B-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings let McAlister fall into their laps, and walked away with a B-.
by jzaNe1949 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 2 reaches
The value of the weekend has a name and a slot: Eric McAlister, pick 235, roughly 31 picks past where he belonged.
The Johnson reach is the anchor dragging on the value grade. They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it.
A workmanlike haul that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
In Round 1, Pick 18 they get a coverage-and-run second-level piece, outstanding value to boot. Need was not the driver here.
Good price on Keith Abney II in No. 49, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. A minor itch, scratched.
A big swing on Emmett Johnson at pick No. 82, well ahead of any board in the building. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
They did well to land Deion Burks in pick 97, just ahead of his grade. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
Marlin Klein at the Round 5 slot nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It fills a real need, too.
VJ Payne at the 196th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They went early on Owen Heinecke in the 234th pick, and the value did not follow. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
The board fumbled Eric McAlister all the way to slot 235, and they scooped it up. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
TJ Hall is a better player than No. 244 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.