2026 draft stuff

[gunnarthor]

With the win over Dallas, we went from the #11 pick to #12. Again, never likely that they could drop lower than 9 but now seems less likely to draft in the top 10. 

[gunnarthor]

Vanimal was right, Arch Manning is staying in college.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47320594/texas-qb-arch-manning-return-school-2026-season

[Vanimal46]

21 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Vanimal was right, Arch Manning is staying in college.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47320594/texas-qb-arch-manning-return-school-2026-season

I was happy to read that this morning. I'm sure he has plenty of Mannings in his ear telling him not to rush the decision. Things were really clicking for him in the 2nd half of the year, and another full year of experience will solidify him as the #1 overall pick in 2027.

[Vanimal46]

The only question remains is what will Dante Moore do at Oregon? He might benefit more declaring for the draft this year instead of being in the loaded 2027 draft class. Since this year it's Fernando Mendoza and ??? after him. 

[gunnarthor]

A new mock. Has us taking a RB.

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-updated-2-rounds-fernando-mendoza-dante-moore-ty-simpson

I've never done it but I'm sure others have but it would be really interesting to compare the consensus top 15ish players at this time of the year on draft lists and do it again in May to see who has really shot up or down after the college football season is over. 

[gunnarthor]

With the Steelers win over Miami, the Vikings move up one more position to #13. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The only question remains is what will Dante Moore do at Oregon? He might benefit more declaring for the draft this year instead of being in the loaded 2027 draft class. Since this year it's Fernando Mendoza and ??? after him. 

If I'm the second or third QB this year, I come out, because I'm not in the top five next year. Unless I get millions to stay, which I'm sure he'll get offered by Knight. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

3 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

A new mock. Has us taking a RB.

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-updated-2-rounds-fernando-mendoza-dante-moore-ty-simpson

I've never done it but I'm sure others have but it would be really interesting to compare the consensus top 15ish players at this time of the year on draft lists and do it again in May to see who has really shot up or down after the college football season is over. 

I am a huge ND guy, and to paraphrase Terry Jeffords from Brooklyn 99, Cap'n Piranha loves Love.  That said, all I care about this offseason is making the OL better, so if Mauigoa from Miami is there (as he is in this mock) I run to the podium to take him.  I'd rather get him, and then target Price (the other RB from ND, who falls to at least the 3rd round in this mock).  I'm intrigued by Maiava the QB from USC as well--he would seem to be a much better fit for KOC's system than JJM, I would think.

[Vanimal46]

18 minutes ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

I'm intrigued by Maiava the QB from USC as well

FYI he just announced today he’s returning to USC. This is going to be a really light QB draft. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

On 12/16/2025 at 11:59 AM, Vanimal46 said:

FYI he just announced today he’s returning to USC. This is going to be a really light QB draft. 

Especially if Moore returns to Oregon, as has been discussed.  2027 on the other hand--Sayin, Carr, Manning, Moore, and Maiava might all be top 10 picks.  It's basically the 2024 draft all over again.

[TheLeviathan]

23 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

Especially if Moore returns to Oregon, as has been discussed.  2027 on the other hand--Sayin, Carr, Manning, Moore, and Maiava might all be top 10 picks.  It's basically the 2024 draft all over again.

This is true but also really hard to project.  Take this from 7 months ago:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/44925346/2026-nfl-mock-draft-early-first-round-predictions-quarterbacks-trades-32-picks

[Mike Sixel]

Both CBS mocks have the OR QB going second, I believe. You gotta leave school at that point, IMO. No matter what Knight offers him to stay.

[Mike Sixel]

2 of those mocks have teh Vikes taking the ND RB, one a S and one a CB......I can definitely see Safety or CB as the pick. 

[TheLeviathan]

5 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

2 of those mocks have teh Vikes taking the ND RB, one a S and one a CB......I can definitely see Safety or CB as the pick. 

If we go safety/corner I hope we end up trading back.  I think the difference between the top 3 corners is relatively little.  After Caleb Downs there is a nice combo of safeties that are all roughly equal.

Deal back, get yourself an early 3rd or move up in the second.

