class, and, with other priorities early on, the Vikings take a shot on Whittington. He’s slightly smaller than Aaron Jones at 5-8, 201 pounds, but he knows how to thrive in zone concepts.
He’s a good dart throw late in the draft, and can be a nice complementary back, but likely never a lead guy, as he’s a backup. Being so low to the ground ends up helping Whittington stay on his feet, and that will translate to the NFL.