Vikings Defensive Line

Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings took a big free agent swing at boosting the talent on the defensive line. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, at the time, felt like great additions to a defensive line that only had Harrison Phillips as an established player. After trading Phillips to the New York Jets in the summer and cutting loose Allen and Hargrave, following a modest on-field return for those free agency dollars, earlier this offseason, the Vikings were left with an underrated and unheralded collection of defensive linemen. It’s a plucky, fun group with potential. Despite that potential, the Vikings approached last week’s NFL Draft with defensive line at the top of the need list. The position was addressed in the draft this season much like it was addressed in free agency last season. For what it’s worth, I’ll always prefer the draft approach. 

In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings went big, literally, with the selection of giant Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. If multiple broken foot issues hadn’t clouded his evaluation, Banks has the talent and potential to be a top-10 pick in nearly any draft. The draft is all about potential and Banks is loaded with potential. His ceiling is as high as a franchise-defining player. I was both surprised and thrilled with Caleb Banks as the Vikings pick in the first round. I was even more surprised and thrilled with Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange as the Vikings pick in the third round. I really liked that the team doubled-down on improving the defensive line. 

Minnesota has a great defensive line tradition. Over six decades of following the Vikings, I’ve been excited about a lot of the team’s defensive lines. This group has me excited.

Jalen Redmond

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Eric Johnson II

Monkell Goodwine

Despite a stuttering start to his professional career, Jalen Redmond has emerged as an impact player. He signed his exclusive rights free agent tender but he deserves a long-term deal. At 27, he’s definitely earned the riches and security of a long-term deal. I can’t wait to see him next to talented giants like Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The starting defensive line projects as:

Jalen Redmond - Domonique Orange - Caleb Banks

While I can’t wait to see that trio on the field, I really like the depth of Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Elijah Williams. Because I liked the potential of Rodriguez, Ingram-Dawkins, and Williams so much, there was a pre-draft thought that defensive line wasn’t the need that many made it out to be. I’m glad the actual decision-makers didn’t see it like I did. The position now projects as a team strength. 

With the unfortunate trade of outside linebacker backer Jonathan Greenard, there’s a chance that Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins might, on occasion, set up a little wider as a situational edge rusher. Drafted in the second round, linebacker Jake Golday might factor into the defensive front rotation. Even with the Greenard trade, the Vikings defense got better in the last week. It’s mostly because of the gigantic rookie duo of Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. I can’t wait to see them and this new Vikings defense on the field. 

Minnesota Vikings GM Search

Early May is supposed to be the start of some idle time in the NFL calendar. It’s the post-draft days with some minicamp action. There’s draft pick and scattered free agent signings. The Minnesota Vikings have picked this time to handle some serious football business. They are looking for a new general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired late enough in the process that Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf decided it better to wait until after the draft to find a new general manager. They were criticized by many for the wait but I agreed with it then and agree with it still. Adofo-Mensah was fired on January 30. A proper search would’ve lasted a few weeks. A new hire would’ve probably happened after the Scouting Combine and on top of the start of free agency. A wait was made easier with Rob Brzezinski in the building. He’s been a big part of the Vikings team-building process for all of the 2000s. It was easy to tap him as interim GM. Despite the constant honking of pundits against the decision, the Vikings draft evaluation process was probably more coordinated than it’s been in years. Enough so, that Brzezinski is a strong candidate for the GM job moving forward. If that happens, I wouldn’t be upset with it but I’d prefer he return to his old job. He’s too important to the Vikings franchise to be on the annual chopping block. An unfortunate aspect of the NFL general manager job is always being a bad draft, or two, away from looking for a new job. I’d rather Brzezinski not be in that sort of position. He’s too important to the organization. 

Three months ago, the Wilfs said that the new general manager search would start after the draft. The draft is in the past and the Vikings general manager search has started. Ownership said that it would be done in secret with the help of search firm TurnkeyZRG. I would’ve assisted for free. After Aofo-Mensah was fired, I made a GM Wish List. 

