![\"MINNEAPOLIS,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6c80f8fcdf3eb0b3fd3d089656e24f41.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nOne season after resurrecting the career of Sam Darnold and making the playoffs, Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s Vikings have failed to make the postseason, and questions persist over whether J.J. McCarthy is the team\u2019s quarterback of the future. Yet the holes go further than potentially quarterback and, as has been the case the past half-dozen years, the secondary needs a lot of help.<\/p>\n
Minnesota Vikings\u2019 Needs<\/p>\n
CORNERBACK: Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. played remarkably well for the Vikings and, more than anything else, stayed healthy. The depth at the position is almost nonexistent after these two, as Jeff Okudah signed a one-year deal last season and probably won\u2019t be back in 2026.<\/p>\n
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SAFETY: Harrison Smith is a 14-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Vikings, but that\u2019s likely coming to an end, as the soon-to-be 37-year-old is expected to retire. Josh Metellus struggled with injury last season and Theo Jackson proved he\u2019s not a full-time starter.<\/p>\n
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN \u2013 JANUARY 04: Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith 22 warms up before the NFL, American Football Herren, USA game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on January 4th, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. Photo by Bailey Hillesheim\/Icon Sportswire NFL: JAN 04 Packers at Vikings EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon20260104086<\/p>\n
RUNNING BACK: Like safety, the Vikings need a major injection of youth at the running back spot. Aaron Jones recently turned 31 years old and is inching towards 1,600 career carries. Jordan Mason is a powerful downhill ball carrier. The offense needs a dynamic playmaker at the position.<\/p>\n
MOCK DRAFT<\/p>\n
ROUND 1: Avieon Terrell\/CB\/Clemson\u2014The top-rated cornerback when the Vikings are called to the clock with the 18th selection is my bet to be the pick. It\u2019s unlikely that Mansoor Delane of LSU slides to the Vikings, but Tennessee\u2019s Jermod McCoy could be available.<\/p>\n
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ROUND 2: Jadarian Price\/RB\/Notre Dame\u2014Price is exactly what the Vikings need at running back, a quick and creative ball carrier who can turn the corner, run on the inside and catch the ball out of the backfield.<\/p>\n
![\"NCAA,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6a8215bea465ffb4058a4ee025bdd6e0.jpeg\"\/)
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NCAA, College League, USA Football 2025: Florida State At Clemson Nov 08 November 8, 2025: Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell 8 walks off after warm ups for the NCAA Football matchup against the Florida State Seminoles at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC. Scott Kinser\/CSM Credit Image: \u00c2 Scott Kinser\/Cal Media Clemson Sc United States EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20251108_zma_c04_265.jpg ScottxKinserx csmphotothree440256<\/p>\n
ROUND 3: Genesis Smith\/S\/Arizona\u2014Depending on the scout you speak with, Smith could be selected as early as the second round or as late as the fifth frame. He\u2019s an explosive run defender with better-than-average range, and Smith is effective in coverage.<\/p>\n
ROUND 3: Kaleb Elarms-Orr\/LB\/TCU \u2013 Testing numbers will be a big determining factor on where Elarms-Orr is drafted, yet on film he\u2019s a terrific off-ball linebacker who makes a lot of plays in pursuit.<\/p>\n
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Draft-week variables aside, the Vikings appear positioned to prioritize need over luxury at the top.<\/p>\n
The post Vikings\u2019 Biggest Roster Needs: Latest Mock Draft Has Kevin O\u2019Connell Taking Clemson CB in Round 1<\/a> appeared first on EssentiallySports<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One season after resurrecting the career of Sam Darnold and making the playoffs, Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s Vikings have failed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":690186,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2073],"tags":[6912,12782,843,4713,7,345,21433,9714,1519,8782,3974,7103,6192,233,259,2529,6,1878,526,23207,234],"class_list":["post-690185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota-vikings","tag-aaron-jones","tag-byron-murphy-jr","tag-clemson-tigers","tag-florida-state-seminoles","tag-football","tag-green-bay-packers","tag-harrison-smith","tag-isaiah-rodgers","tag-j-j-mccarthy","tag-jeff-okudah","tag-jordan-mason","tag-josh-metellus","tag-kevin-oconnell","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-minnesotavikings","tag-nfl","tag-sam-darnold","tag-tennessee","tag-theo-jackson","tag-vikings"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115925165597804241","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=690185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690185\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/690186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=690185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=690185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=690185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}