Ho! Ho! Ho! or in this case: No! No! No! That’s right! It’s the return of The Naughty List. What does that mean? The Naughty List for Santa is kids who don’t get toys on Christmas Day but instead get coal.
These prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft are the coal we might worry about the team receiving. We always write lists of what we want, but I come up with a list of players who have issues the team should avoid.
Red Flags That Could Push These Prospects Down Boards
I once again grabbed my trusty pen and started crossing off the players the Vikings should avoid at all costs, or at least with their first few picks. Some of them might give me pause due to their injury histories, and some are due to their off-the-field missteps.
There are a few where I see some tape and wonder whether they’re held up higher than others, which is an inflated perception due to being on a certain team or in a system that helps them produce better results.
Jermod McCoy, CB
Tennessee
Jermod McCory has all the things teams look for in a starting cornerback: size, strength, and speed to handle most receivers. In Brian Flores’ defense, he fits in exactly with the scheme. Flores likes big corners, and he is definitely that at 6′ tall and 188 pounds. His production in college is also noteworthy, as he can get after the ball, with 16 passes defensed and 6 interceptions over two years. Impressive.
The problem is that it was two years ago. McCoy had a major knee injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. It seems he is cleared for the 2026 season and has 1st-round potential, maybe even top-20 status. However, he may take a tumble down the board just like Iowa’s Will Johnson did last year. Knee injuries can linger or lead to reinjury.
Using a high pick on him may be a risk if he can’t stay on the field. Something the Vikings dealt with a few years back and caused Paul Allen to cheekily name the practice field “Mike Hughes Memorial Field” to this day. If he doesn’t stay healthy, this would be a bad way for the new leadership to start their run.
Questionable health may be something to avoid, at least early on, and to take that type of risk in later rounds where the chance of value may outweigh any concerns.
Jordyn Tyson, WR
Arizona State
Wide receiver is not seen as an immediate team need for the Vikings, with Jordan Addison getting his 5th-year tender. Losing Jalen Nailor puts the team in a risky spot without knowing what last year’s draft pick, Tai Felton, can do.
He might be another surprise player like Nailor or KJ Osborn before him, but at this point, he can’t be viewed as anything above a 4th receiver on the depth chart. DeAndre Hopkins has said he’s ready to play here should the Vikings call, and that could be in play after the draft. Tyson would be an exciting player to add to the receiver corps for everything he can do on the field.
Whether he can stay on the field might also be an issue for him. He has been injured every year with knee, collarbone, and hamstring injuries. The hamstrings bother me the most because they can be persistent and long-lasting, keeping wide receivers off the field.
He may be worth the risk more than others, but not when other players that should see the field right away without risks are available. This receiver draft is deep, and the team might be able to find diamonds in the later rounds with similar reward.
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge
Miami
The chances of Bain dipping all the way to 18 are pretty slim at this point, but crazier things have happened. The main reason he would get that far down is not necessarily his on-field performance, but rather some things pointed out at the combine.
The first thing is that he has short arms, which can be a problem when going against tackles, as they can keep him at bay. His strength is bull rushing linemen and holding the point of attack. He got to quarterbacks regularly, but wasn’t exactly fast or quick about it, even though he has a full bag of pass-rush tools. Watching him run a few drills at the combine or pro day, he looked like he was lumbering or wasn’t very fast, but that was putting him in positions he wouldn’t be in, like out in coverage.
Due to his power and rush ability, some have opined that he might even be moved into a 3-technique position on some teams. So why would I say the Vikings should pass on him? Let’s add one more thing: he was involved in a car accident in 2024, where he was the driver, and a young lady who was his passenger lost her life. He was at fault, cited for reckless driving, and the woman’s family publicly forgave him and wished him well. These things tend to pop up at draft time.
It might be old information, with all teams fully aware of it, but it could still be pertinent if, during interviews, he acted immaturely or led teams to believe he didn’t take the issue seriously. The only question some have found odd about the accident is that no breathalyzer test was taken, and later the charges were dismissed. Why is that? It could just be situational, or did the officer decide not to do it to protect a University of Miami player?
These questions can be ridiculous speculation by talking heads, but they can also hold weight. If a player like him plummets to 18, maybe those interviews are telling other teams there’s a red flag, along with some physical traits, and teams get spooked. If he doesn’t go in the first 17 picks, maybe it’s best not to take him at 18 either.
Chris Brazzell II, WR
Tennessee
When I first came across Brazzell in the draft guides, I started dreaming of a setup with him, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison. Their route-running, speed, height, and weight would make a great receiving core. Brazzell would be a big-time threat in goal-line situations with his 6’4″ stature.
He’s also pretty fast, pulling in a 4.37 at the combine. It doesn’t sound like he’s the route runner the other two are, but he gets his catches in other ways. He could be a steal in the 2nd Round, where he is most likely slated to be picked. His tape is ridiculous, and he reminds me of Sidney Rice with a similar skill set of jump ball savvy and speed.
Depending on what the Vikings do in the 1st Round, wide receiver wouldn’t be a huge surprise in the 2nd due to Nailor being gone, questions with the depth, and the ever-lingering question of Addison being one more misstep away from maybe being released by the team. That’s where we hit the brakes and look at his on-field performance, and it mirrors Addison a bit.
Brazzell was stopped in 2025 for speeding at 60 mph in a 35 mph zone. Added to that was his license being suspended for failing to appear in court on a prior stop, but that was later cleared up, and he had those charges removed. However, there is some reflection to be studied and vetted to ensure the team doesn’t bring in a guy with driving issues that might persist or even worsen.
If Addison is let go, that could put the team right back in the same bind, needing to draft for the position again sooner rather than later. If the team takes the risk – even in a later round, I will be watching through gritting teeth draft night and beyond that, history isn’t repeating itself.
D’Angelo Ponds, CB
Indiana
The Vikings are definitely in the market for a cornerback and might take one with their first pick. They are just as likely to do it at the 49th pick in the 2nd Round, too. There are several corners worthy of both picks, and the value, along with need, will be favorable. Of them all, there is only one that gives me pause, and that is Ponds.
He is fast and can stick to a receiver and has the interceptions in the Big 10 to support his 2nd Round grade. The thing I have trouble looking past is his height at only 5’8″. He does a good job getting under passes and knocking them loose if he can’t jump up and knock them out of the sky. Moving up to the NFL, where receivers will be taller and able to high-point the ball at a better clip, could become a glaring issue.
Sure, Antoine Winfield was the same height, but he also tackled like being blasted from a cannon with perfect technique. He was also a better pass defender than he was ever given credit for. Ponds will get into the tackling mix, but not at the same level as the great Winfield. His production also seems to stem from the Indiana defense, which put him in a great position to make those plays.
Again, the Vikings’ defense could give him that same advantage, but the heavy blitz packages leave him on more of an island more often. You can’t argue what he did in college, and it could translate right along with him to the NFL, but you can’t teach height, and that’s where he might fall into the bust category if teams use the jump ball to beat him.
