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The past week offered a chance for us to learn more about the Vikings draft class and start gathering more information on players who agreed to terms as undrafted free agents.

This week offers a really exciting time because the Vikings will be hosting those groups, as well as some veterans and rookies on a tryout basis, during Vikings Rookie Minicamp.

Teams had the option of hosting their rookie minicamps this past weekend or this coming weekend. Minnesota's decision to do so this coming weekend will position the incoming players to join rostered veterans in the voluntary offseason workout program a week from today.

We are looking forward to providing everyone with content from rookie minicamp. Friday's practice session will be open to Twin Cities media members.

I don't have a segue to change topics, but I did want to include the following information in today's Mailbag. We previously relayed the sad news about the passing of former Vikings defensive back Ronyell Whitaker in February.

Today, I'll relay a positive that resulted from that tragedy. Whitaker had signed up to be an organ donor, and his gifts have been credited with helping medical professionals save four other lives. His loved ones can continue to be proud of the numerous differences he made in people's lives.

I wanted to ask about the team's recent approach to roster building and the draft.

Last season, there appeared to be a strategy of taking calculated risks on injured players in free agency, with the expectation they would return to health and contribute. Unfortunately, that approach didn't seem to work out as intended.

With that in mind, I'm curious — what is the reasoning behind continuing to take similar risks in the draft with players who have injury concerns?

Additionally, the draft seemed heavily focused on defense. Is the expectation that the current offensive roster, along with internal development and coaching, will be enough to elevate performance and support a competitive run this season?

I appreciate the vision and effort that goes into building a team, and I'm simply trying to better understand the strategy moving forward.

Thank you for your time.

Skol,

— Jeff Wiebold

These are valid points, especially on the heels of the 2025 Vikings season that was impacted so heavily at multiple spots by injuries.

The team's Health & Performance staff has earned a high level of respect across the NFL and from players for how knowledgeable and intentional it is, but there's some instances where best-designed plans can't prevent a particular outcome.

Although Caleb Banks has dealt with the foot injury, the Vikings were able to do a comprehensive medical evaluation and have a tremendous level of confidence in team doctors. At least one or maybe more other teams were seeking more medical information on Banks as recently as the opening day of the draft in case Banks did fall to where (or below where) teams had placed them on their boards.

Health obviously is a question until Banks can move past this spring's setback, but his upside is high (more on that below), so the risk-reward equation might look a little different than with other players in a year where defensive line was not considered as deep as some other positions like safety.

The board fell in a way where Minnesota invested its three highest picks on two defensive linemen (Banks in the first and Domonique "Big Citrus" Orange in the third) and linebacker Jake Golday in the second. Those are areas where higher draft picks have not been applied to roster building. I could see a situation where all three of those players contribute in roles early this season if things go well.

The Vikings wound up picking four players on offense: tackle Caleb Tiernan, fullback Max Bredeson, running back Demond Claiborne and center Gavin Gerhardt.

Those positions can have a pretty confident line drawn to some of what the team experienced in 2025 (depth getting tested at swing tackle and center; the retirement of C.J. Ham; desiring a few more breakaway runs that could result from adding Claiborne's speed).

The Vikings have a pretty strong group of established skill players, from Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver to running backs Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jordan Mason. O-line health will be important for a quarterbacks room that has elevated its competition at the start of the offseason program.

The NFC North, the NFL's only division in which all four teams had winning records in 2025, doesn't seem like it's getting easier, but I do believe the Vikings are built to challenge.

A first-ever submission to the Mailbag. I'm a Vikings fan since Day 1 of the franchise and still hoping for a Super Bowl win before I die.

I have been impressed by the due diligence used in vetting the prospective picks. I think it's safe to say there won't be another Dimitrius Underwood (our surprise pick from 1999) this year. They have selected guys who really want to play football. As to our No. 1 pick, surely, after exhaustive physical examination by their own medical staff, the Vikings have a much better take on Banks' foot than any of the draft mockers do. If they are right, we will have a monstrous presence on the D-line for years to come.

