The 2026 NFL Draft has concluded, which means it's time for pundits and analysts to give their grades for every team, even though these prospects have played a down in the pros just yet. But there is plenty to grade on, such as the level of talent drafted and which prospects each team left on the board after their selection.
The Minnesota VIkings' draft class was interesting, to say the least. They weren't declared one of the winners of the draft; let's just say that much. One prominent draft expert wasn't a fan of the Vikings' draft class, and of course, we're talking about ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper unveiled his official draft grades for each team on Sunday morning. For the Vikings, he gave them a "C" grade, which is the lowest grade he gave out to teams. Kiper said the Vikings "just didn't do enough to move the needle."
Mel Kiper Jr. gives the Minnesota Vikings a 'C' for their 2026 draft class
Kiper wasn't a fan of the Vikings using their first-round pick on Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Other outlets felt the same way. While Kiper called Banks a "good player," he wasn't a fan of the Vikings leaving Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman on the board, who went 25th overall to the rival Chicago Bears. Additionally, Kiper pointed out that Banks has an issue with his left foot, which he broke twice. That, and Kiper said that he had four defensive tackles ranked higher than Banks.
"He's at his best as a run stuffer, closing gaps with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, and he brings scheme versatility to the table," said Kiper. "But his left foot has been a major problem.
"He broke it early last season and was limited to three games. Then he broke it again at the combine, requiring surgery and putting him on the sideline until at least June. That was enough to push him down the Big Board a little bit. I had him ranked 62nd, so taking him at No. 18 was too rich. I was mostly surprised Minnesota passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, but even among the defensive tackles, I had four guys ranked higher, starting with Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald."
Defensive tackle was an obvious area of need for the Vikings, especially after they parted ways with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in the offseason. Minnesota had its pick of defensive tackles, as none had been drafted before they were on the clock with the 18th overall pick. They chose Banks over Woods, who went 29th to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Kayden McDonald, who went 36th to the Houston Texans.
It wasn't all criticisms from Kiper. He was a fan of the Vikings using their 97th overall pick on Northwestern offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan, who he had ranked 47 spots higher than where he was drafted. Kiper also liked the 163rd overall pick on Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings, who had 37 pass breakups and nine interceptions through four seasons.
Look, you don't have to take Kiper's analysis to heart. It's up to the Vikings to prove themselves right once the 2026 season begins. From there, if it does work out, they can take a victory lap. As of now, though, they will have to hear the criticisms from experts like Kiper.
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