Another Mock Draft

Yesterday, the Denver Broncos overpaid the Miami Dolphins for receiver Jaylen Waddle. In exchange for the receiver, the Broncos sent a first-, a third-, and a fourth-round pick to the Dolphins. That’s a lot of picks for one little receiver. To help offset the overpay a bit, the Broncos do get a fourth-round pick back from the Dolphins. There are, once again, five teams with two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

New York Jets: 2,16

Cleveland Browns: 6,24

Kansas City Chiefs: 9,29

Miami Dolphins: 11,30

Dallas Cowboys: 12,20

About a week ago, the Las Vegas Raiders were one of the five team with two first-round picks. Then, the Maxx Crosby trade fell through. Now, that fifth team is the Dolphins. Despite the overpay, I doubt the Broncos will get cold feet will follow the Ravens and renege on the deal. 

Now, there’s a need for another mock draft. 

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2.   New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

4.   Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

5.   New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

6.   Cleveland Browns: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

7.   Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8.   New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami 

9.   Kansas City Chiefs: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

16. New York Jets (from Colts): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

19. Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

25. Chicago Bears: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

26. Buffalo Bills: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

28. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

30. Miami Dolphins: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

31. New England Patriots: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Until the next one. 

Top Remaining Free Agents

After a furious first few days of free agency, signings have slowed considerably. After that first wave, the next wave looks to be more like a trickle. Here are some of the best available free agents.

Top Remaining Free Agents

1.   Juaun Jennings, WR

2.   L’Jarius Sneed, CB

3.   Tyreek Hill, WR

4.   Kirk Cousins, QB

5.   Taylor Decker, OT

6.   Deebo Samuel, WR

7.   David Njoku, TE

8.   Kyle Dugger, S

9.   A.J. Epenesa, DL

10. Wyatt Teller, G

11. Cameron Jordan, Edge

12. D.J. Reader, DL

13. Joey Bosa, Edge

14. Jonnu Smith, TE

15. Hollywood Brown, WR

16. Stefon Diggs, WR

17. Trevon Diggs, CB

18. Bobby Okereke, LB

19. Calais Campbell, DL

20. Joel Bitonio, G

21. Jadeveon Clowney, Edge

22. Haason Reddick, Edge

23. Brian Robinson Jr., RB

24. Kevin Zeitler, G

25. Darren Waller, TE

26.. Kyle Van Noy, Edge

27. Lloyd Cushenberry, C

28. Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge

29. Logan Wilson, LB

30. Kenneth Murray, LB

Some bargains can be found. 

Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft Monday

It’s Monday and the start of a new week closer to the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s another Minnesota Vikings mock draft. With last week’s announcement of the compensatory picks, we finally know the draft picks that the Vikings hold.

Minnesota Vikings Draft Picks

1. #18

2. #49

3. #82

3. #97 - compensatory

5. #163 - from Philadelphia Eagles 

6. #196 - from Indianapolis Colts

7. #234 

7. #235 - from Carolina Panthers

7. #244 - from Houston Texans

Another Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft

1. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

2. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

3. Connor Lew, C, Auburn

3. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

5. Zane Durant, DL, Penn State 

6. John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming

7. Kade Wetjen, WR, Iowa

7. Tristan Leigh, OT, Clemson

7. Brett Thorson, P, Georgia

I can’t seem to fit a linebacker into very many of these damn mock drafts. It’s become a pattern. With every mock attempted, I try to find the following positions.

Cornerback

Safety

Center 

Running Back

Defensive Lineman

Linebacker

Receiver

Tight End

With nine picks, it should be easy to address eight positions. I can’t seem to do it. In this draft, I failed to find a linebacker. As often as linebacker, the missing position is tight end. I guess there’s never enough picks to address every position. 

It’s early and I’ve already fallen for several players in the 2026 Draft.

Dillion Thieneman, S Oregon

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech

Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma

Kaleb Proctor, DL, Southeastern Louisiana 

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

Connor Lew, C, Auburn

Logan Jones, C, Iowa

Brian Parker II, C, Duke

Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa

I wish that I could jam all of the above players into a Vikings draft.

A Vikings Offense

With only two outside signings, the Minnesota Vikings haven’t been active in free agency. One of those signings was quarterback Kyler Murray. Signing a former #1 pick quarterback with unique and elite talents is a significant addition. Despite a stated competition with incumbent J.J. McCarthy, Murray is penciled in as the Vikings starting quarterback in 2026. Picturing Kyler Murray in the Vikings offense has been fun. Here’s a look at the potential offense. 

Vikings 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
TE	Josh Oliver

The Vikings have rostered a fullback since 1961. With C.J. Ham retiring, it’ll be interesting to see if that continues. Until that question is answered, I’m listing second tight end Josh Oliver in place of a fullback. With or without a fullback, the Vikings often play with two tight ends. As for three-receiver sets, the Vikings lost #3 Jalen Nailor to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton is the next receiver up. 