Chad Alexander - Chargers Assistant GM

John McKay - Rams Assistant GM

Mike Bradway - Assistant GM

James Liifert - Texans Assistant GM

Ed Dodds - Colts Assistant GM

Terrance Gray - Bills Assistant GM

Ryan Cowden - Patriots VP of Player Personnel

Andy Weidl - Steelers Assistant GM

Reed Burkhardt - Broncos Assistant GM

Trent Kirchner - Seahawks VP of Player Personnel

Most of the above, and some others, have made the list of potential candidates put out by the Athletic’s Alec Lewis and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. For some reason, a few pundits and some fans have tossed out Broncos GM George Paton as a possibility. How someone can suggest a currently employed GM as a possibility is a mystery to me. 

Three months removed from making that initial list of candidates, I’ve thinned it to the following:

Chad Alexander

James Liifert

Terrance Gray

Reed Burkhardt

Trent Kirchner

Again, I wouldn’t be against Rob Brzezinski getting the job but I’d prefer he didn’t. A negative to him even being a candidate is that it probably takes him out of the decision-making process. Of course, I’ve never met any of the candidates and only know them through their published history. So, it seems silly to even make a personal list of candidates let alone have a favorite. It’s what fans do. It’s definitely what this fan does. Chad Alexander has been my favorite from the start. James Liifert and Terrance Gray have since joined him as a trio of favorites. 

This is supposed to be the idle time. These are supposed to be the days waiting for draft pick-signing news. Maybe a free agent addition, or two. Instead, the Vikings decision-makers have a gigantic decision in front of them. It’s a decision that will significantly impact on the present and future of the franchise. They must get it right. 

A Vikings Lineup

The Minnesota Vikings had nine selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

1. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

2. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

3. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5. Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5. Chuck Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin

6. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7. Gavin Gerhardt. C, Cincinnati

While the nine picks only had a 5:4 split between defense and offense, it felt very much like a defense-centric draft. That happens when four of the top five picks went defense. The four offensive players might eventually earn significant roles. Only one projects as an immediate starter. The impact of the five defensive players will be seen soon. At least, they better. A couple were selected with an immediate impact in mind. 

Here’s a look at a potential starting lineup for this season.

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
LT	Christian Darrisaw
LG	Donovan Jackson
C	Blake Brandel
RG	Will Fries
RT	Brian O’Neill
TE	T.J. Hockenson
WR	Jordan Addison
QB	Kyler Murray
RB	Aaron Jones
FB	Max Bredeson

Rookie fullback Max Bredeson was selected as an immediate heir to C.J. Ham. Bredeson’s sledge-hammer blocking will make an impact on the Vikings offense. Other than the free agent addition of quarterback Kyler Murray, the rest of the offense carries over from last season. Unlike last season, the offense, especially the offensive line, must stay on the field. 

Defense

DE	Caleb Banks
NT	Domonique Orange
DE	Jalen Redmond
OLB	Dallas Turner
LB	Blake Cashman
LB	Eric Wilson
OLB	Andrew Van Ginkel
CB	Byron Murphy Jr.
CB	Isaiah Rodgers
S	Josh Metellus
S	Jay Ward

I can not wait to see first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange incorporated into the defensive line. The Vikings had an interesting group of talented but unheralded defensive linemen but they had nothing like Banks and Orange. The two combine for about 660 pounds of moving, immovable football mass. The Vikings front, and as a result the entire defense, will look so different. For the pass three years, the schemes of defensive coordinator Brian Flores have been the driving force of a mostly successful Vikings defense. Now, Flores is able to pepper those schemes with some elite talent up front. While probably not first-team players in their first year, Jake Golday, Jakobe Thomas, and Chuck Demmings could earn impactful playing time. 

At the safety position, it’s still possible that Harrison Smith returns for his 15th season. 

