EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings circled a center with the 235th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Gavin Gerhardt out of Cincinnati.
Gerhardt started 49 of 54 career games for the Bearcats, a six-season run from 2020-25.
The 49 starts are the most at center by any Bearcat and are tied for third in program history at all positions.
Gerhardt, 24, will reunite with Vikings second-round pick Jake Golday, a linebacker who had been Gerhardt’s teammate for the past two seasons.
In 2025, Gerhardt started all 13 games and helped the Bearcats o-line win Big 12 Line of the Week honors three times.
He visited Minnesota earlier this month for a top 30 visit with the Vikings.