Vikings NFL Mock Draft Tracker 12.0: 18th overall is now a two-horse race after a shocking surge

It’s crazy how much support he’s gotten over the last few weeks.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer

Mar 23, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Nov 29, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell (8) celebrates a play against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. — Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings will be a team to monitor closely when it comes to the NFL Draft. They select 18th overall and nobody is quite sure how they are going to go about the pick. Will they trade down? Select a player at a position of dire need? Go best player available? Somehow do all three? With interim general manager Rob Brzezinski in charge, all bets are off.

What will the Vikings do? Well, we are starting to get more data on the selection at 18th overall, including 44 new mock drafts this past week.

Minnesota Vikings NFL mock draft tracker 12.0

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

“We still don’t know whether 37-year-old Harrison Smith will keep playing (and if so, whether he’ll return to Minnesota as a free agent). Joshua Metellus, Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the top safeties on the Vikings’ depth chart. In a division with Caleb Williams, Jordan Love and Jared Goff, this has to be a priority at the draft regardless of whether Smith is back for Year 15.

I had Thieneman to the Vikings in my last mock draft. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting creative with Thieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways.” – Kiper Jr.

I watched three more games, and I still don't see Dillon Thieneman as a player worthy of a first-round pick. Think I'm just going to be against consensus on this one, and I'm okay with that https://t.co/WRR0fFzbsx
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) March 22, 2026

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

“The Vikings accumulate more capital (acquired pick no. 70 overall) and still land a player that significantly helps their defense. McNeil-Warren creates turnovers, is a physical downhill presence and solves a need for Brian Flores.” – Rogers

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Scouting Report

“Minnesota may be able to make its current collection of defensive backs work with James Pierre, Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr., but Avieon Terrell gives the team insurance and flexibility with the ability to play inside and out.” – Edwards

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

“Defensive tackle is arguably the biggest need for the Vikings. They let go of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen after just one season in purple and gold, leaving a gaping hole on the defensive line. It hasn’t been a great process for the Tigers’ defensive tackle, but Woods has the well-rounded ability to thrive in Flores’ system and be an explosive pass rusher on the interior.” – Forness

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

“The Vikings have a few flavors of prospects they could go after with their first-round pick. There are a couple of interesting safety options, they could look to find the T.J. Hockenson replacement in Kenyon Sadiq, or they could add some tangible beef to their defensive line. Brian Flores is going to scheme pressures and big plays for his defense, but the Vikings could use someone to eat up blocks to let teammates fly to the football. McDonald isn’t the sexiest prospect, but his ability to hold up against the run is his calling card, while also having light enough feet to be used on the twists and stunts that Flores loves so much. McDonald is basically the defensive version of the line of thinking that led to the Donovan Jackson selection last year at offensive guard: a tangible trench talent who can let the creative coaches be creative.” – Tice and McDonald

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Scouting Report

“A lot of the defensive talent the Vikings could use is already gone at this point. Jermod McCoy will be a gamble, but the 2024 film he showcased is good enough to have him justify being picked here despite missing 2025.” – Harbaugh

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Draft Network’s Mason Johnstone

“Mansoor Delane is one of the best cover corners in the class. Adding him to the Brian Flores defense gives the Vikings the necessary firepower to trust their back end in the elaborate coverage rotations and pressure packages they’ve coveted since the Flores hire.” – Johnstone

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Scouting Report

A to Z Sports’ Ryan Roberts

“Yes, I’m fully aware this is probably the highest you have seen Johnson in a mock draft. The second half of the first round could get a little funky, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see a team value Johnson’s overall mix of long speed, scheme diversity, and coverage upside.” – Roberts

Overview

We are now through 12 weeks of the mock draft tracker and have collected 315 mock drafts in total. Last year at this time, it was 367, which is a significantly small sample size. It’s one reason why there have only been 24 players sent to the Vikings in a weaker draft class.

What is surprising is that Thieneman has now caught up to Terrell after a whopping 28 selections this past week. Yes, 28 selections. It’s getting a little bit ridiculous how much the group think has taken over, but that’s how things work in the NFL Draft space. Will that calm down now that we are a few weeks removed from the NFL Scouting Combine, only time will tell. Here are the selections for each player over the last 12 weeks.

Player	Selections
S Dillon Thieneman	72
CB Avieon Terrell	72
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren	42
CB Jermod McCoy	18
DT Kayden McDonald	18
DT Caleb Banks	14
CB Mansoor Delane	14
DT Peter Woods	12
CB Colton Hood	10
RB Jeremiyah Love	10
CB Brandon Cisse	6
WR Denzel Boston	5
TE Kenyon Sadiq	4
LB C.J. Allen	4
OG Olaivavega Ioane	3
DT A’Mauri Washington	2
WE Makai Lemon	2
CB Chris Johnson	2
WR Carnell Tate	1
WR Jordyn Tyson	1
EDGE Keldric Faulk	1
OT Kadyn Proctor	1
QB Ty Simpson	1
EDGE T.J. Parker	1
Total	315