The weather this week can't make up its mind, but at least there's one certainty: football is in the air.

On Thursday, Vikings rookies — nine draft picks and 19 undrafted players — are reporting to Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance in anticipation of hitting the grass Friday alongside free-agent rookies and veterans trying out at the club's rookie minicamp, which entails a 90-minute practice open to the media.

It's the first time we'll see what Minnesota's efforts produced during and after the 2026 NFL Draft, and a glimpse at who may become central pieces to the franchise's season in a few months, and years to come.

Making predictions is part of the excitement, and it's exactly what Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick did Wednesday. A main question atop his mind … Who will emerge as each team's best first-year player?

Flick casted predictions for the league's 32 teams and didn't take the easy route of 32 first-rounders, either.

In fact, the Vikings are one of 16 clubs that Flick thinks will benefit greatly from a non-Day 1 pick in 2026. Flick addressed Minnesota selecting Florida product Caleb Banks at 18, then made his case for the 82^nd pick.

The Vikings had an interesting draft, swinging big on defensive [lineman] Caleb Banks in the first round and double-dipping on the interior with [Domonique] Orange. Both could start Week 1, and while Banks has game-wrecking potential, Orange is a safe bet to execute his role at a high level — the 6' 2", 322-pounder clogs lanes as well as any defensive tackle in the class. Another name to monitor here is third-round safety Jakobe Thomas, who could play significant snaps if Harrison Smith opts for retirement.

Flick did a good job circling the impact that Orange, aka "Big Citrus," may make in Year 1, while drawing attention to Banks and Thomas, the team's fifth Top 100 pick (98^th) this cycle and fourth defender added.

Banks is supposed to be cleared for football activities sometime in June after suffering a broken foot at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he will need to regain his conditioning and get acclimated in the summer to be so dependable; his measurables and intangibles definitely hint at "game-wrecking potential," though.

Thomas is deserving of Flick's mention, too, because he played a quasi-quarterback-of-the-defense role on a Miami Hurricanes unit coached by former Gophers Defensive Coordinator Corey Hetherman, which demanded skills coveted by Vikings DC Brian Flores: aggression, communication, ball production, etc.

Orange, however, does feel like a "safe bet to execute his role at a high level" because he's going to give Flores' group a true nose tackle, someone who can muddy up the middle and reinforce the run defense.

Each Vikings draft pick and undrafted rookie has his own forthcoming peaks and valleys to navigate, so it's important to give them grace as they learn, develop and begin to compete in roles tailored to them.

For what it's worth, Flick singled out three more big men as NFC North rookies primed for success: Bears center Logan Jones (57^th), Packers defensive tackle Chris McClellan (77) and Lions tackle Blake Miller (17).

Click here to discover Flick's pick for every team.

Rounding out the roster

Is it too soon to start a countdown? Why'd we even ask — the regular season begins in 125 days!

Accordingly, ESPN's Aaron Schatz on Thursday explored the "biggest remaining holes" for all 32 NFL rosters. Many needs were filled through free agency and the draft, but obviously not every last one.

Schatz noted that clubs have "certain units where the depth is sketchy" at this point on the calendar.

Here's how he assessed the Vikings:

Justin Jefferson? One of the best. Jordan Addison? The Vikings happily picked up his fifth-year option. But what about a third starting wide receiver? Tai Felton, who had three catches as a rookie in 2025, is the option for now. There's no depth here, either, as the Vikings don't have another wide receiver who was either drafted or has ever caught a regular-season pass in the NFL.

Schatz is accurate on this topic. And the WR3 role vacated by Jalen Nailor is an important one to plug.

However, Minnesota has a bounty of in-house candidates who could solve the puzzle with a standout offseason program/preseason. Felton and 2025 UDFA Myles Price, who crushed it as a returner in his rookie year and is someone to watch in the slot, are first to mind. Jeshaun Jones and Dontae Fleming are two other undrafted players who have spent time in the Vikings system on the practice squad. This year's UDFAs include intriguing receivers such as Dillon Bell out of Georgia and Shaleak Knotts out of Maryland.

The list goes on.

No doubt it's a roster battle to watch (with the awareness that Jefferson and Addison are arguably the top 1-2 receiving threats in the league, and Wide Receivers Coach Keenan McCardell is a great teacher).

Additionally, Schatz floated several free agents as possible fits for Minnesota if it looks for help at the position externally. He mentioned a hypothetical reunion for Stefon Diggs, as well as two former 49ers wide receivers, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel, as options; Samuel was with Washington last season.

You can explore the 31 other "roster holes" that Schatz identified, here.

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