The more I look at this draft there are two things I really want to walk away with: a nose tackle and a linebacker.  Those classes have some dudes in them.  (I'm also a fan of a few HBs that are later guys: Jonah Coleman, LJ Martin, and Raleek Brown)

[gunnarthor]

Vikings now slated to pick at #15 with two games left. Obviously, losing both is much more likely if McCarthy is out.

And here's another mock with the Vikings taking the injured CB, just for Nick.

https://nfltraderumors.co/updated-2026-nfl-mock-draft-7-0/

[TheLeviathan]

6 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Vikings now slated to pick at #15 with two games left. Obviously, losing both is much more likely if McCarthy is out.

And here's another mock with the Vikings taking the injured CB, just for Nick.

https://nfltraderumors.co/updated-2026-nfl-mock-draft-7-0/

Sadiq falling to the end of the first is a near impossibility IMO.

The league has figured out how hard it is for defenses to match up with the modern TE.  He's going high.

[gunnarthor]

22 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Sadiq falling to the end of the first is a near impossibility IMO.

The league has figured out how hard it is for defenses to match up with the modern TE.  He's going high.

I was actually wondering if the Vikings would take a TE in round one. They have so many other areas but if Hockinson leaves, depending on how the board falls, maybe?

[nicksaviking]

On 12/22/2025 at 8:37 AM, gunnarthor said:

Vikings now slated to pick at #15 with two games left. Obviously, losing both is much more likely if McCarthy is out.

And here's another mock with the Vikings taking the injured CB, just for Nick.

https://nfltraderumors.co/updated-2026-nfl-mock-draft-7-0/

My injured CB aversion aside, this write up, just like many of them, screams that the guy was looking for a spot to put the player and not looking from the team's perspective:

'Where should this guy go, somewhere in the middle, Minnesota looks good' Because the writer wasn't going to think too hard about the Minnesota pick any way.

[gunnarthor]

It's still way to early but i think the Vikings are going to pick in the 13-18 range. The three guys I'd like to have an option to draft are:

1) S Downs from Ohio State. Seems like an obvious replacement for Smith and a good fit in Flores' hybrid player scheme.
2) LB Styles from Ohio State. Good coverage LB who could step in now and cover TE/RB, which we've struggled somewhat with.
3) DL Woods from Clemson. Big freaking nose tackle. 

Not sure any of those three will be available when the Vikes pick though. DL/QB tend to rise between now and draft day and Downs is such a freak fit that someone will likely say "eh, what the heck, let's draft the best defensive player here and not over think it."

[gunnarthor]

Vikings now have pick #17. I don't think they can go lower than 15, even with a loss next week. Could be wrong. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

Vikings now have pick #17. I don't think they can go lower than 15, even with a loss next week. Could be wrong. 

All these meaningless wins..... Sigh. 

[TheLeviathan]

On 12/23/2025 at 8:25 AM, gunnarthor said:

It's still way to early but i think the Vikings are going to pick in the 13-18 range. The three guys I'd like to have an option to draft are:

1) S Downs from Ohio State. Seems like an obvious replacement for Smith and a good fit in Flores' hybrid player scheme.
2) LB Styles from Ohio State. Good coverage LB who could step in now and cover TE/RB, which we've struggled somewhat with.
3) DL Woods from Clemson. Big freaking nose tackle. 

Not sure any of those three will be available when the Vikes pick though. DL/QB tend to rise between now and draft day and Downs is such a freak fit that someone will likely say "eh, what the heck, let's draft the best defensive player here and not over think it."

I like these 3 guys but a few things:

Downs was an outside shot when we had the 9th pick.  Zero chance at 17.

Woods isn't a NT.  He's more of a Kevin Williams than a Pat.  Freaky athlete though.

[Mike Sixel]

27 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I like these 3 guys but a few things:

Downs was an outside shot when we had the 9th pick.  Zero chance at 17.

Woods isn't a NT.  He's more of a Kevin Williams than a Pat.  Freaky athlete though.

None of those guys will be at 17, imo. 

[TheLeviathan]

13 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

None of those guys will be at 17, imo. 

