Before every draft, VikingsTerritory slings its official endorsement, a tradition running for years. Recently, we endorsed the Vikings’ 2022 draft pick of Kyle Hamilton, a trade-up for C.J. Stroud in 2023, a trade-up for Drake Maye in 2024, and Omarion Hampton in 2025. Now, it’s time for the 2026 edition.
One slot. One call. Here’s our pick.
Folks will learn the pick’s identity in four days; here’s what we would do if one assumes that players like Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame), Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State), and Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) don’t tumble down the board. If one of those men fell all the way to No. 18, it would be an obvious no-brainer to select either man.
The Strongest Paths Minnesota Could Take at No. 18
It’s time — way overdue — for Minnesota to nail a draft.
The VT Endorsement: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 18
The Vikings’ current leadership says it believes in the “best player available” strategy. If so, they should prove it and draft Sadiq, assuming he’s on the board at No. 18.
Sadiq is a freakish athlete, a willing blocker, and can truly take the top of the Vikings’ offense, which is especially important for a team that doesn’t habitually prioritize WR3 targets. Think of it this way: for the next five years, Sadiq can own the WR3 target load, hopefully with Kyler Murray at quarterback.
Minnesota has never used Round 1 draft capital on a tight end. The upside usually taps out on good tight ends like Kyle Rudolph, T.J. Hockenson, and Steve Jordan. The Vikings should draft a tight end who can be great.
Always remember: the Vikings didn’t have a roster need in 1998 when they drafted Randy Moss. They didn’t have a roster need in 2007 when they drafted Adrian Peterson. Get Sadiq and be filthy rich on offense, especially with Hockenson scheduled for free agency in 2027.
Secondary Endorsement: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
Let’s pretend that the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Sadiq, rendering the first part of this endorsement useless.
The club should pick McCoy at No. 18, snapping the cornerback draft drought. Minnesota hasn’t drafted a productive cornerback who lasted beyond a rookie contract since 2013: Xavier Rhodes. McCoy has the coverage skills, playmaking, and speed to succeed. The only thing to worry about is his injury history.
Nobody knows how much better Brian Flores’s defense could be with a fantastic cornerback. Let’s find out.
Just-in-Case Endorsement: Trade Down, Stack Picks, Draft CB Chris Johnson
If Sadiq and McCoy are off the board, Minnesota should trade down, grab an extra mid-round pick or two, and select Chris Johnson of San Diego State.
His draft stock has climbed as of late, but he should be gettable at the end of Round 1. For example, Minnesota could trade its 18th overall pick to Miami, grab two 3rd-Rounders, and pick Johnson. The Dolphins could then, for instance, pick a wide receiver.
Johnson has the skill set to succeed in the pros.
The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Johnson: “He’s a fundamentally sound press corner who uses the proper hand to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage, stays balanced when flipping his hips, and doesn’t panic with his back turned to the quarterback. Johnson reads receivers’ breaks, tracks the ball well, and takes sound angles, and he doesn’t get pushed around at the top of his routes in off coverage.”
“He’s quick to trigger, and he drives through the receiver when breaking on passes. He has big hands and possesses the timing and ability to stay in a receiver’s back pocket. Even though his arm length is below average, he’s good at breaking up passes. He had four interceptions last season and returned two of them for touchdowns.”
Johnson also attended Kevin O’Connell’s alma mater, San Diego State.
McShay added, “Johnson is a top five corner, a top 50 overall prospect, and one of the best Group of 5 players in this year’s draft. Johnson has the traits to develop into an effective no. 2 corner while working in sub-packages and contributing on special teams early in his career.”
“Kansas City corner Nohl Williams is an interesting comp — he didn’t get many snaps playing in a crowded secondary as a rookie last year, but he made the most of his opportunities, and he’s expected to start in 2026.”
The Jeremiyah Love Caveat
The dream for VikingsTerritory is for Love to end up with the Vikings. Full stop. End the discussion.
But trading next year’s 1st-Rounder — a draft that will be astoundingly deep — is just a non-starter. Still, if Love fell to pick No. 10 or so and a team was willing to do business, our endorsement would be to trade for Love.
Pairing him with Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Brian Flores’s defense is the stuff of dreams.
