Art'S MOCK DRAFT
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Art'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON MAR 15, 2026

B

  • Art DRAFTING FOR THE
    Vikings
Draft Selections
CJ Allen Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (MIN)
CJ Allen
LB Georgia
Julian Neal Head Shot
PICK: 49 RND: 2 (MIN)
Julian Neal
CB Arkansas
Mike Washington Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 82 RND: 3 (MIN)
Mike Washington Jr.
RB Arkansas
Malachi Lawrence Head Shot
PICK: 97 RND: 3 (MIN)
Malachi Lawrence
DE-EDGE UCF
Beau Stephens Head Shot
PICK: 163 RND: 5 (MIN)
Beau Stephens
OG Iowa
Toriano Pride Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 196 RND: 6 (MIN)
Toriano Pride Jr.
CB Missouri
Jeff Caldwell Head Shot
PICK: 234 RND: 7 (MIN)
Jeff Caldwell
WR Cincinnati
Jack Kelly Head Shot
PICK: 240 RND: 7 (MIN)
Jack Kelly
LB BYU
Draft Grade — Vikings
Overall C+
ValueC- NeedB- TradesB- FutureB-
Flashes of a plan, unevenly executed. Vikings: C+.

You can fall in love with a player. You are not supposed to marry him in the wrong round. The Vikings did exactly that with Julian Neal in the Round 2 slot.

The Lawrence pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. Leaving quarterback unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. They left with edge rusher solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.

It grades out a shrug today, with plenty of room to move either way.

Pick Analysis
Pick18 Rnd1 CJ Allen
A reach on CJ Allen in slot 18; the board had better options right there. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Pick49 Rnd2 Julian Neal
Julian Neal at pick 49 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Pick82 Rnd3 Mike Washington Jr.
A big swing on Mike Washington Jr. at the Round 3 slot, well ahead of any board in the building. The roster fit checks out.
Pick97 Rnd3 Malachi Lawrence
Circle this one: Malachi Lawrence at the 97th pick is a fall that decides a draft. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick163 Rnd5 Beau Stephens
A slide stopped in Round 5, Pick 23, with Beau Stephens worth more than the price. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick196 Rnd6 Toriano Pride Jr.
Toriano Pride Jr. at No. 196 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
Pick234 Rnd7 Jeff Caldwell
The board had Jeff Caldwell higher than pick No. 234, and the wide receiver fell to them anyway. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick240 Rnd7 Jack Kelly
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Jack Kelly. Stacking talent where they were already deep.