— Steve in Bozeman, Montana

So glad you've joined the conversation and appreciate the longtime support.

I've learned a little bit over the years about the way the Underwood selection did not work out. That's tough to use a first-round pick and have the player never suit up for the organization.

The evaluation process has continued to evolve in the past quarter century with the goal of avoiding something like the Underwood situation working out so poorly for teams and players.

The Athletic's Alec Lewis tracked down Florida Head Coach Billy Napier to ask about Banks and quoted Napier saying, "Within the last decade or 20 years, this is a generational height, length, twitch and intelligence type of guy who also has a competitive streak that makes him different."

Lewis also quoted an unnamed opposing coach who relayed the sentiment of Banks was a "big, strong and twitchy guy who we found out was absolutely dominant."

The work has only begun, but the opportunity to add Banks and Orange up front with a couple other ascending players is exciting.

I have been a Viking fan since Bud Grant and Joe Kapp. The draft started off a little disappointing for me. I was afraid that we had another Lewis Cine.

However, Saturday was impressive. You covered all the boxes except TE and Edge.

UDFAs look promising. Especially the wide receivers and the number of CBs brought in. Hope couple make the grade.

— Garth Amey in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

That had to be a fun time to start with the Vikings.

This was the first time since 2021 the Vikings have had five selections in the top 100 picks of a draft. In 2023 and 2025, the team had just one selection, respectively resulting in the additions of Addison and Donovan Jackson.

While some top 100 picks pan out better than others and some not as well as "Day 3 finds," it seems like the organization is trying to land more of those selections for a couple of years to try to build through the draft.

I mentioned Bredeson, Claiborne and Gerhardt already. I'm also looking forward to Minnesota working with fifth-round corner Charles "Chuck" Demmings. He turned down NIL money to continue playing at Stephen F. Austin this past season and looked good in Lumberjacks Purple.

You may have seen the initial list of undrafted free agents. We've updated it with more information on each player.

I wanted to wait until after the first wave of Mailbag comments for the dust to settle and for me to settle down after Thursday's first round. Like many, I was banking on Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings, and I fully get one writer's comments about the Kyle Hamilton, Nick Emmanwori, Thieneman thread. Unfortunately, we'll now be facing the third twice a year.

As for Caleb Banks at No. 1, I'm truly puzzled. The Vikings say they had him ranked at 18, yet few prognosticators had him even close to that spot, and, in fact, Mel Kiper had him in the 60s. I'm not sure how much to believe anymore when an NFL GM professes board ranking over need. It seems need usually wins out, and there's no doubt we did need one or two D-linemen. But I'll give the Vikings the benefit of the doubt here: The team has far better knowledge about Banks' foot than any of us do, and a healthy Banks at 3-technique along with Domonique Orange at nose tackle could become a powerful combo. And then there's the Golday pick at No. 2, whom I believe will quickly become a crowd fave. As for safety, take heart, folks: Harrison Smith is coming back for one more year. You can read it in the draft's tea leaves. After that, there is a first-round safety listed in a "way-too-early" 2027 draft projection. But maybe we don't go there.

— Dan in NW Arkansas (looking forward to fishing Lake Vermilion in May)

P.S. Congrats to the Vikings Entertainment Network for an outstanding job during the combine and draft.

Judging by comments that Banks probably wouldn't have been available at 18 if not for the foot injury, it's possible the Vikings even had him a little higher than that.

The Thieneman projections to the Vikings were everywhere, but Minnesota opted for a player who will be closer to the football and QB at the start of every snap.

Golday has potential to become quite an X-factor within the defense based on his demonstrated bandwidth at Cincinnati.

He's going to start his work at an off-ball position, but I'd be shocked if he is not spending some of his time as an understudy to Andrew Van Ginkel, who will turn 31 on July 1. Gink' is incredibly unique in what he can add to this defensive system.

We don't know for sure about Smith's decision but promise to keep you posted on any developments.

