B-
Minnesota Vikings
Haulcy should have been long gone. The Vikings pounced, and earned a B-.
by - ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Vikings watched A.J. Haulcy slide 32 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. No fireworks, but a solid B-.
The quarterback hole is the one line item this class does not answer. They left with safety solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off. Nearly every premium pick went to that side of the ball.
Good work on the whole, with quarterback the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 18th pick they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker. More want than need.
A reasonable price with a little left over, Caleb Banks in Round 2, Pick 17. It fills a real need, too.
A.J. Haulcy at slot 82 is daylight robbery; nobody expected him to last. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Connor Lew at pick 97 is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
Good price on Zxavian Harris in the 163rd overall pick, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Dae'Quan Wright in pick No. 196 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Thaddeus Dixon in the Round 7 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
They read the board right and Jadon Canady was the payoff at No. 235. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
By-the-book stuff, Dane Key at the Round 7 slot squarely in line with his ranking. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.