The draft is over and most of the grades are in and they are kind of middle of the road. Most are at a C which could be worse if everyone else gets As and Bs. But who really cares if other folks do not say nice things about the team? Are you truly a fan that lives for draft grades? It all amounts to a big fart sound!

I think the draft was excellent when you consider the moves they made (and did not make) this offseason. I know some will think I am a homer pushing the company line but you really do not know me or my history since 2009 on this site. I have been very critical most of the time because I obviously think I can do a better job. What kind of wanna-be GM would I be if I did not think this way?

Anyway, I digress. The team let their two veteran defensive tackles go and did not sign one veteran to replace them which left most of us wondering WTF was going on. We tried to talk ourselves into the current defensive tackles on the roster but deep down we knew we were in more trouble than a little bit. We still could be depending on these youts.

I suppose we should have seen the writing on the wall and should have known they would target defensive tackles in this draft.

Caleb Banks is the gem of this draft and his injury has scared off many who probably have not even bothered to get more information before casting their judgments. He recorded a 12.1% pressure rate and a combined 53 quarterback pressures during the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Florida. His pass rush production peaked in 2024, where he led the Gators with 29 pressures and achieved a 20% win rate on true pass sets. His 20% win rate on true pass sets in 2024 ranked in the 88th percentile for interior defensive linemen.

Domonique Orange is categorized as a high-level run-stopper with a 80.4 career run-defense grade. While his 2025 seasonal grade of 67.4 ranked lower than the top tier (472nd among interior defenders), his two-year body of work places him among the top 20 Power Four interior defenders for run defense. Unlike the more mobile Lee Hunter, Orange spent over 90% of his snaps at the 0-1 technique (aligned over the center), making him a specialized “anchor” for 3-3-5 or odd-front defenses. His impact is often felt more through disruption than production. While Kayden McDonald led the class with a 13.8% run-stop rate, Orange’s value is tied to “dirty work”—occupying double teams so linebackers can flow to the ball.

With these two picks the Vikings have added the best pass rushing defensive tackle in this class and one of the top run defenders as well. That is excellent work. We hope they both pan out but based on the evidence, the decisions are about the best you could make IMO. The only worry is the foot on Caleb banks. There is nothing anyone can say that will change the minds of those whose minds are already made up. Here is a video from a Vikings fan and a foot doctor discussing in detail the type of injury Banks had …

Once you dive into the Golday pick and see the comments made by KOC, you realize that they are envisioning him to replace AVG eventually.

Last year Golday lined up everywhere on Cincinnati’s defense. Per PFF, he was in the box as a linebacker for 314 snaps, the slot on 248 snaps and on the D-line for 117 snaps.

If that sounds like Andrew Van Ginkel, you’re exactly right. It’s almost spooky how similar the two players are in size and athleticism too. Van Ginkel is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds and had a 38-inch vertical and 6.89 3-Cone drill at the NFL Combine, showing off his footwork and quickness. Golday is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds and had a 39-inch vertical and 7.02 3-Cone drill.

Golday was an elite run defender in college football with a 90.6 PFF run defense grade and he had a quality 77.5 PFF coverage grade. He was targeted 35 times and only allowed 217 yards into his coverage. As a pass rusher, the Bearcat added 18 QB pressures and produced 3.5 sacks.

He’s a very experienced player as well with over 2,000 snaps of college football.

I liked the Tiernan pick as well and I do not believe the team is going to use him at guard. He is almost 6’8″ and would be one of the two tallest guards in the NFL. It probably is worse to have defensive tackles get under his pads rather than edge rushers get around him because his arms are 3 quarters of an inch shorter than the minimum.

Notable Tackles with Sub-33 Inch ArmsRashawn Slater (33″): Although just at the typical cutoff, Slater faced heavy “short arm” criticism coming out of Northwestern. He became an All-Pro left tackle for the Chargers immediately, proving that technical refinement can nullify length concerns.

Braden Smith (32 1/4″): The Colts’ long-time starting right tackle has the exact same arm length as Tiernan. He has been a consistent, high-level performer despite being in the bottom percentile for reach.

Alaric Jackson (32 1/2″): A key starter for the Rams’ offensive line who has successfully protected the blind side with sub-33 inch arms.

Justin Pugh (32″): Drafted in the first round by the Giants, Pugh started at tackle early in his career despite having shorter arms than Tiernan. While he eventually moved to guard, he proved capable of holding his own on the edge.

Luke Goedeke (32 1/4″): The Buccaneers’ starting tackle also shares Tiernan’s measurements and has solidified himself as a reliable NFL starter.

I liked Thomas when I watched Miami. Others liked him too.Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network): Identified Thomas as a notable sleeper early in the draft cycle, specifically praising him as a player who “plays fast and physical”.

…The State of the U: Reported that while he worked “quietly and without fanfare,” multiple analysts tracking the Miami class called him the “gem of the entire group” and a player teams would regret passing on.