Styles might just because of the general undervaluing of LB plus a deep LB class.    But the other two?  Yeah, zero chance unless Woods has some major character red flags during interviews.

Downs might go top 5.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Styles might just because of the general undervaluing of LB plus a deep LB class.    But the other two?  Yeah, zero chance unless Woods has some major character red flags during interviews.

Downs might go top 5.

Fair. I've only barely started looking at the draft, so I could easily be wrong. Personally, I think NFL teams undervalue LBers who can tackle and cover.......

[TheLeviathan]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Fair. I've only barely started looking at the draft, so I could easily be wrong. Personally, I think NFL teams undervalue LBers who can tackle and cover.......

Agreed, especially guys like Styles who are part LB and part DB in all the best ways.  I think that type of player is going to see a comeback.

Van Ginkel is the new wave.

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Agreed, especially guys like Styles who are part LB and part DB in all the best ways.  I think that type of player is going to see a comeback.

Van Ginkel is the new wave.

I wanted teh Vikes to take LaVonte David back in the day for this very reason.....Of course, they ended up with a pretty good guy instead :)

[gunnarthor]

32 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Fair. I've only barely started looking at the draft, so I could easily be wrong. Personally, I think NFL teams undervalue LBers who can tackle and cover.......

Georgia LB CJ Allen also can apparently cover a bit too. I'm not sure where this draft sits safety wise. Last year there were a couple guys who were top 15 (maybe top 10) talents - Starks and Emmanwori - who fell to 27 and out of the first round. So I'm hoping the same biases can let Downs drop. I think he's probably better regarded than both those guys but we also don't need him to drop as far. It'll be interesting to see how draft stuff starts to play out. Some QB will rise a bunch. There seem to be a lot of OT in this draft as well. Teams looking for line help might be willing to jump up a bit, especially for guys who can play guard and tackle.

[TheLeviathan]

23 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Georgia LB CJ Allen also can apparently cover a bit too. I'm not sure where this draft sits safety wise. Last year there were a couple guys who were top 15 (maybe top 10) talents - Starks and Emmanwori - who fell to 27 and out of the first round. So I'm hoping the same biases can let Downs drop. I think he's probably better regarded than both those guys but we also don't need him to drop as far. It'll be interesting to see how draft stuff starts to play out. Some QB will rise a bunch. There seem to be a lot of OT in this draft as well. Teams looking for line help might be willing to jump up a bit, especially for guys who can play guard and tackle.

Downs is head and shoulders above the rest but there are some guys like Thienemann and Ramsay that are well thought of.  There is a chance one of those guys is there in the mid 2nd.  It's also possible the league learned their lesson with the miss on letting Emmanwori fall.

Which QBs you think will rise?  It's Mendoza, maybe Moore, and maybe Simpson.  After that it's a lot of guys I don't expect to be taken early.

I get the exact opposite sense on the OL.  Many of the guys currently listed at tackle can't stay there in the NFL.  They'll have to move inside.  The guard class is weak.  Center class is pretty weak too.  It's a year I'm glad we aren't looking for much there. 

With our 5 picks in the first four rounds I'm sorta hoping to see something like this:

1 - CB Avion Terrell

2 - S Dillon Thienemann

3 - C Parker Brailsford

3 - LB Jacob Rodriguez (Bring him home.  Absolute fan fave Day 1)

5th - Best RB on the board

Trading down to add some more ammo in the 3/4 to get a NT would be ideal too.

[nicksaviking]

12 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Which QBs you think will rise?  It's Mendoza, maybe Moore, and maybe Simpson.  After that it's a lot of guys I don't expect to be taken early.

My guess is that Jayden Maiava will be the one who starts rising up boards between now and draft day. Great size, quick release, great pocket presence and a great deep ball. You'll also never be able to stop him on a QB sneak from a yard out.

In the past, I think it would have been Sam Leavitt and LaNorris Sellers, who will probably test really, really well athletically but will seem more like the Anthony Richardson and Trey Lance (gulp and JJ McCarthy) mold, of not enough college game reps to evaluate. I'd guess many teams are starting to be weary of that profile now. There might still be some that can't resist though.