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Projecting the Vikings Developments Most Likely to Hit Next<\/p>\n
Ranked in no particular order, these are Vikings predictions<\/a> for April and beyond.<\/p>\n Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (DL21) appears on the SiriusXM NFL Radio set during Combine week, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, as prospects rotate through interviews and media sessions while teams gather information ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n 5. If Not Dillon Thieneman, the Vikings\u2019 First Draft Pick Is a DT<\/p>\n There is a ghost going around, a ghost that changes every mock-drafter\u2019s mock draft before it publishes on the internet. That ghost ghosts into the network and connects Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman<\/a> to the Vikings, and the ghost is undefeated.<\/p>\n Yes, Thieneman to Minnesota is all over the place in late March, thanks to Thieneman\u2019s fantabulous Combine showing.<\/p>\n It just seems to good to be true that every ghost has it right, so let\u2019s predict this: if the Vikings buck the Thieneman trend, they will pick a defensive tackle in Round 1 or early in Round 2, depending on a trade, either Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald<\/a> (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), or Lee Hunter (Texas Tech).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n 4. The Vikings Sign DT Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader<\/p>\n Brian Flores worked with Wilkins down in Miami to start Wilkins\u2019s career, and in fact, the very first draft pick of the Flores era was Wilkins in 2019.<\/p>\n ESPN reported last week that \u201c26 teams\u201d have called Wilkins\u2019s agent about a 2026 contract, though that feels like agent-driven fluff. If remotely true, Minnesota has an inside track to Wilkins based on the Flores connection. Flores spoke glowingly about Wilkins as recently as last summer.<\/p>\n The Vikings will add Wilkins and showcase him next to Jalen Redmond this fall. If it\u2019s not Wilkins, nose tackle D.J. Reader will be the choice because of his more affordable price tag.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Viking Age\u2018s Lior Lambert noted<\/a> on the prospect of Reader to Minnesota this week, \u201cReader is one of the biggest names left on the open market. He\u2019d be a legitimate difference-maker for the Vikings (or any club that signs him). Plus, his arrival in Minnesota would be even sweeter knowing it comes at the expense of their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter spending the past two seasons with the Lions, Reader can remind them of what they\u2019re missing and go over to the enemy. The Vikings present him with a unique opportunity to step into a meaningful role and exact revenge on Detroit twice annually. The Vikings can kill two birds with one stone by signing Reader.\u201d<\/p>\n Reader is 6\u20193\u2033 and 335 pounds. He\u2019s a unit.<\/p>\n Lambert continued, \u201cAs a fifth-round pick in 2016 with a decade of experience in the league, Reader has seen it all. His knowledge and steady presence could do wonders for an incoming rookie. However, perhaps more notably for the Vikings, he also has plenty left in the tank from an on-field standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cTurning 32 in July, there\u2019s a possibility Father Time comes for Reader. Be that as it may, his 2025 efforts suggest that age shouldn\u2019t be a problem yet, as he was PFF\u2019s 30th-highest-graded interior defender out of 134 qualified options (68.9).\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Jordan Addison\u2019s 5th-Year Option Is Locked In<\/p>\n Minnesota isn\u2019t making this mysterious.<\/p>\n It let Jalen Nailor leave in free agency, refusing to match the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>\u2018 offer of $35 million over the next three years.<\/p>\n The Vikings signed zilch for free-agent wide receivers.<\/p>\n Had the front office used just one of those maneuvers, there might be real uncertainty about Addison\u2019s fifth-year option. But they didn\u2019t, and it\u2019s wildly apparent that the Vikings believe in Addison. Hell or high water.<\/p>\n 2. Jonathan Greenard Gets an Extension \u2014 Not Traded<\/p>\n After signing Kyler Murray two weeks ago, the Vikings, through their actions, showed they\u2019re \u201cin it to win it\u201d in 2026. If they were not, they would\u2019ve let J.J. McCarthy run the show and let the chips fall on his development.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) is brought down by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58), Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during a playoff matchup as Greenard closes quickly to limit yardage in a high-stakes postseason game. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Rondone-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n![\"Kayden](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/t7TLUjw5OmKfYh_gfA3hAA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/USATSI_28342314.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/vvJKjfaAx.FjOkWeV9Kqnw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Greenard-2.jpg\"\/)
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![\"Harrison](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/OcBLewaKEHMiLYaQGkg7BQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/USATSI_24542536.jpg\"\/)
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