It is possible that Jakobe Thomas' limited exposure (he went from backup to starter at Middle Tennessee State to backup at Tennessee to starter for one season at Miami) may have impacted external evaluations and lowered them below the level the Vikings envision him contributing.

I haven't made it up to Lake Vermilion yet but have heard great things about the area's beauty. Hopefully it warms up a little more for you before your trip. Enjoy!

I think it's rather humorous as the draft unfolded when you consider the "draft experts" predictions. Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. BAM! So many considered secondary help in the early picks, and we went for the trenches.

Hated to see Jonathan Greenard go to Philly but I have confidence that our staff saw a wealth in Jake Golday, plus the extra picks. We've had an eye for exceptional LBs, so I'm comfortable there. Glad to see us get a FB, too, but we'll all miss C.J. Ham.

I slept well after the draft even though it didn't follow the script that the "experts" led us to think. Overall, I like it. I believe we have a VERY good shot at the playoffs, the North title and more. Skooooooool bro!!!!

— Jason G.

And …

That was a good draft. We filled the needs. Trading Greenard hurt, but I wish him well. Who do you think will become the rotational player to Dallas Turner?

— William W.

Dallas Turner's time to shine more is now. He filled in for Van Ginkel and Greenard due to injuries last year, when O'Connell said the team felt like it had three starters at the outside linebacker position.

The more we've seen from this system, the more we've realized that the Van Ginkel spot and the former Greenard/future Turner position are different roles despite being identified on the roster and depth chart as OLB.

That said, the Vikings are now a little thin in NFL experience behind Van Ginkel and Turner.

Bo Richter is back for a third season after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Tyler Batty and Chaz Chambliss joined Minnesota the same way last season. This year, the Vikings added three undrafted OLBs in signing Jordan Botelho, Cam'Ron Stewart and Arden Walker.

I was researching all our UDFAs and I am impressed with Keli Lawson at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He ran a 4.57 in the 40, has 35-inch arms, jumped 11-3 in the broad and 41 inches in the vertical. Multiple times on the all-academic team. I listened to an interview. Well grounded. He could be a chess piece in Brian Flores' defense. Some work in the weight room will help unleash his amazing potential.

— Gerald Goblirsch

Although Lawson was not a combine participant, those are some athletic traits that I'm sure Flores and Vikings assistants will enjoy working with. All-Academic honors are always good to see, as well.

Way to go. This is by far one of the best draft performances on record. Hail the defense.

— Steve Nelson in Briceville, Tennessee

And …

I'm not really happy with the Vikings draft room 2026, especially with all the talk surrounding the NDSU Bison football players they were interested in. What did they do come draft day? Snubbed them once again like they do every year.

— Kaleb L.

Our tenured readers know I appreciate the opportunity to juxtapose contrasting opinions, even if they originate for different reasons.

Selecting defensive players with four of the first five picks is not necessarily following a script but it clearly was a line of outcomes the Vikings would be OK with happening. It will be really interesting to see this group grow at this level because I believe the coaching staff will have some good plans in place for each player.

I'm not quite sure what Kaleb is referencing with "talk surrounding the NDSU Bison football players they were interested in," but I don't believe people from the Vikings personnel department or coaching staff usually comment that much about programs.

I'm not very knowledgeable about college players now-a-days but I like the Vikings draft. I like the let's get bigger mentality. The days of getting pushed around are over. I think Rob Brzezinski and the gang did an excellent job. Now I feel the Vikings are building a team for the future and still remain competitive. There should be no question about who the next GM should be if he wants the job, and boy Rob didn't wait around after the draft signing 19 undrafted free agents. That's impressive. Can't wait to see the final product this fall.

— Al Lindberg in Denmark, Wisconsin

The getting bigger mentality seems at the very least an underlying theme. Adding about 650 pounds between two d-linemen will do that. The Vikings have seen some opponents realize success by going to bigger personnel groupings and running the football, so this could help redefine what happens along the line of scrimmage.

The Vikings issued a statement last week about the GM search, saying that the organization prefers not to announce candidates it interviews for the position. Brzezinski is among those that the organization will evaluate.

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