A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings were one of the busiest teams in the NFL in regard to free agency, dishing out nearly $270 million in new contracts.
That certainly won't be the case this year, as Minnesota is currently projected to be roughly $40 million over the 2026 cap figure, which means contract restructures and cuts are on the way. It's not that Minnesota won't sign anyone, but one would assume that the bulk of the changes coming to the roster will come via the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, mock drafts are tricky this time of year, as free agency naturally dictates what a team's biggest needs will be when the draft rolls around in late April. But again, given the Vikings' situation, mocks at this point are likely to be a bit more accurate for Minnesota than other teams, at least in terms of the positions they'll be looking to add.
FanSided's Cody Williams recently constructed a three-round, post-Super Bowl mock, so let's have a quick look at what he's thinking the Vikings might do.
Minnesota Vikings add three new offensive pieces in new 2026 NFL mock draft
First-Round Pick (18th Overall)
Brandon Cisse - CB (South Carolina)
The Vikings undoubtedly need help in the secondary, and with the Vikings' first selection in the draft at No. 18 overall, Williams has them taking South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse.
"Now that we know for sure that Brian Flores is remaining in Minnesota, despite the questions about J.J. McCarthy, I suspect we'll see the new front office regime target the defense.
Brandon Cisse was good, not great, at South Carolina, but the tools are there for him to be an elite NFL defensive back.
He has a ton of juice and athleticism that Flores can take full advantage of, and the upside would be tremendous for the Vikings defense."
Now, plenty of Minnesota fans might not like this pick, as the Vikings have Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rogers, but it's important to remember that Rodgers only has one year remaining on his contract.
And if Cisse—or any other rookie corner, for that matter—can come in and impress Brian Flores quickly, there's a chance Rodgers could be moved to safety, as the Vikes need help in that regard anyway.
The biggest concern surrounding Cisse at the moment is that while he's one of the best at his position against the run, his coverage skills still need improvement.
Yes, he's incredibly athletic and has solid size and length, but he sometimes has trouble recognizing routes, which could create some problems early in his career. Nevertheless, this would be a solid long-term choice, as his overall athleticism can't be ignored.
Second-Round Pick (49th Overall)
Connor Lew - C (Auburn)
While Ryan Kelly, whom the Vikings signed to a two-year, $18 million deal last offseason, was one of the best centers in the league when on the field, the fact that he suffered three concussions this past offseason is obviously quite concerning, and he could be one of the cuts Minnesota makes to free up some salary cap space.
And perhaps that's why Williams has the Vikings using their second-round selection on Auburn's Connor Lew, who, despite not cracking the Tigers' starting lineup until midway through his first season, still earned First-Team All-SEC Freshman Team honors and has been one of the most reliable players at his position in the entire country ever since.
Lew only allowed 13 total pressures and three sacks over the last two years, and he's a fantastic run blocker as well. He has exceptional lateral quickness, and the fact that he's faced so many NFL-level defenders in the SEC will naturally help with his transition to the next level. If Kelly goes, Lew could easily be the Vikings' starting center in Week 1.
Third-Round Pick No. 1 (82nd Overall)
Jonah Coleman - RB (Washington)
With their Round 3 selection, Williams has the Vikings selecting Washington running back Jonah Coleman.
A knee injury hindered him some this past season, but in his two years with the Huskies after transferring from Arizona, the 5-foot-9, 220-pounder racked up 1,811 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry, and added another 531 yards and two scores on 54 receptions.
So, he's certainly a strong dual-threat kind of a back, much like Aaron Jones, who could be another one of those cut candidates we keep mentioning after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.
Even if Jones stays, having a third option behind him and Jordan Mason certainly isn't the worst idea in the world, especially since both Jones and Mason are currently set to play the 2026 season on the final years of their respective contracts.
Third-Round Pick No. 2 (97th Overall - Projected compensatory pick)
Antonio Williams - WR (Clemson)
As the Vikings are projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick to make up for the loss of Sam Darnold, Williams included a selection at No. 97 overall, where he sees Minnesota adding Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams, who tallied 208 catches for 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns in his four years with the Tigers.
While not the biggest guy at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Williams has 4.4 speed and is seen by some as one of the top route runners in this class.
With Minnesota likely losing Jalen Nailor to free agency, adding some wide receiver depth behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will undoubtedly be necessary.