1. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
2. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
3. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
3. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
5. DeMonte Capehart, DL, Clemson
6. Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
7. Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
7. Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
7. Max Bredeson, TE/FB, Michigan
This draft started different than most with USC receiver Makai Lemon dropping to the Vikings at #18. I’ve often resisted the receiver temptation when Jordan Tyson’s been available but I couldn’t resist when Lemon dropped. It feels weird to select a position other than safety, corner, defensive line. A Vikings receiving trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Makai Lemon would be a beautiful thing.
The surprises continued with the Vikings next two picks. Chris Johnson had been a second-round regular in early mock draft exercises. He hasn’t been recently as he seems to have risen closer to a first round pick rather than a mid-second round pick. He’s an easy pick here. I believe that Johnson would be an immediate contributor at outside corner for the Vikings.
Simply put, Kyle Louis is one of my favorite players in the draft. I feel that Brian Flores would love working with this skilled and versatile defender. I know that I would love seeing Louis play in Flores’ defense. I’d be stunned and thrilled if Louis is still available in the third round.
I’m convinced that the Vikings will draft a running back on Day 2 of the draft. I like all of the running backs that should be available and Jonah Coleman is one of my favorites.
The Vikings need to supplement the defensive front. DeMonte Capehart in the fifth feels like a steal. All of the Vikings picks in this mock feel like steals. Capehart would be a nice addition to the defensive line rotation.
The Vikings don’t need a tight end this year. They will need one next year as T.J. Hockenson’s re-worked contract currently has him walking next offseason. Tanner Kozoil would be a nice contributor as a rookie and starter in 2027.
I like just about everything about this mock draft. I don’t like that center isn’t addressed until the seventh round. I believe that finding an immediate starting center in this draft is one of the Vikings biggest needs. However, having Blake Brandel as a place-holder at center takes off some of the pressure of finding one. Perhaps that’s a reason I passed on Connor Lew, Jake Slaughter, and Logan Jones earlier. At least Parker Brailsford was found in the seventh round of this mock. At 6’2” and 290lbs, he’s even smaller than Garrett Bradbury. That thought likely sends chills down the spine of Vikings fans everywhere. While Brailsford might be a decent center project, I doubt that he bumps Brandel from the starting lineup and into a versatile reserve role this season.
It’s easy to have favorites at the top of the draft. You do enough of these mocks and favorites are found at the bottom of the draft. Kaden Wetjen and Max Bredeson have become two of my favorites. I thought that Myles Price did a nice job as the Vikings kick and punt returner as a rookie last season. Wetjen could take the return game to a whole other level. Bredeson would immediately be penciled in as the heir to C.J. Ham’s fullback/extra blocker role.
Until the next one.
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