Cue the start of the final countdown: It's T-minus 30 days until Minnesota is on the clock.

Like the feeling that "football is in the air" once teams reconvene in late July for training camp, the 2026 NFL Draft season is coming to a head — and there's mounds of predictions as to what Minnesota will do.

Will it try to score Harrison Smith's successor regardless of if the future Hall of Famer retires or returns for his 15^th season? Will it stay trench-centric and go after a dominant defensive interior presence, akin to its approach in choosing guard Donovan Jackson 24^th overall in 2025? What about the outside chances of landing a game-changing running back who might slide down the draft board due to perceived positional value?

The possibilities are seemingly endless, and yet they're taking shape as March sprints past us.

One person projects the Vikings to land Ohio State's Caleb Downs, twice a unanimous All-American safety, just inside the Top 20, which would be significant because Downs has been touted as a Top 10 prospect since last year's class (he was not eligible to enter the draft in 2025). Another draft maven has LSU's Mansoor Delane, who is widely viewed as CB1 in this cycle, falling into Minnesota's lap at No. 18.

One Vikings beat writer suggested a notable and yet not-too-farfetched trade that would position the club to take Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love if the third-place Heisman Trophy finisher escaped the Top 10; and another Vikings-focused writer proposed trading back five spots to add a flexible edge defender.

In total, we found 11 college standouts, including three different Clemson products, named as fits for Minnesota in the opening round of the annual event. Just three, however, appeared in multiple entries, and one stood head and shoulders above the rest in in the number of times mocked to the Vikings: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.

Super-athletic and ultra-productive, Thieneman's name was stamped 14 times in our previous Mock Draft Tracker after an explosive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. In Version 4.0, he was the star of the show, receiving 56 percent of the 25 total submissions. That number has increased to 60% in this roundup (18 of 30).

Take that for whatever it's worth!

It's easy to fall prey to groupthink. It's also easy to visualize Thieneman making impact plays for Minnesota like he did at Purdue and Oregon. Neither is inadmissible, but it's important to remember that the Vikings scouting department is doing its homework on a litany of prospects that qualify as first-round targets, and there's hardly a consensus about who may be available to them in the 18^th slot.

The NFL Draft, after all, is commonly referred to as a crapshoot; it's the ultimate science project.

Anyhow, we've scoured the web for as many unique answers about who the Vikings could potentially select in the first round — trades down, trades up included — now that we're practically one month out.

Here's how 30 draft aficionados foresee Minnesota spending its top pick (and sometimes later) in 2026:

Bleacher Report Scouting Department

March 19

B/R scout Daniel Harms projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thienemen would be an asset in Brian Flores' defense thanks to his versatility and true single-high ability, which would allow the aggressive defensive coordinator to get even more creative with the blitzes and disguises he calls. The Purdue transfer is a great athlete at the position, with range, instincts and robber upside. Minnesota is looking to maximize the staff/scheme right now, and this selection can go a long way toward ensuring that happens.

Vincent Bonsignore of New York Post

March 15

Bonsignore projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

At the risk of saying the Vikings find their next Harrison Smith, but on so many levels that is exactly what Thieneman projects to be. An athletic freak who backed it all up with high-level production, he will fit right in the multileveled defense under Brian Flores.

Eddie Brown of The San Diego Union-Tribune

March 18

Brown projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman is a do-it-all safety with verified NFL athleticism, real ball production, and enough versatility to be a coordinator's favorite toy.

Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports

March 15

Crabbs projects at No. 18: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

Parker feels like a good fit for a Brian Flores front. He's long with heavy hands but not excessively stiff. He can rush from a two-point or three-point stance. And he can play the run.

Nate Davis & Ayrton Ostly of USA TODAY

March 16

They project at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

With Harrison Smith's future in doubt, Thieneman would make sense as both a short- and long-term solution. One of the combine's standouts, the Ducks All-American is a rangy player who can be weaponized all over the field.

