Heading into next week's 2026 NFL Draft, most have assumed the Minnesota Vikings will likely target a safety, defensive lineman, or cornerback with their top selection. Now, a dark horse position group may be emerging as one the Vikings will fill with their top 2026 draft pick.
According to the latest odds from the DraftKings Sportsbook (as of April 15), offensive line has the third-highest odds of all the position groups Minnesota could add to with its top selection in next week's NFL Draft.
Vikings Position of First Drafted Player
Safety: +165
Defensive Line/Edge: +190
Offensive Lineman: +400
Cornerback: +425
Tight End: +1500
Running Back: +1700
Wide Receiver: +1800
Linebacker: +2000
Quarterback: +7000
Kicker/Punter/Long Snapper: +20000
(Per DraftKings Sportsbook on April 15)
Which part of the offensive line could the Minnesota Vikings look to improve with their top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
If an offensive lineman is a legit possibility for the Vikings at pick No. 18 or later next week, then they should have plenty of options to choose from.
It will really just depend on what part of the offensive line Minnesota is most interested in adding to with its top selection.
Center is easily the weakest part of the Vikings' blocking unit right now, but do they want to use a high pick to fill that need or wait until Day 2 of next week's NFL Draft to do that?
From the outside, Minnesota seems pretty set at its two starting offensive tackle spots with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill. But is there anything going on behind the scenes with these two that might cause the Vikings to draft a replacement for one of them next week?
Minnesota just used last year's first-round pick on left guard Donovan Jackson, so his job seems safe for at least a few more seasons. Looking at the right guard spot and Will Fries, however, that could be a part of the offensive line that the Vikings attempt to improve with their top 2026 draft pick.
Last offseason, Minnesota and Fries agreed to a five-year contract worth $87.72 million. His first season with the Vikings certainly wasn't encouraging, and his performance definitely didn't meet the expectations that he was given after signing his lucrative deal.
Out of 87 qualifying guards in the NFL in 2025, Fries' PFF offensive grade ranked 43rd, and only two guards in the league allowed more quarterback pressures than him last season (37).
The good news is that if Minnesota wants, it can easily get out of Fries' contract after the 2026 campaign. If the Vikings release him in the 2027 offseason, they will free up $21.5 million and be left with no dead cap from his deal.
If this is a move Minnesota is leaning toward doing after the upcoming season, then selecting someone to eventually replace Fries with their top pick next week would make sense, and it would help explain why the offensive line currently has the third-highest latest odds to be the position group that the Vikings will add to with their top 2026 draft selection.
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