Special Teams

K	Will Reichard
P	Brett Thorson
LS	Andrew DePaola
KR	Demond Claiborne
PR	Myles Price

One of the most intense competitions of training camp might be at punter. Both contenders are new to the team. Very veteran Johnny Hekker was signed this offseason. Georgia punter Brett Thorson was signed as an undrafted free agent. Despite going undrafted, Thorson was arguably the best punter in the draft. The only holdup with his candidacy for the position is that he never held in college. Maintaining a smooth kicking rhythm between Will Reichard, Andrew DePaola, and the holder might be as critical to the punting job as punting. 

Myles Price handled both kick and punt returns last season. I have sixth-round running back Demond Claiborne penciled in for the kick return job this season. 

There are only a handful of changes on offense, defense, and special teams but they are significant changes. Especially the defensive line changes. 

 

Is The NFL Draft Coming To Minnesota

Word around the league is that Minneapolis-St. Paul is the “clear favorite” to host the 2028 NFL Draft. The NFL’s events committee is scheduled to meet next week to discuss the matter, with an ownership vote expected at their May 19-20 meeting in Orlando. 

In March, the Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events submitted to the league a bid to host the annual event. The plan had the spectacular US Bank Stadium as the center of the draft weekend with events in St. Paul, the Mall of America, and the Viking Lakes development around the team’s TCO Performance Center in Eagan. 

While Minnesota is “a clear favorite” at the moment, the league’s decision-makers can always spin to another location on a whim. Few things are predictable in the NFL. Fewer things are predictable amongst an exclusive club of rich folks. Seeing as the draft has been held in Chicago (2x), Detroit, and Green Bay during it’s recent travels, it should be held in Minnesota simply to check off all of the NFC North teams. 

The NFL Draft became a nomadic event in 2015. 

2015: Chicago, IL

2016: Chicago, IL

2017: Philadelphia, PA

2018: Arlington, TX

2019: Nashville, TN

2020: Virtual due to the global pandemic

2021: Cleveland, OH

2022: Las Vegas, NV

2023: Kansas City, MO

2024: Detroit, MI

2025: Green Bay, WI

2026: Pittsburgh, PA

2027: Washington DC

2028: Minnesota?

The NFL Draft became a thing in 1936. For the first five decades, it was a barely noticeable thing. For the next couple decades, it was a noticeable thing. For the past three decades, the NFL Draft has become a very big thing. The ridiculous growth of the NFL Draft has been a very curious thing. A movie was even made about the damn thing. 

When the draft went on the road in 2015, it felt new because it had been held in New York City for the previous fifty years. Before becoming a New York staple in 1965, the draft roamed about for thirty years.

Pre-2015 draft locations:

1936: Philadelphia, PA

1937: New York City, NY

1938: Chicago, IL

1939: New York City, NY

1940: Milwaukee, WI

1941: Washington DC

1942-43: Chicago, IL

1944: Philadelphia, PA

1945-47: New York City, NY

1948: Pittsburgh, PA

1949-50: Philadelphia, PA

1951: Chicago, IL

1952: New York City, NY

1953-54: Philadelphia, PA

1955: New York City, NY

1956-61: Philadelphia, PA

1962-64: Chicago, IL

1965-2014: New York City, NY

I have been, and always will be, fascinated with the NFL Draft. The draft as an event, it’s critical part in team-building, it’s history. All of it. It all fascinates me. 

A Pick That Traveled

Every pick in every NFL Draft has a story. Some are a little more interesting than the rest. The 198th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft has one of the interesting stories. That pick was the 17th pick of the sixth round. The Minnesota Vikings used it to select Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne. The story of the 198th pick ended where it began. In between, it’s a story of a pick that traveled. 

The traveling started during the 2024 NFL season. 

October 15, 2024

The Minnesota Vikings acquired running back Cam Akers and a 2026 7th round pick from the Houston Texans for a 2026 6th round pick. 

March 13, 2025

The Houston Texans acquired guard Ed Ingram from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 6th round pick.

March 15, 2025

The Minnesota Vikings acquired running back Jordan Mason and a 2025 6th round pick from the San Francisco 49ers for a 2025 5th round pick and a 2026 6th round pick. 