They project at No. 49 in Round 2: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State

The Vikings could continue to build the secondary in the draft, this time at cornerback. Igbinosun is a long, speedy prospect who thrives in press coverage with excellent ball production.

Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports

March 19

Easterling projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Harrison Smith is [possibly] headed for retirement, which would leave the Vikings with a massive void on the back end of their defense. It's unfair to expect any rookie to immediately have the same impact as a future Hall of Famer, but Thieneman's athleticism, versatility and playmaking instincts give some of the same key components that have allowed Smith to have so much success throughout his legendary career.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com

March 19

Edholm projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Defensive tackle is a glaring need for the Vikings, who also could stand to add a receiver, but safety looms as a big worry if Harrison Smith retires. Thieneman is smart, athletic and a strong tackler — a nice schematic fit for coordinator Brian Flores.

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports

March 19

Edwards projects at No. 18: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Minnesota may be able to make its current collection of defensive backs work with James Pierre, Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr., but Avieon Terrell gives the team insurance and flexibility with the ability to play inside and out.

Sam Farmer of Los Angeles Times

March 17

Farmer projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Harrison Smith is 37, and the Vikings need to start planning for the future at that position; they need another defensive back.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports

March 18

Fornelli projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

This is another pick that's been mocked repeatedly. I genuinely feel bad for Vikings fans because they see a new mock, get excited to click on it to find out who their team is taking, and it's, "Oh, Thieneman again. Neat." I nearly considered mixing it up for that reason alone! But I didn't. Sorry.

Matthew Freedman of Fantasy Life

March 18

Freedman projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

He can play FS, SS and slot CB, and that versatility will make him an attractive matchup chess piece for DC Brian Flores.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media

March 17

Jeremiah projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

I wanted to find a different option for the Vikings after slotting Thieneman here in my last mock draft, but every time I do this exercise, the Oregon safety ends up staring me in the face at Pick No. 18. He's a perfect fit.

Mason Johnstone of The Draft Network

March 15

Johnstone projects at No. 18: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Delane is one of the best cover corners in the class. Adding him to Brian Flores' defense gives the Vikings the necessary firepower to trust their back end in the elaborate coverage rotations and pressure packages they've coveted since the Flores hire.

Mel Kiper, Jr., of ESPN

March 17

Kiper projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

We still don't know whether 37-year-old Harrison Smith will keep playing (and if so, whether he'll return to Minnesota as a free agent). Joshua Metellus, Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the top safeties on the Vikings depth chart. In a division with Caleb Williams, Jordan Love and Jared Goff, this has to be a priority at the draft regardless of whether Smith is back for Year 15.

I had Thieneman to the Vikings in my last mock draft. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores getting creative with Thieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways.

Joel Klatt of FOX Sports

March 16

Klatt projects at No. 18: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Woods is a talented player, and I thought he was going to be a top-10 pick entering the 2025 season. Still, when you look at his entire college career, he's worthy of being selected here. He could really help the Vikings.

Alec Lewis of The Athletic

March 19

Lewis projects at No. 11 (via the Dolphins): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Mock trade: Minnesota sends No. 18, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Miami

We're starting this off with a bang. The Vikings have been patient in free agency, so why not take a big swing on an electric player? Will Love fall to No. 11? It's a fair question. Dane Brugler, The Athletic's draft expert, had him third in his most recent ranking of the top 100 draft prospects. Most major draft analysts project him as a top-10 pick, but there's always a chance when teams are privy to more information than the public. It's worth noting that when colleague Mike Sando polled NFL executives on the top 10 picks, they all projected the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs to select him at either No. 8 or 9. Yet both of those teams recently paid premiums for free-agent running backs. Love's fit in Minnesota is tantalizing. He has home-run hitting ability, which is currently lacking from the Vikings running backs room (made up of Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jordan Mason). He is also an exceptional pass catcher. You can imagine how productive he'd be in a system that requires defenses to play vertically. The Vikings have eyed Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in past years. Love can reach those levels. The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode. Scooping a couple of extra picks for the highly-regarded 2027 draft feels like a palatable enough return.

