8 Early Draft Crushes for the Vikings

Watch this guy’s playoff tape, then tell me you don’t like watching offensive linemen play football.

2. Malachi Fields | WR, Notre Dame
Crush Holder: Brevan Bane

A mountain of a man at 6’4, Fields could fill a need if the Vikings let Jalen Nailor walk. In a hopeful scenario, Jefferson and Fields could be the boundary receivers with Addison (status on the team TBD) working primarily out of the slot. Fields is a “go up and get it” type of receiver, something the Vikings have been lacking for a while.

3. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Crush Holder: Tony Schultz

Everyone will be staring down that 1st-Round pick at 18. Will the Vikings stay put? Move up? Move down? There are so many directions the team could go player-wise alone, and then add in being saddled with a new decision-maker (makers?) with the recent firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Rob Brzezinski is a “money” guy and may try to find a young replacement for an aging position at that point. I’m looking at Day 2 at the earliest for a guy I don’t want the team to miss out on. Dillon Thieneman is a guy I hope they have in their sights as a replacement for Harrison Smith.

He comes from a strong program and has decent size for a safety. More importantly, he is smart. Some have described him as an extension of the defensive coordinator on the field, and that’s a guy Brian Flores will covet. If he’s there in the 2nd Round, I hope the Vikings grab him.

If he lasts until their 3rd-Round pick, they should sprint to the podium. Reading the experts’ opinions, he matches Smith in their draft breakdowns in almost every way.

4. Akheem Mesidor | EDGE, Miami
Crush Holder: Kyle Joudry

Once upon a time, I played defensive line myself. I therefore enjoy watching great defensive linemen. Seeing Canadian edge rusher Akheem Mesidor get drafted would be fine by me.

5. Mansoor Delane | CB, LSU
Crush Holder: Ali Siddiqui

The Vikings have multiple needs, and CB is definitely one of them. Delane could be gone by no. 18, but if available, they should definitely take him. Isaiah Rodgers is in the final year of his deal.

6. Jermod McCoy | CB, Tennessee
Crush Holder: Steven Hoikkala

The Vikings need to upgrade their secondary, and McCoy would help solidify the backfield going forward. With Mansoor Delane likely off the board when Minnesota picks, McCoy will be a top CB target in this draft if Minnesota decides to upgrade the defense at No. 18.

7. Nick Singleton | RB, Penn State

Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Adam New

The Vikings need help in the secondary, but adding Caleb Banks, an interior defender with the skillset to thrive in both run defense and pass rush, would give them a great young duo in the middle of the DL, along with Jalen Redmond. Already strong on the edge, this formidable defensive front is the stuff of my dreams.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Janik Eckardt

Jalen Redmond already in the building, the Vikings could form the interior duo for years to come by picking up the projected 1st-Round talent.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Wes Johnson

Vikings addressed the trenches last offseason and injected youth into the offensive line via the draft. This year, they focus on youth on the defensive side and double down on the trenches. Banks had a phenomenal Senior Bowl and will be a projected riser come the draft. Pegged as an early 2nd Round pick before the Senior Bowl, he’s now cracked the back end of the 1st round.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Josh Frey

I want to say Mansoor Delane, but I think he will go sooner. The big spending on DT in free agency last offseason didn’t exactly pan out for the Vikings, so it’s time to get a really disruptive presence on a rookie contract. Banks can be exactly that as a massive player at 6’6″ and 330 pounds. Injury cut his 2025 season short, but when healthy, he’s proven he can impact a defense both as a run stopper and a pass rusher.

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