The Minnesota Vikings‘ season is far from over. They sit at 3-2 entering a much-needed bye week, which should hopefully give their injured players time to recover and come back for a tough stretch that begins with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7.
But their two losses have raised some questions about the overall quality of the roster. That has led some to peek ahead to the 2026 offseason for potential additions.
Fortunately, we have people who are already doing 2026 mock drafts. And while the Vikings have struggled to protect quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz and have been leaky in run defense, a recent mock draft from Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has the Vikings going in another direction in the draft.
With the 17th pick, Wilson has the Vikings selecting USC wideout Makai Lemon. The 5-11, 195-pound receiver is Wilson’s 22nd-ranked prospect overall, and their third-ranked receiver.
Makai Lemon, who also excels as a returner, is a dynamic, versatile receiver with explosive burst, top-tier route-running and exceptional YAC ability, making him a threat at all three levels of the field.
The move may raise eyebrows at first, but the Vikings do have to begin considering the future at receiver. Jalen Nailor is set to be a free agent in 2026, and Jordan Addison’s long-term future with the Vikings remains uncertain after he was benched for the first quarter of last Sunday’s win against the Browns due to yet another off-field incident.
Lemon could be an ideal WR2 option opposite Justin Jefferson in the long term and a dynamic WR3 option as the Vikings continue to evaluate Addison’s future.