On paper, this Vikings offense looks exciting and explosive. None of that will happen if the offensive line injuries and inconsistencies of last season creep into this season. If the five starters play together for, hopefully, the entire season, this offense is going to shred defenses. For now, Blake Brandel is a placeholder at the center position. I’m expecting the Vikings to find their center of the present and the future on Day 2 of the draft. Brandel can potentially back up all five positions. It isn’t glamorous but that could be his greatest value too the team. 

Other than center, the Vikings offensive starters already feel settled. That doesn’t mean there aren’t needs. I can see a receiver being added in free agency. Otherwise, supplemental additions will be found in the draft. The offensive draft needs:

Running Back

Tight End

Wide Receiver

Offensive Line depth - potentially an eventual heir to Brian O’Neill at right tackle

Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason form a nice 1-2 combination at running back. Jones is 31. I expect the Vikings to search for their next running back on Day 2 of the draft. They have three Day 2 picks. I’m already penciling in center and running back for two of those three picks. I sure hope the draft falls their way. The Vikings tight end situation is near identical to their running back situation. T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver are a nice 1-2. The coming season is probably Hockenson’s last in Minnesota. Their next tight end could be found on Day 3 of the draft. 

I still have faith in J.J. McCarthy. Despite that faith, I’m really looking forward to seeing Kyler Murray lead this offense in 2026. Then, the Vikings will have a decision to make this time next year. 

Remaining Minnesota Vikings Free Agency

Through two days of “legal tampering” and three days of actual free agency, the Minnesota Vikings have signed two players.

James Pierre, CB

Kyler Murray, QB

Other than the fireworks of signing a quarterback of Kyler Murray’s stature, it’s been a pretty quiet few days in Minnesota. It was mostly expected. The Vikings didn’t have a lot of cap space. They even had to shed and massage contracts to get to the limited cap space that they do have. They also had to luck into a league-minimum $1.3 million contract for their splashy quarterback signing. If the Vikings had to pay Murray’s market-rate contract, it wouldn’t happen. Through five days of free agency, the Vikings have handed out something like $7 million in guaranteed money. They passed that mark in past years before the first day of tampering was done. 

Again, this wasn’t expected to be an active free agency for the Vikings. It wasn’t because of a lack of needs. They have plenty of needs. Most are going to be addressed in the draft. The Vikings must reverse their recent draft woes. Those woes resulted in a reliance on free agency. That’s an expensive way to exist in the NFL. The roster isn’t peppered with young, home-grown talent. That’s the main reason Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is working in San Francisco and no longer directing drafts in Minnesota. Still, there are a few needs that should be addressed in the remaining days of free agency. Here are some that I see,

QB3

WR3

Safety

Defensive Line

Head coach Kevin O’Connell and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski have both mentioned the need to create the strongest quarterback room possible. That’s a good strategy. Even after signing Kyler Murray to “compete” with J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings need a very capable #3. No more trotting out an ill-prepared Jaren Hall or Max Brosmer for must-win regular season games. Or any regular season games. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the top of the receiver group is outstanding. Jalen Nailor’s departure opened the need for a third receiver. Perhaps, last year’s third-round pick Tai Felton makes that role his own. Even if that happens, the Vikings need some quality depth. A couple years ago, safety was a strength in both quality and quantity. Cam Bynum departed last offseason. Harrison Smith may or may not retire this offseason. I can’t imagine a Vikings defense without #22. I don’t want to see a Vikings defense without #22. Whether he returns or retires, the position is in transition. I expect safety to be addressed in the first couple rounds of the draft. It’d be nice to add a veteran in free agency. As for defensive line, the Vikings currently roster a very young and intriguing collection of undrafted, underrated, unheralded football players. I’m so taken by this group that, despite their unheralded status, I’d rather see the Vikings add to the group than replace them. A veteran addition could help. So, with those positions in mind, here are some of the players I wouldn’t mind seeing the Vikings sign. 

Carson Wentz, QB

Juaun Jennings/Christian Kirk, WR

Kyle Dugger, S

AJ Epenesa, DL

The league-wide free agent activity of the first week has left slim pickings. With what’s left, those players stand out. I’d like to see Carson Wentz re-signed. A quarterback room of Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, and Carson Wentz would make it easier to sleep at night. The most pricey of the above is probably Juaun Jennings. I’m actually surprised that he’s still available. Perhaps his demands are higher than the Vikings, and other teams, can or are willing to pay. Christian Kirk is perhaps a cheaper alternative that knows Murray well. I’ve been a fan of Kyle Dugger since the 2020 pre-draft process. He played the last half of the past season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. New Vikings secondary coach Gerald Alexander coached the Steelers defensive backs last season. Alexander should know if Dugger can add something to the Vikings defense. AJ Epenesa was a sold defensive presence for the Buffalo Bills and could be a very good rotational player on the Vikings defensive line. 

I believe that the above signings would set the Vikings up nicely for the draft. That should be the purpose of free agency. Fill some holes in free agency. Fill the roster with young, strong draft picks. 

The Vikings QBs

The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray. For the fourth time in franchise history, the Vikings have added a quarterback that was selected with the first pick in their draft. Murray was the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He joins the following as Vikings #1s.