October 28, 2025

The San Francisco 49ers acquired defensive end Keion White and a 2026 7th round pick from the New England Patriots for a 2026 6th round pick. 

April 25, 2026

The Minnesota Vikings acquired the 2026 6th round pick from the New England Patriots for a 2026 7th round pick and a 2027 6th round pick. 

The sixth round pick that bounced from Minnesota to Houston to Minnesota to San Francisco to New England and finally back to Minnesota was the 198th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Vikings held it twice before they finally used it to select Demond Claiborne. Many picks are held by multiple teams. Very few are held by one team multiple times. In this case it was held by one team on three separate occasions. The Vikings held the 198th pick non continuously in 2024, 2025, and 2026. I’d be real surprised if that’s ever happened in NFL history. 

A Vikings 2026 running back depth chart projection:

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Demond Claiborne

Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of the travels of the 198th pick is that it was used to bring both Jordan Mason and Demond Claiborne to Minnesota. How often has one pick been used to add two players to a single position group? I’m guessing maybe never. 

More Draft Hauls That I Liked

Knee-jerk draft grades are stupid are here are more draft hauls that I liked. 

More Draft Hauls That I Liked

Miami Dolphins

1. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

1. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

2. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

3. Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech

3. Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State

3. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

4. Trey Moore, Edge, Texas

4. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

5. Michael Taffle, S, Texas

5. Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Missouri

5. Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State

6. DJ Campbell, G, Texas

7. Max Llewellyn, Edge, Iowa

The Miami Dolphins are in the process of a franchise reset. It’s nice to start it with 13 draft selections. This draft haul is among my favorites mostly for Chris Johnson, Jacob Rodriguez, and Kyle Louis. Selecting two of my favorite linebackers is just being selfish. Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. are an interesting trio of receivers to replace Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

New York Giants

1. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

1. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

2. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee 

3. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

6. Bobby Jamison-Travis, DT, Auburn

6. J.C. Davis, OT, Illinois

6. Jack Kelly, LB, BYU

If a team has two picks among the top ten, that team should have a dynamite draft haul. In Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa, the New York Giants did select two players that should make an immediate impact. Colton Hood and Malachi Fields were excellent Day 2 picks. I really like Jack Kelly as well.

New York Jets

1. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

1. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

1. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

2. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

4. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

4. Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

6. Anez Cooper, G, Miami

7. VJ Payne, S, Kansas State

The New York Jets had three first round picks. They appear to have used those picks well. In D’Angelo Ponds was probably the best college corner I saw play last year. If he was four inches taller, he’d probably be a top ten pick. I really liked Darrell Jackson Jr. in the fourth round and VJ Payne feels like a steal in the seventh round.

Pittsburgh Steelers

1. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

2. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

3. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

3. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

3. Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa

4. Kade Wetjen, WR, Iowa

5. Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana

6. Gabriel Rubio, DT, Notre Dame

7. Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma

7. Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy

From Germie Bernard to Gennings Dunker to Kaden Wetjen to Eli Heidenreich, the draft of the Pittsburgh Steelers was littered with players that I liked. Nearly every pick brought an “oh man” out of me. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

2. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

3. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

4. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

5. DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson

5. Billy Schrauth, G, Notre Dame

6. Bauer Sharp, TE, LSU

From lucking into Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th pick to Ted Hurst in the third round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were charmed in the draft. Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott were fine picks. 

Some Draft Hauls That I Liked

Knee-jerk draft grades are about as stupid as a mock draft in September. I prefer to simply pick teams that selected players that I liked.

