Minnesota Vikings 2026 Draft Picks

I try to avoid Minnesota Vikings draft thoughts in the middle of a season. While this season hasn’t gone as hoped, or dreamed, it’s far from over. At 4-6 and looking up at all three division rivals, there’s about zero room for further stumbles. The Vikings website recently posted the team’s 2026 current draft picks. Due to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s willingness to trade, it’s often difficult to keep track of the Vikings draft picks. Even in the middle of the season, it was interesting to see the current draft pick status.

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Draft Picks

First Round

Second Round

Third Round

Fifth Round (from Eagles in the 2025 Sam Howell trade)

Sixth Round (from Colts in the 2025 Mekhi Blackmon trade)

Seventh Round

Seventh Round (from Texans in the 2024 Cam Akers trade)

Seventh Round (from Panthers in the 2025 Adam Thielen trade)

The Vikings currently hold eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. By comparison, the team entered the 2025 NFL Draft with four draft picks (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th). 

The picks in 2026 will be further supplemented by at least one compensatory pick. There was a time when it looked the Vikings could receive as many as three compensatory picks. That’s faded a bit with the playing time of some players. Daniel Jones winning the quarterback job of the Colts initially put a pick in the Vikings pocket. Apparently, Eric Wilson’s playing time in Minnesota has canceled out that pick. Not being a compensatory pick specialist, this is puzzling to me. Jones has a $14 million contract. Wilson has a $2.6 million contract. Jones has been a revelation as the Colts starter. Wilson has been terrific as a rotational/situational linebacker. Contract and pay, there’s nothing about Wilson’s pay and play that should cancel out Jones. It’s a mystery. With that apparent cancellation, the Vikings are down to a single additional pick. They will get the first compensatory pick at the end of the third round for losing Sam Darnold. That added pick will give the Vikings nine picks and fill the current fourth-round hole in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Now, back to the 2025 NFL season.