George Shaw - selected #1 by the Baltimore Colts in 1955

Jeff George - selected #1 by the Indianapolis Colts in 1990

Sam Bradford - selected #1 by the St. Louis Rams in 2010

That was just a little bit of trivia that occurred to me in the wake of the Kyler Murray signing. George Shaw started the first game in Vikings franchise history. While there should be a quarterback competition with J.J. McCarthy, Murray is expected to be the starter for the next game. 

Last year, the Vikings 2025 season was derailed before it even got started. The quarterback plan was to let Sam Darnold get an unaffordable payday from another team, re-sign Daniel Jones, and have a quarterback competition with J.J. McCarthy and Jones. It was a good plan. I was for it when it was happening. A year later, I still think it was the right plan. The unexpected happened when Jones opted for a more assured starting opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts. No one can blame him for that. Where the Vikings went wrong was not immediately pivoting to another quarterback path. The team’s decision-makers didn’t address the QB2 role until a draft day trade for Sam Howell. That didn’t work and it took until late August to address it not working. In my opinion, the Vikings should’ve signed Carson Wentz about a day after Jones signed with the Colts. Criticism is always easy a year after. Anyway, the Vikings wanted no part in possibly repeating last year’s quarterback mistakes. Everyone in the building knew that they had to put together a quarterback room strong enough to plow through any adversity. They didn’t do that last year. Repeat that mistake and those involved might be looking for new jobs next year. 

Kyler Murray was the best quarterback available through trade or free agency. The Vikings signed him. Signing him for a league-minimum $1.3 million is an unbelievable plus. His addition to the roster gives the Vikings a current quarterback room very different from last year’s motley group.

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Max Brosmer

Brett Rypien

John Wolford

I expect and it’s expected that the Vikings will sign another experienced quarterback. For a variety of reasons, Carson Wentz is a leading contender. He’s my leading contender. 

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

I can get behind that group. With the way quarterback injuries derailed two of Kevin O’Connell’s four seasons as the Vikings head coach, I’d like to see the above three quarterbacks and about three practice squad quarterbacks in the QB room. 

Welcome to Minnesota, Kyler Murray. 

It’s Kyler Murray Time

The first professional football game I attended was on December 17, 1978. Vikings - Raiders in Oakland. As a young Vikings fan from California, it was the first time I saw all of my heroes live and in person. Well, all but Alan Page as he was released earlier that season. That was a damn shame. Page was my favorite Vikings player. Still is. That Vikings - Raiders game was the last regular season game of Fran Tarkenton’s fantastic career. He was the Vikings first franchise quarterback. Due to an impossible amount of bad luck and perhaps some questionable decisions, the Vikings are still looking for their next franchise quarterback. Injuries wrecked the promising careers of the top contenders. Tommy Kramer, Daunte Culpepper, and Teddy Bridgewater. It’s been nearly 50 years since Tarkenton retired. I’ve spent all of those years dreaming of the day that the Vikings find the quarterback to take the baton from Tarkenton and consistently stay on the field for more than a decade. 

Earlier this offseason, I was absolutely against the Vikings signing Kyler Murray. I have faith in J.J. McCarthy. I will continue to have faith in the kid for as long as he’s on the roster. I can often be optimistic to a fault. I know that the Vikings must have a much stronger quarterback room than they had last year. It’s not a high bar. Murray would make the room much stronger. It’d be nice if it’s made even stronger with the re-signing of Carson Wentz. That’s a decision for another day. Today’s decision concerns Kyler Murray. Many reports have him in Minnesota for a visit with the Vikings decision-makers. After dealing with the cheapness of the Arizona Cardinals for the past seven years, TCO Performance Center should feel like Valhalla in comparison. That’s gotta be a perk for keeping him in the building. Most of the talking heads across the league see the Vikings-Murray union as pretty much a done deal. There’s been too much history of “done deals” not being “done deals” for me to be settled until Murray has signed a contract. If that happens, I want to see a quarterback competition. I don’t want to see the Vikings quarterback job simply handed to Murray upon signing. I didn’t like seeing the job seemingly handed to McCarthy last year. A legitimate competition would bring the best out of everyone involved. Most would expect Murray to win the competition. He has the experience, the talent and the first-pick-in-the-draft pedigree. No matter who wins the competition, the Vikings 2026 starting quarterback will be better for it. 

Even if Kyler Murray is signed and wins the Vikings starting quarterback job, it’s not the end of J.J. McCarthy’s time in Minnesota. He’s only 23. Aaron Rodgers was 25 when he became the Green Bay Packers starter. Steve Young was 30 when he finally got his Hall of Fame started as the starter with the San Francisco 49ers. Kurt Warner was 28 when a Trent Green injury gave him a starting opportunity. McCarthy has the talent to be a long-time starter. Maybe he’s ready this year. Maybe he just needs to let everything slow down a bit. Who knows? I do know that the Vikings quarterback situation will be much better and the team will be much better if Kyler Murray is signed. I didn’t believe that a couple months ago. I believe it now.