On-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine begin Thursday and continue through Sunday.
Although it's not football in its fullest form, per se, evaluating prospects as they strain themselves in testing, such as the 40-yard dash and vertical jump, plus position-specific drills, offers attending scouts and coaches from all 32 clubs another data point for NFL Draft big boards before the April 23-25 event.
Let's just put it this way: Players can gain or lose significant merits at the Indianapolis-based combine.
It's fairly early in the process, still, but as March and college pro days creep into view and some projections are being filed as almost final, we've noticed a projected trend for Minnesota in the first round, according to draft experts across the web; the Vikings are predicted to select a defensive back.
Maybe Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, South Carolina's Brandon Cisse or Clemson's Avieon Terrell. Not sold on a Round 1 cornerback? Perhaps, Minnesota eyes a three-level safety like Oregon's Dillon Thieneman or Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. One thing is agreed upon: the defensive secondary class is strong.
In the third iteration of our Mock Draft Tracker series, which shines a light on the players who prognosticators are forecasting to the Vikings at No. 18 (and sometimes later), we found 20 entries pounding the table for 11 unique players. The most frequently mocked was the former Tigers CB Terrell (5), whose brother A.J. was drafted 16th overall in 2020. Five others received two mentions: McCoy, Thieneman and McNeil-Warren, along with Florida DL Caleb Banks and Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane.
One-offs in this cycle of mocks are Georgia LB CJ Allen, Cisse, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald and Clemson DL Peter Woods. The 11 prospects outlined are combine participants.
Enough from us, let's check out what draft gurus have said in the two weeks since Version 2.0 dropped.
Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports
Feb. 23
Brockermeyer projects at No. 18: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
I'm not a big fan of projecting a first-round player who didn't take a snap in 2025, but the Vikings need help on the island. McCoy showed good length and the ability to play man coverage and will be fully healthy in 2026. He also displayed a smooth backpedal, breaks quickly on routes and has excellent hands.
Tim Crean of CLUTCHPOINTS
Feb. 10
Crean projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Avieon Terrell might not have the upside that players like Mansoor Delane, Jermod McCoy and Brandon Cisse have, but his floor may be the highest of that group. At worst, he should be a starting CB like his brother, Falcons CB A.J. Terrell. His only real flaw is his size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds), which sometimes gets him in trouble with bigger wideouts and in run support.
Charles Davis of NFL Network
Feb. 19
Davis projects at No. 18: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Are teams undervaluing the running back position again? The Vikings cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year's draft. Head Coach Kevin O'Connell will find plenty of plays for him.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports
Feb. 16
Edwards projects at No. 18: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Caleb Banks missed most of this season due to injury, but his size cannot be taught. The conversation is similar to Deone Walker last year, and Walker had a good rookie season. Minnesota has an organizational history of taking bigger defensive tackles.
Gennaro Filice of NFL.com
Feb. 20
Filice projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Last offseason, emerging star Camryn Bynum departed for a major payday in free agency. This offseason, franchise exemplar Harrison Smith appears to be headed for a well-earned retirement [Editor's note:* *Smith has not said anything about his future yet]. Minnesota needs to replenish the safety position, and in Brian Flores' controlled-chaos defense, versatility is a must. Insert Thieneman, who lined up all over the place at Purdue and Oregon, starting every game in three highly productive college seasons. This draft slot might seem a little high at the moment, but Thieneman has the raw athleticism to blow up the combine and fill up the bandwagon.
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports
Feb. 18
Fornelli projects at No. 16 (via trade with the Jets): Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
The Vikings need help on the interior of their offensive line, and Olaivavega Ioane is the lone guard in this class I view as a first-round player. So Minnesota moves up to get him and makes sure Detroit can't.
Feb. 19
They project at No. 18: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Ioane might be the best guard in the draft and would provide immediate help to a Minnesota offensive line that needs help in the interior. This season, he was one of two Big Ten guards to play 300+ pass blocking snaps, record a pass block grade over 87 and not give up a single sack or QB hit.
Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News
Feb. 17
Iyer projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Vikings need to think about adding more versatility to their back-end coverage, and Terrell would be a great get to help in the slot between Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy, Jr. Terrell is ideal for Brian Flores' secondary scheme.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network
Feb. 17
Jeremiah projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
After studying Thieneman's impressive 2025 tape at Oregon, I went back and watched the film from his career at Purdue, where he played in 2023 and '24. His range and playmaking skills were evident back then, too. He would be an excellent replacement for Harrison Smith [if "The Hitman" chooses to retire].
Ryan McCrystal of SHARP Football Analysis
Feb. 15
McCrystal projects at No. 18: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Minnesota only has one cornerback under contract beyond 2026 (Byron Murphy, Jr.). Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, LSU's Mansoor Delane and Clemson's Avieon Terrell are all potential targets.
Charles McDonald and Nate Tice of Yahoo! Sports
Feb. 20
McDonald projects at No. 18: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Vikings defense was incredible last season, but Minnesota still could use another hoss in the middle of the field. McDonald would make a lot of sense as a true nose tackle talent in Brian Flores' defense, creating even more opportunities for Flores to put his players in the best positions possible for them to break games.
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus
Feb. 16
McGuinness projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell secured PFF overall grades above 80.0 in each of the past two seasons, playing almost 1,500 defensive snaps in that span. In addition to his coverage skills, he is a willing run defender who earned an 85.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025.
Ayrton Ostly of USA TODAY
Feb. 18
Ostly projects at No. 18: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Cornerback is a popular pick for the Vikings here at No. 18 but we're trying something a bit different. Banks looks to be fully healed from a foot injury and showed off his talents at the Senior Bowl. At a nimble 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds, he could be a headache for the run games of the NFC North.
Dan Parr of NFL.com
Feb. 12
Parr projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell gives Brian Flores options in the secondary, allowing Minnesota's defense to be even more amoeba-like with the versatility of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and this rookie from Clemson.
Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston
Feb. 17
Perry projects at No. 18: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Dropping a do-it-all safety into Brian Flores' scheme has the potential to be a lot of fun in Minnesota. McNeil-Warren looks like he could be special when paired with a smart defensive coordinator.
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports
Feb. 17
Podell projects at No. 18: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
It would be plenty of fun to see McNeil-Warren in Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores' scheme with the 6-foot-2, 202-pounder's highlight reel hits, plays on the ball and explosion. He has no issues dropping the boom on opposing wideouts over the middle of the field, and he's fluid with his change of direction, which is a must in Flores' heavy-disguise defense. McNeil-Warren is a worthy successor to safety Harrison Smith [if he retires].
Rob Rang of FOX Sports
Feb. 12
Rang projects at No. 18: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The second level of the Vikings defense is missing a true alpha with the speed, physicality and instincts to star as an every-down linebacker. Allen would be a great fit in Flores' system.
Feb. 19
Alec Lewis projects at No. 18: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Vikings have enough positional needs to approach this pick from a best-available perspective. Woods is a fascinating prospect. Dane Brugler ranked him as the No. 1 draftable prospect entering the 2025 season. The interior defender had been dominant the previous two seasons. Then, in 2025, his production dipped. Woods recorded only three sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Clemson's defense struggled in its entirety. Questions persist regarding his overall length, but the athleticism is undeniable. Woods moves laterally like a much smaller player than one who is 6-3, 310 pounds. His hands are violent. Plug him into the Vikings defensive system alongside Jalen Redmond, and it's difficult not to envision serious havoc.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus
Feb. 23
Wasserman projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Minnesota could use another playmaker in its cornerback room. Terrell could provide just that after tallying three interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 17 pass breakups during three seasons at Clemson.
Field Yates of ESPN
Feb. 11
Yates projects at No. 18: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Cisse is one of the most unique prospects in this class, as he's a cornerback with uncommon strength and athletic ability; if he tests at the combine, get ready for a show. While a perimeter corner at his core, Cisse took occasional slot snaps at South Carolina. He was a force against the run from either alignment and can plaster perimeter wideouts in man coverage, staying physical and matching them stride-for-stride. Cornerback is a need for Minnesota, as Isaiah Rodgers is entering the final year of his deal. Plus, Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores has the ingenuity to deploy Cisse in many ways.
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