Minnesota Vikings draft picks tracker: Updated list of 2026 selections, next pick predictions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings already have a really talented roster, and now they might have a winning QB, too, with Kyler Murray potentially taking over for J.J. McCarthy.
That doesn't mean the 2026 NFL Draft isn't important. On the contrary -- getting young, talented players on affordable contracts is exactly the boost the Vikings need to get back to the playoffs.
If Murray has at least (temporarily) solved the QB worries, the Vikings can focus on filling their needs elsewhere to make sure that a superstar like Justin Jefferson isn't sitting at home again during the postseason.
With the first round on Thursday, second and third rounds on Friday and fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, we'll be keeping track below of everything the Vikings do during the draft.
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The Vikings enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 9 picks to make:
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Safety: The Vikings need an heir to Harrison Smith, and there are two quality safeties potentially on the board with the 18th pick -- Dillon Thieneman from Oregon and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo.
Cornerback: You can't have too many corners in the modern NFL, and it's clear the Vikings have to upgrade the secondary to keep up with the NFC North's talented passing attacks.
Interior defensive line: The most recent Yahoo mock draft has the Vikings taking Ohio State's DT Kayden McDonald at pick 18. They could use the bulking up inside.
Here's how the Vikings' draft could look, based on the seven-round mock draft from SN's Vinnie Iyer.
The NFL Draft's first round is on Thursday, April 23.
The second and third rounds are on Friday, April 24.
The fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday, April 25.
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