EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have drafted their second defensive player in two days.

Minnesota kicked off its second day of the 2026 NFL Draft by tabbing former Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday 51^st overall. The Vikings initially had the 49^th pick but executed a trade with the Panthers to move back two spots — and effectively move from the sixth round into the fifth on Saturday by sending the 196^th selection to Carolina in exchange for No. 159.

The move followed Minnesota's Thursday selection of former Florida standout Caleb Banks at No. 18 overall.

Golday began his college career at Central Arkansas and played his final two seasons at Cincinnati. He recorded 105 tackles (39 solo), including six for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble in 2025, and was named a First-Team All-Big 12 after being Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2024.

Here are five things to know about the new Vikings linebacker:

1. Joining fellow Bearcats

Golday won't be the only Cincinnati alum on Minnesota's current roster.

Heck, he won't even be the only former Cincinnati linebacker.

The Vikings will now have three Bearcats linebackers in their locker room, as Golday joins Ivan Pace, Jr., and Eric Wilson.

Minnesota added Wilson and Pace as undrafted rookies in 2017 and 2023, respectively. Wilson spent his first four NFL seasons with the Vikings and returned to Purple last year. He made a significant impact in Brian Flores' defense and earned a contract extension this spring.

2. Newcomer of the Week

During his first season with Cincinnati, Golday earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors in October 2024 following a splashy performance at UCF.

Golday recorded six tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and recovery, helping the Bearcats defeat the Knights 19-13.

3. Went against the (hardwood) grain

Golday is the only one in his family to play football.

Both his parents played college basketball at Union University, and his older brother Garrett played at Tennessee Tech and Christian Brothers University.

Golday bucked the trend, however, falling in love with football at the age of 7. He did play multiple sports — including basketball — growing up, and at 14 years old, helped his 14u M33M Elite Team advance to the Jr. NBA World Championships in South Carolina.

4. Overcame doubters

Golday's official NFL Draft profile lists him at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 239 pounds, but he wasn't always built like an NFL linebacker.

In eighth grade, Golday's coach pulled him from the starting lineup and told his mom he was too small and wouldn't find success on the football field. A discouraged young Golday initially wanted to throw in the towel and focus on basketball, but his mother encouraged him to keep at it.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler noted Golday continued to face naysayers. As a senior at Arlington High School, he had shot up in height but weighed just 190 pounds and received just one FBS offer — from Air Force. He ended up connecting with the Central Arkansas coaching staff, however, and joined the program as "an athlete." He initially played defensive end and moved to inside linebacker in 2023.

5. Popped the question

Golday proposed to his high school sweetheart, Kameron Wheeler, in March 2025.

Wheeler opened her Instagram post’s caption with, "I said YES to the love of my life!!"

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