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area

March 18

Maiocco projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Already high on the list, his stock is only on the rise.

Charles McDonald & Nate Tice of Yahoo! Sports

March 18

Tice projects at No. 18: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The Vikings have a few flavors of prospects they could go after with their first-round pick. There are a couple of interesting safety options, they could look to find the T.J. Hockenson replacement in Kenyon Sadiq, or they could add some tangible beef to their defensive line. Brian Flores is going to scheme pressures and big plays for his defense, but the Vikings could use someone to eat up blocks to let teammates fly to the football. McDonald isn't the sexiest prospect, but his ability to hold up against the run is his calling card, while also having light enough feet to be used on the twists and stunts that Flores loves so much. McDonald is basically the defensive version of the line of thinking that led to the Donovan Jackson selection last year at offensive guard: a tangible trench talent who can let the creative coaches be creative.

Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus

March 16

McGuinness projects at No. 18: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The Vikings released interior defenders Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, so they could do with some additional support on the inside. McDonald is a monster against the run, having earned a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade this past season to rank first among all interior defenders in college football.

Todd McShay of The McShay Report

March 23

McShay projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman profiles as a versatile replacement for Harrison Smith — exactly the type of piece Brian Flores would love to add to his defense. A three-year starter at Purdue and Oregon, he brings extensive experience across the secondary, with significant reps at free safety (especially early at Purdue), at slot corner and in the box. He offers a rare blend of size, speed, explosiveness, instincts and ball production. His combine performance — highlighted by a 4.35 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical, and 10-foot-5-inch broad jump — was nothing short of sensational, and his interviews were equally impressive, according to multiple NFL sources.

Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated

March 16

Melo projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman is super versatile on tape, with an ability to play a variety of roles in a defensive backfield. … Brian Flores could definitely make use of his skill set.

Field Yates of ESPN

March 24

Yates projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

As Minnesota awaits word on whether safety Harrison Smith will return in 2026, Coordinator Brian Flores' defense is in need of a player who can offer similar ability to limit explosive plays downfield and cover well in the slot. Thieneman had six interceptions as a true freshman at Purdue, displaying exceptional ball skills, range and overall play. He finished up his career with one season at Oregon and had a dominant combine, which included a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.

Yates projects at No. 49: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State

It's unclear whether the Vikings will trade away outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, but the team must prepare for that possibility. Dennis-Sutton is the latest in a long line of Penn State pass rushers to graduate to the NFL. He has a strong combination of size (6-6, 256 pounds) and power, posting back-to-back 8.5-sack seasons and 53 pressures in 2025.

Anthony Miller of The Viking Age

March 15

Miller projects at No. 18: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

This would be the stunner of the draft, but the Vikings cannot pass up a chance to select Downs if he is available. The versatile safety went back-to-back years as a unanimous All-American in 2024 and 2025, and he was also a Second-Team All-American in 2023. There have been some injury concerns with Downs, but if he drops this far, what a replacement for Harrison Smith he is; a dream defensive back for Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.

Miller projects at No. 49 in Round 2: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

Here is the long-term solution at center to replace Ryan Kelly after he retired from the NFL. Hecht earned the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade among 307 centers in the nation last year with an 80.3, as he only allowed seven pressures, but no quarterback hits or sacks on 392 pass blocking snaps. Just a well-rounded center, the Vikings would be crazy to pass up the chance to lock in Hecht as another center piece to the line.

Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston

March 17

Perry projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Tough. Athletic. Smart. This guy will thrive in Brian Flores' seemingly-chaotic scheme.

