Vikings Final Draft Grades: Minnesota has fascinating first class post Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski wrapped up a fascinating first NFL Draft class that grades out well.
The 2026 NFL Draft is complete, and the Minnesota Vikings have finalized their first class in the post-Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era.
Interim general manager Rob Brezezinski made some splashes in his first NFL Draft at the helm. From selecting an injured player in Caleb Banks to trading Jonathan Greenard, the Vikings were very active.
Did they make good picks? We won’t know for sure how they end up playing in the NFL, but we can judge the Vikings based on their process. Here’s how we graded the Vikings’ process with each selection.
Vikings’ final draft grades for the 2026 class
Round 1, No. 18: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
This is a massive upside swing. In a class void of elite talent, Banks is one that could elevate into an elite player. He thrives as a gap shooting defensive end in a 3-4 that is a major disruptor on the interior. This class is void of defensive tackle talent, but Banks has it at 6-6 and 327 pounds with 35″ arms. It’s a home run swing from the Vikings, but it could elevate the Vikings to another level. That process is why the grade is so high. Take a unicorn in a bad draft class and shoot for the moon.
Round 2, No. 51: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
This is a really interesting selection. With C.J. Allen on the board, who ranked 17 spots higher than Golday, he’s arguably a better fit. With how Brian Flores likes to deploy his linebackers, he’s a tremendous plug-and-play asset to the room. As a former edge rusher, Golday played overhang for the Bearcats. Having the versatility to play in space and set the edge will give Flores something extra to maximize his pressure packages.
Round 3, No. 82: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
I’ve argued that the Vikings don’t need to prioritize nose tackle, but they disagreed. Orange, who ranked 70th on Arif Hasan’s consensus board, is a twitchy athlete who penetrates the backfield with ease. You don’t often get a player who can attack the backfield with the kind of explosiveness and production that Orange has. He’s going to be a two-down player, but a really good one. It’s a solid value at 82nd overall
Grade: B+
Round 3, No. 97: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
Overall, the Vikings needed to add offensive line depth, and they got it with Tiernan. He profiles similarly to Blake Brandel: tackle in college, but more of an interior player at the NFL level. He’s a plus athlete, but the lack of length will be an issue. This is also a good value pick for the Vikings, as Tiernan ranked 67th on the consensus board.
Round 3, No. 98: Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (FL)
This was a big reach for the Vikings on the consensus board, as Thomas ranks 177th overall. What he does do well is point and shoot as a blitzer
Round 5, No. 159: Max Bredeson, TE/FB, Michigan
I didn’t think that the Vikings would prioritize fullback, but I should have. The addition of Frank Smith as assistant head coach was a massive signal that he’d want his version of Alec Ingold. Bredeson is going to be a versatile player who can be a positive on special teams and maximize the running game. Plus, he can be a blocker on third downs, something they don’t have.
Grade: B
Round 5, No. 163: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
This might be my favorite pick in the draft. Demmings may have played in the FCS, but he was dominant at that level. He thrived at the Senior Bowl, showing that his ability wasn’t a fluke against a higher level of competition. He’s going to be a fun project for Flores to develop, and a great value pick overall.
Grade: A
Round 6, No. 198: Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
The Vikings traded No. 234 and one of their three sixth-round picks for Claiborne, which makes this a little bit more complicated. He’s a speed rusher who will provide juice to a room that needs it. Here’s where I differ from most people: I don’t see Claiborne as a top-two running back long-term, and I especially don’t love the process of trading a sixth in 2027.
Grade: C-
Round 7, No. 235: Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati
This is an interesting pick. Gerhardt is a four-year starter who has played 3,374 snaps for the Bearcats. He’s a decent athlete with experience at the position, and it offers the Vikings another option at center to compete with Michael Jurgens for the backup role.
Grade: B-
Final word
Overall, I think the Vikings did a really good job in doing what they had to do to get a lot of depth on the roster. They needed to find talent to maximize having youth on a rookie contract. They attacked multiple areas of need and got players at good value. There are multiple upside plays for the Vikings in this class. The process was good, and that’s important with this discussion.
Final Grade: B+
