Just like that, we're zooming to the start of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Raiders have all but turned in the No. 1 draft card for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza — that'll happen in 50 odd hours barring a wild trade or change of heart — but after that, the event is gearing up to be a crapshoot with fewer blue-chippers near the top but good depth at several positions.

To get ready for the Vikings picking 18^th, we advise plowing through the last roundup of our Mock Draft Tracker series, Version 7.0. We also think it's worth digging into Daniel Jeremiah's final prospect rankings for NFL Media, which dropped Monday and is widely regarded as some of the most accurate draft intel.

For the first time this cycle, the former NFL scout Jeremiah expanded his list of players from 50 to 150. The Top 50 of his ranking is flooded with edge rushers (10), offensive linemen (9), cornerbacks (7) and wide receivers (7), and is uniquely thin at three spots: tight end (1), quarterback (2) and running back (2).

We've compiled three takeaways, below, about Jeremiah's big board, which feels especially relevant as Minnesota is scheduled to make four selections in the Top 100 — something it hasn't done since 2022.

1. Stacked in two areas

Overall, Jeremiah sees wide receiver (24 prospects) and offensive line (28) as the strength of the Top 150. In the trenches, there's a slight lean inside (15 players), but a clear talent gap at the top with just two IOL in the initial 50: Penn State's Olaivavega (Vega) Ioane (No. 11) and Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge (47). There's also a few tackle prospects who may wind up sliding inside, such as Utah's Spencer Fano (No. 13).

2. A backfield shortage

The running back class has been dismissed through the pre-draft process as unspectacular outside of Jeremiah's 2^nd-ranked prospect, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. His Fighting Irish teammate Jadarian Price is RB2 at 34, but after that there's a major descent to RB3, Arkansas' Mike Washington, Jr., at 79.

There's two other runners on the list: Penn State's Nicholas Singleton (No. 117) and Minnesota native Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska (123). For draft context, there were 14 ball carriers taken within the first 150 picks in 2025, 11 in 2024 despite the top one not flying off the board until 46, nine in 2023, 11 in 2022, nine in 2021 and 14 in 2020. Signals suggest there's a good chance that rate dwindles this year.

3. Amazingly balanced

Jeremiah's Top 150 includes 75 prospects on each side of the ball. We're not sure if that was intentional or purely coincidence. Anyway, there's greater positional balance defensively, whereas Jeremiah's count of receivers, tight ends and o-linemen dwarf the rushers and passers in this class (at least in his Top 150).

Here's the tally of positions: quarterback (7), running back (5), wide receiver (24), tight end (11), offensive line (28), defensive tackle (14), edge rusher (19), linebacker (12), cornerback (18) and safety (12).

Click here to read Jeremiah's analysis of the Top 50, and his ordering of the rest.

Drafting '90s movie quotes

Let's squeeze in a few laughs before the league gets down to business.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler took a respite from his unparalleled coverage of draft prospects Tuesday, releasing a different kind of evaluation centered around his Top 32 prospects — what '90s movie quote is representative of skills/potential/background, you name it. Brugler jotted down whatever came to mind.

For instance, Ohio State's Arvell Reese was linked to the 1990 film Tremors — the following quote, specifically, "I vote for outer space. No way these are local boys," to highlight Reese's otherworldly traits.

Here's one Brugler used to describe the processing skills of former Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs: "My boy's wicked smart." Of course, that's from the 1997 classic Good Will Hunting, starring Matt Damon.

And another that Brugler conjured to emphasize the speed and burst of Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion: "Hold on to your butts," courtesy Samuel L. Jackson's character in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Brugler does an expert job of igniting nostalgia and painting prospects in a funny and unusual light, here.

View 2026 Free Agency Tracker.

See the Vikings 2026 Opponents.

Check out the Vikings 2026 Draft Picks.

View future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.