It is a bit sad that we are only heading into Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, but the Minnesota Vikings have their fans already looking ahead to what the team might pursue during the 2026 NFL Draft.
There is plenty of debate over what direction would be smartest for the Vikings to take during the next draft. The team has some obvious needs in the defensive secondary, but could also use help in several other places.
Although mock drafts are often wrong, they are a fun way to get an idea of which direction some experts think Minnesota will go when they are on the clock. Plus, it's a great way to get to know some prospects if you don't follow college football closely.
A well-respected draft analyst predicts that the Minnesota Vikings will add an interior monster during the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN's Matt Miller recently published his predictions for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Sadly, he has the Minnesota Vikings choosing at No. 12 overall. This means the purple and gold will be nowhere near sniffing the playoff picture this season.
However, he has the Vikings selecting Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods in that slot. Woods is a six-foot-three, 315-pound disruptor who draws some comparisons to NFL defender Quinnen Williams.
Miller does add that Minnesota could look to replace safety Harrison Smith at safety, but also says it could be tough to pass on a player like Woods if he is available when the Vikings are on the clock in the first round.
Although the Vikings have some older players, such as Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, on the defensive line, they also have some younger talent on the rise that would make this pick seem like a much lower priority than cornerback.
Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Elijah Williams are all players on the 53-man roster who could have a bright future on the defensive line in Minnesota. Their potential could be another reason the Vikings might go in a different direction.
It will be interesting to see if the defensive line is the first position addressed by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft. Most people will agree that the offense doesn't need an accumulation of talent, but the position the team chooses to select first in the draft will say a lot about the trust they have in players at other positions.