B-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings robbed the room for Golday. Final grade: B-.
by Kenny proctor ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
You could see the war room lean forward. Jake Golday at the 97th overall pick is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.
They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
The weekend tilted hard toward the defense.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but quarterback.
Pick-by-Pick
The board had Arvell Reese higher than the 18th pick, and the linebacker fell to them anyway. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Keith Abney II in slot 49 lands just on the right side of the ledger. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Fair-plus on Mike Washington Jr., a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Jake Golday in No. 97 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A clean, defensible pick in pick 163 with a little surplus value in Beau Stephens. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Circle this one: Eric Rivers at pick No. 196 is a fall that decides a draft. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
A market-rate safety, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Robert Spears-Jennings. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Jaren Kanak in Round 7, Pick 19 is fair value, right on his grade. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Owen Heinecke at the 244th overall pick is right where the board had him, plain and simple. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.