Some Draft Hauls That I Liked

Minnesota Vikings (of course)

1. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

2. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

3. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5. Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5. Chuck Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin

6. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7. Gavin Gerhardt. C, Cincinnati

The most interesting aspect of the Vikings picks is that I was surprised by all five of the players they selected over the first two days. Caleb Banks was my favorite for the 18th pick after he ripped up the Senior Bowl and performed well at the Scouting Combine. If he hadn’t broken his foot Indianapolis, I wouldn’t have been surprised by his selection at all. After all, defensive tackle was one of the team’s biggest needs and he has the potential to be elite. The foot issues dropped him to more of a second-round curiosity. If the Vikings are good with his medicals, I’m fine with them. In recent years, I’ve envied teams that have selected multiple players at a particular position. The attacked a particular weakness with redundancy and potentially turned a weakness into a strength. I can not wait to see Banks and Domonique Orange on the Vikings defensive line. Jake Golday and Jakobe Thomas are excellent additions to the versatile, often position-less defense. With the offensive line injuries of last season, selecting a talented offensive tackle in third round. He immediately provides capable depth and projects as Brian O’Neill’s heir. The Day 1 and 2 selections were surprises. The Day 3 were the opposite. Max Bredeson, Chuck Demmings, and Demond Claiborne. As for Gavin Gerhardt, I expected the Vikings to address center earlier in the draft. Perhaps Connor Lew or Sam Hecht at the end of the third? It’s a shame the Vikings didn’t have a pick in the fourth.

Baltimore Ravens 

1. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

2. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

3. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC

4. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

4. Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU

5. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke

5. Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama

5. Adam Randall, RB, Clemson

6. Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State

7. Rayshaun Benny, DL, Michigan

7. Evan Beernsten, G, Northwestern

The Baltimore Ravens annually haul in one of my favorite draft classes. Every year, they sit back and let the draft fall to them. It’s actually kind of annoying. Olaivavega Ioane was the guard and arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft. Of course, guard was one of the biggest needs of the Ravens and he fell to the middle of the first round simply because he plays guard. If Ioane played tackle the way he plays guard, he’d probably be one of the first five picks. Zion Young falls to the Ravens in the second. Ja’Kobi Lane falls to the Ravens in the third. Chandler Rivers falls to the Ravens in the fifth. It was a typical Ravens draft. Annoying.

Carolina Panthers

1. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

2. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

3. Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee 

4. Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

5. Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

5. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

7. Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami (OH)

Lee Hunter, Chris Brazzell II, Will Lee III, Sam Hecht, and Zakee Wheatley were among my favorite players in the draft. As a result, the Carolina Panthers draft haul was a favorite. 

Cleveland Browns

1. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

1. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

2. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

3. Austin Barber, OT, Florida

5. Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama

5. Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama

5. Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati

6. Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

7. Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU

It helps to have four picks in the first two rounds. I like all four of those picks. If the Cleveland Browns can find a quarterback, the receiving duo of KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston should be fun. I like the Alabama pair in the fifth. 

Dallas Cowboys

1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

1. Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

3. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan

4. Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State

4. Devin Moore, CB, Florida

4. LT Overton, Edge, Alabama

7. Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina

The Dallas Cowboys make this list for Caleb Downs and Jaishawn Barham alone. 

Green Bay Packers

2. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

3. Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri

4. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State

5. Jager Burton, C, Kentucky

6. Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama

6. Trey Smack, K, Florida

For a team that didn’t have a first-round pick, the Green Bay Packers brought in a nice class. They mostly make this list for selecting a kicker named Smack.

Kansas City Chiefs

1. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

1. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

2. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma

4. Jadon Canada, CB, Oregon

5. Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

5. Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati

7. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Having two first-round picks, and using them on players I like, helps. The Kansas City Chiefs secured their spot on this list with the selection of Emmett Johnson.

Las Vegas Raiders

1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona

3. Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn

3. Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M

4. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee 

4. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

5. Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona

5. Hezekiah Masses, CB, Cal

6. Malik Benson, WR, Oregon

7. Brandon Cleveland, DT, NC State

The Las Vegas Raiders selected a player that started at Cal (Fernando Mendoza) and a player that finished at Cal (Hezekiah Masses). That alone puts the Raiders on this list. Treydan Stukes and Trey Zuhn III were two of my favorites.