With their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings filled a need by selecting former Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks.
On Friday, the Vikings will look to add more young talent to their 2026 roster with one pick in the second round (49th overall) and two in the third (picks No. 82 and 97).
With that selection in the second round, Minnesota should have plenty of intriguing prospects to choose from. However, one can make a pretty solid assumption about who the Vikings will attempt to draft with that pick.
Expect the Minnesota Vikings to target former Arizona DB Treydan Stukes on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft
Heading into Thursday's opening round, most assumed Minnesota would use its top draft selection on former Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. But that didn't happen, as the Vikings drafted Banks, and Thieneman came off the board a few picks later when the Chicago Bears selected him.
Minnesota still doesn't know if longtime Harrison Smith will be returning to the team for the 2026 season. So at this moment, they have a need for a safety.
That's where Treydan Stukes comes in.
The super speedy former Arizona defensive back has the versatility to line up all over the field, which is a trait that makes him a great fit for a Vikings defense run by coordinator Brian Flores.
At Arizona last season, Stukes accumulated 52 tackles, six pass breakups, four interceptions, and one sack in 10 games. He also didn't give up a single touchdown in coverage, and opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 34.4 when throwing in his direction.
At this year's NFL Scouting Combine, his stock only grew, as he clocked in at 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash and registered a 38-inch vertical. When classified as a cornerback, Stukes 9.95 relative athletic score ranks 15th out of 3,069 corners from 1987 to 2026, which is astounding.
Minnesota has a need for safety and corner, and Stukes is a player who can fill the void for both. If he's still on the board when it comes time for the Vikings to make their first pick of Day 2, no one should be shocked if they decide to select him.
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