On the contrary -- getting young, talented players on affordable contracts is exactly the boost the Vikings need to get back to the playoffs.If Murray has at least (temporarily) solved the QB worries, the Vikings can focus on filling their needs elsewhere to make sure that a superstar like Justin Jefferson isn't sitting at home again during the postseason. With the first round on Thursday, second and third rounds on Friday and fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, we'll be keeping track below of everything the Vikings do during the draft.MORE: The full origin story of ESPN's NFL Draft pick chimeMinnesota Vikings draft picks 2026Refresh for the latest.Who did the Vikings draft?The Vikings enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 9 picks to make:Round 1, Pick 18: Caleb Banks, DT, FloridaRound 2, Pick 51: Jake Golday, LB, CincinnatiRound 3, Pick 82: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa StateRound 3, Pick 97: Caleb Tiernan, OT, NorthwesternRound 3, Pick 98: Jakobe Thomas, S, MiamiRound 5, Pick 159: Max Bredeson, TE, MichiganRound 5, Pick 163: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F.

AustinRound 6, Pick 198: Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake ForestRound 7, Pick 235: Gavin Gerhardt, C, CincinnatiRound 7, Pick 244:Note: The Vikings draft changed dramatically by changing Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles.MORE: NFL Draft pick trade value chart shows how deals are madeVikings NFL Draft needsSafety: The Vikings need an heir to Harrison Smith, and there are two quality safeties potentially on the board with the 18th pick -- Dillon Thieneman from Oregon and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo.Cornerback: You can't have too many corners in the modern NFL, and it's clear the Vikings have to upgrade the secondary to keep up with the NFC North's talented passing attacks.Interior defensive line: The most recent Yahoo mock draft has the Vikings taking Ohio State's DT Kayden McDonald at pick 18. They could use the bulking up inside.

Update: The Vikings made this happen with Caleb Banks in round one.Track more drafts here: Ravens | Colts | Titans | Cardinals | Buccaneers | Jaguars | PanthersVikings mock draft 2026Here's how the Vikings' draft could look, based on the seven-round mock draft from SN's Vinnie Iyer. RoundPickSelectionPositionCollege118Dillon ThienemanSOregon249Chris JohnsonCBSan Diego State382Kyle LouisLBPittsburgh397Jake SlaughterG/CFlorida5163Reggie VirgilWRTexas Tech6196Oscar DelpTEGeorgia7234Barion BrownWRLSU7235Travis BurkeOTMemphis7244Roman HembyRBIndianaNote: Johnson went off the board in the first round.Best names in the draft: Ephesians Prysock | R Mason Thomas | DeVonta Smith | Zxavian HarrisWhen is the NFL Draft?The NFL Draft's first round is on Thursday, April 23.The second and third rounds are on Friday, April 24.The fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday, April 25.More NFL Draft news:Chiefs make a shocking draft tradeCommanders get Sonny Styles after historic NFL Draft CombineSteelers' 1st-round pick didn't play football until collegeEagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this beforeBrowns' pick is really about Shedeur Sanders' replacement