Jordan Plocher of Pro Football Focus

March 23

Plocher projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Vikings posted a team 56.9 PFF coverage grade in 2025, hence their selection here of a rangy, deep safety to help improve their secondary. Thieneman ran a blistering fast 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, building on his 1.52-second 10-yard split. He has the speed and range to play free safety in one-high shells, and with his ability to cover ground quickly moving forward and backward, he will give Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores even more flexibility to get creative with blitzes and coverages. In 2025, Thieneman lined up in the box on 434 snaps, in the slot on 118 snaps and at free safety on 247 snaps. He managed an elite 91.1 PFF coverage grade, so he should be able to help the Vikings coverage in multiple ways.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports

March 23

Prisco projects at No. 18: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

They need a young playmaking safety who has a lot of tools in the box. McNeil-Warren is that type of player. He might end up as the best safety in this class.

Will Ragatz of Vikings on SI

March 18

Ragatz projects at No. 23 (via the Eagles): Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Mock trade: Minnesota sends Nos. 18 & 97 (Rd. 3) to Philadelphia for Nos. 23, 68 (Rd. 3) & 122 (Rd. 4)

This would be a very interesting selection for Brian Flores and the Vikings. Faulk is generally listed as an edge rusher, and the Vikings don't exactly need another one of those unless they trade Jonathan Greenard. But at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds, he's not an outside linebacker like Dallas Turner. He's also not a true defensive tackle. Faulk lies somewhere in between. Really, he's a defensive end who can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 like the one the Vikings run.

Ragatz projects at No. 49 in Round 2: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

The Vikings need at safety will be a glaring one if Harrison Smith retires, but even after signing James Pierre, they could certainly use a young building block at cornerback. The 5-11 Scott is a very fun nickel corner prospect. He was one of the best defensive backs in the country last year after transferring from Auburn. Scott had 13 TFL, 5.0 sacks, two pick-sixes, and five passes defended, earning an elite 89.6 PFF grade. He's a great blitzer whose 20 pressures led all cornerbacks in the country by a wide margin, which makes him an easy fit in a Flores scheme. He does turn 25 in August, which isn't ideal, but his talent and mentality are what matter most.

Ragatz projects at No. 68 in Round 3: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

With Jalen Nailor gone, the Vikings need to bring in someone who can compete with Tai Felton for the WR3 job. Williams, who was seen chatting with Keenan McCardell at Clemson's Pro Day recently, would be an exciting choice. He had 900 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 and also has 20 carries over the past two seasons. He's a dynamic slot receiver with good hands and YAC juice. He's undersized and has dealt with some injuries, but Williams can really play.

Ragatz projects at No. 82 in Round 3: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida

At the moment, with the Vikings yet to bring in a replacement for Ryan Kelly, it seems pretty apparent that they plan on drafting a center in the third round to compete with Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens for the job. There are several options who fit in that range of the draft, but Slaughter and Iowa's Logan Jones are two of my favorites. Slaughter consistently earned very strong grades in both run and pass blocking at Florida. He's just a very solid center prospect with the kind of size, athleticism and experience that teams look for.

Mike Renner of CBS Sports

March 17

Renner projects at No. 18: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Dillon Thieneman has the range and coverage versatility to be a weapon in Brian Flores' defense. He's been making plays on the ball since recording six interceptions as a true freshman at Purdue.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com

March 20

Reuter projects at No. 18: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

If McCoy, who missed the entire 2025 college season with an ACL injury, proves himself healthy and ready at Tennessee's Pro Day (March 31), the Vikings could jump at the opportunity to finally secure a lockdown cornerback for DC Brian Flores. McCoy's aggression and ball skills should overcome any injury concerns, as long as his medical exams are clean.

Connor Rogers of NBC Sports

March 17

Rogers projects at No. 24 (via the Browns): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Vikings accumulate more capital (acquired pick no. 70 overall in this mock trade with Cleveland in exchange for No. 18) and still land a player that significantly helps their defense. McNeil-Warren creates turnovers, is a physical downhill presence and solves a need for Brian Flores.

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.