B-
Minnesota Vikings
Golday should have been long gone. The Vikings pounced, and earned a B-.
by Kenny proctor ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Jake Golday got past him. The Vikings do not have to explain a thing at pick No. 97. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.
For all the activity, quarterback went untouched, which is hard to explain. They went 6 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for. The weekend tilted hard toward the defense.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the quarterback spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 18th overall pick they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker at a price that makes it sweeter. More want than need.
Keith Abney II in Round 2, Pick 17 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
A clean, defensible pick in slot 82 with a little surplus value in Mike Washington Jr.. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Jake Golday at the 97th pick is the steal of the weekend, a first-round talent at a bargain-bin price. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Fair-plus on Beau Stephens, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A wide receiver of that caliber at pick 196 is the definition of value, full stop. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Robert Spears-Jennings at the Round 7 slot is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
No edge and no loss on Jaren Kanak in No. 235; it is a wash and a sensible one. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
By-the-book stuff, Owen Heinecke at pick 244 squarely in line with his ranking. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.