Minnesota Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has publicly stated that the team is going to take the best player available when they are on the clock in the 2026 NFL Draft later this month.
That is one of the most canned responses a general manager can give, and a team rarely sticks to this philosophy.
A prime example is the Vikings selecting Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick a year ago. Jackson was expected to go later in the first or early in the second round, but Minnesota made a slight reach to fill a need.
That's fine, but after the draft, former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah came out and said how Jackson was the best player on the team's board.
Maybe that's true, but as fans and members of the media, we have no way of knowing because we don't get to see the team's draft board.
The Vikings have some big holes to fill in this year's draft after a solid but scant free agency class. While Minnesota might want to go best player available, they may feel forced to reach a bit to fill a need.
Who are five players the Vikings could reach for with the 18th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft?
Reaches the Minnesota Vikings could make with the No. 18 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
Any Defensive Tackle
Defensive tackle is easily the biggest need for the Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft. They released both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason, and other than Jalen Redmond, they don't have a sure thing on the depth chart.
The problem is that the need doesn't match up with the value when it comes to pick No. 18. If Minnesota addresses it with any defensive tackle prospect, it would have to be deemed a reach.
Peter Woods is a player who some analysts would consider good value here. He had a very impressive 2024 season, looking like a dominant force and a potential top-10 pick, but fell off a cliff a season ago and is ranked 37th on Daniel Jeremiah's big board.
Caleb Banks is another tempting option, but with the foot injury history and lack of production, he finds himself 42nd on Jeremiah's top 50. Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald is Jeremiah's highest-ranked player at this position, coming in at 33.
That's a negative 15 when it comes to value if the Vikings were to take the run stuffer. There are too many questions surrounding the top defensive tackles, and if Minnesota pulls the trigger at pick No. 18, it will be way too early.
Colton Hood - CB (Tennessee)
Cornerback is a little like defensive tackle this year when it comes to the 18th overall pick. There will be options on the board, but the value just isn't there.
After Monsoor Delane and Jermod McCoy, there's a group of players who are all graded very similarly. Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, Keith Abney, and Avieon Terrell are all borderline first-round players but provide better value in the second round, as they each have some flaws that are concerning.
Of that group, Jeremiah has Colton Hood ranked the highest, coming in at 25 on his board.
Hood doesn't have elite size coming in under 6-feet tall, but has good speed and is sticky in press coverage. He's a willing tackler, with smooth hips and checks most of the boxes that teams are looking for in a young cornerback who they believe could develop into a starter.
The Vikings do need a cornerback. James Pierre was brought in as a free agent, but has never been a regular starter in his career.
The depth behind Pierre, Murphy, and Rodgers is also paper-thin, so adding an early round prospect at the position isn't out of the question. However, forcing it at pick No. 18 is, as one of these players should still be on the board when Minnesota goes on the clock with the 49th pick.
Jadarian Price - RB (Notre Dame)
This would be a wild reach by the Vikings, but not completely out of the realm of possibility. Price is the 39th player on Jeremiah's board and would be a huge reach at this point, and would probably be the most shocking pick of the draft if he were the choice.
That being said, Minnesota has stated that they want an explosive back to pair with Jones and Mason, and Price is that.
Despite being second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love, Price had a solid career at Notre Dame. He rushed for 1,692 yards with 21 touchdowns and averaged six yards a tote.
Price didn't catch a ton of balls as that was Love's area, but he proved his worth in pass protection. He can also return kicks, so he adds value on special teams.
Teams often fall in love with prospects and won't hesitate to reach if they feel he won't be available when they pick next.
If that's the case with the Vikings and Price, he could be the choice, as the chances of him being on the board at pick No. 49 are slim at best. Minnesota could defend the reach by saying he was the best player on their board, and we wouldn't be able to prove them wrong, as we'll never truly see their rankings.
Akheem Mesidor - Edge (Miami)
Edge is a dark horse position the Vikings could address with the 18th overall pick. It's unclear how the Jonathan Greenard situation is going to play out, and Minnesota could look for an insurance policy early in the draft.
If they go that route, the best edge on the board could be Akheem Mesidor from Miami.
While Mesidor could be the best edge on the board, he won't be the best player available as he comes in at 23 on Jeremiah's Top 50 List.
While he'd be a slight reach, there's plenty to like about Mesidor's game. He has an ideal frame at 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds. Mesidor wins with power and violent use of his hands, but also has a motor that doesn't stop.
His college stats are eye-popping with 35.5 career sacks and 52.5 career tackles for a loss, so production isn't an issue.
Those are gaudy numbers, but those are numbers from a sixth-year senior. Yes, the biggest knock on Mesidor is that he's an old man already at 25-years-old.
Teams will be hesitant to invest early in a player who might only play for two contracts in his career. Factoring that in, and the fact that Mesidor would be a bit of a luxury pick, this would be a reach for the Vikings.
KC Concepcion - WR (Texas A&M)
A name that has garnered some attention in Minnesota draft circles is wide receiver KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M.
Again, with Kevin O'Connell and his love of the passing game, and with more control in draft decisions this year, wide receiver cannot be ruled out for the Vikings in the first round.
What makes this slightly undersized receiver intriguing is the speed at which he plays the game. He's got great long speed, but he also just does everything fast.
He explodes off the line, is lightning quick in and out of his breaks, and is a homerun threat any time the ball is in his hands, whether that is a bomb down the field or a quick-hitting bubble route.
He's intriguing, but he also has his flaws. Concepcion has suffered from the dropsies at times and also had a procedure on his knee back in March.
There's a lot to like about Concepcion, but he comes in at 29 on Jeremiah's big board. One would think that if Minnesota does go the luxury route and grab a receiver with the 18th pick, it would be with someone who is more widely regarded as being worth the value that selection brings.
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