In two days, it will be 2026, and in six it will be the end of the road for the 2025 Vikings.
That's a sobering reality. It's also a reminder that "draft season" is approaching quickly.
There'll be time for frequent check-ins on expert predictions (in our mock draft tracker series) but the present moment feels like an opportunity to get the ball rolling, especially because we're days out from learning Minnesota's pick number in the annual event. Week 18 results will lock in the club's draft slot.
Funny enough, a lot has changed since we introduced ESPN's storylines for the 2026 NFL Draft at the beginning of December. Back then, the Vikings were 4-8 and figured to select in the Nos. 10-12 range.
Now, wholly uninterested in tanking and raring to go compete for a fifth consecutive victory and a winning record despite a storm of adversity that's shaken them at every turn of the campaign but never stolen their love for the game, the Vikings are expected to own a first-round pick in the mid-to-late teens (18 is as late as a non-playoff team can be slotted).
On one hand, that might alter the caliber of prospect Minnesota could land. But it also tightens the culture. It's the balancing act of winning in December — striving for improvement without a seat in the playoffs.
Consequently, we're curious where the Vikings stand in very early mock drafts. So let's check one out.
The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on Tuesday provided the potential draft ordering of 18 non-playoff teams (Baltimore and Pittsburgh are vying for the final AFC berth and the NFC South is undecided) and took a stab at what each may do in April. Baumgardner predicted the Vikings will select LSU CB Mansoor Delane with the 17th overall pick.
He explained that Delane, a senior transfer from Virginia Tech, was arguably "the most competitive corner in the country [in 2025] and has been a tenacious on-ball defender throughout his college career."
Delane was honored as a 2025 Consensus All-America player after intercepting a couple passes and breaking up 11 in his lone season for the Tigers, which earned him a 90.9 PFF coverage grade. In three go-rounds with the Hokies, he recorded six picks, 16 pass breakups and 146 tackles, including seven TFLs.
He was the third defensive back mentioned by Baumgardner after Ohio State S Caleb Downs (mocked to New Orleans at No. 8) and Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (to the Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta, at No. 12).
For what it's worth, Heisman Trophy finalist and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, who was a hot name mocked to Minnesota several weeks ago — granted, any names attached to teams this early in the process are purely speculative — is being considered by Baumgardner as a choice for the Chiefs at No. 9.
Check out Baumgardner's projections for pick Nos. 1-18 here.
All-Quarter Century Team
If you were playing armchair General Manager and building a team of NFL players from this century, you'd be inclined to draft a handful of Vikings — you know, guys like Adrian Peterson and Justin Jefferson.
Three veteran beat writers went that route Christmas Eve and recognized Minnesota's top recent talent.
Mark Craig (Year 23 covering the team), Ben Goessling (Year 14) and Andrew Krammer (Year 13) combined heads — and butted them on occasion — to assort the greatest Vikings from 2000-2025 for the Minnesota Star Tribune. Limiting their choices to 27 players (11 on offense, 11 on defense and five specialists) and a coach, they attempted to nail down the best in purple from the past quarter century.
Some of the selection process was a cinch. But not all of it.
Certain roles, such as QB and head coach, were divisive, and so readers broke ties. There were many unanimous choices — 19 in total — including current Vikings stars Jefferson, Brian O'Neill, Byron Murphy, Jr., and Harrison Smith. The same goes for Gold Jackets Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Randy Moss, as well as Kevin Williams, who was honored Tuesday as a first-time finalist for 2026 enshrinement.
Other spots were agreed upon by two of the three writers; edge Danielle Hunter, for instance, was picked by Craig and Krammer, while Goessling opted for Everson Griffen. Another position battle was between Corey Chavous (Craig and Goessling) and Anthony Harris (Krammer) at safety opposite Smith.
Here's the rundown of the teams' construction: selectors were allotted space for two wide receivers, one running back, one tight end and a "flex" option (any skill position), and their offensive lines had to be specific — i.e. a left tackle, a left guard and so on. On the other side, there was room for two tackles, two edge rushers, two linebackers, two safeties and three corners, one of them a nickelback.
The five specialist roles were reserved for a kicker, punter, kick returner, punt returner and long snapper.
The whole roster, outfitted with unique digital trading cards of each person, can be viewed here.
