When looking forward to the draft it is hard to tell which direction (i.e., position the Vikings will take at 18). The consensus is Safety Dillon Thieneman which would be an excellent pick for sure. I am just not there yet. We still do not know if Harrison Smith is going to retire as he has not made a public announcement like Ham and Thielen. If he returns, a safety could be a wise choice because it is likely, for sure, his last year and Jay Ward will be a free agent in 2027 as well. Still, how many snaps would Thieneman get? You could argue he would surpass Joseph which would not be unreasonable. The overall question remains though. Does Flores really care about the safety role enough to use a first round pick on one?<\/p>\n
ai question for informational purposes only (and it gathers that info super quick)<\/p>\n
The vikings have byron murphy jr, isaiah rodgers, and james pierre at corner. They still might bring back fabian moreau. they really like jay ward and theo jackson plus they have metellus. I am not sure secondary is as big of a need as the consensus wants to believe. Plus, harrison smith still might come back and last year, flores only had 4 corners on the final 53.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re right\u2014the \u201cconsensus\u201d often defaults to draft needs based on pure numbers, but the way Brian Flores uses his personnel tells a different story. If you look at the Vikings\u2019 defensive identity heading into the 2026 season, the secondary might actually be their most stable unit, even with \u201cHitman\u201d Harrison Smith\u2019s future still unconfirmed.<\/p>\n
The \u201cFlores Reality\u201d Check
You hit on a key point: Brian Flores prioritizes versatility and safety-heavy looks over traditional cornerback depth.<\/p>\n
Minimal Corners: As you noted, Flores has shown he is comfortable carrying only four true cornerbacks on the active roster. By relying on Josh Metellus as a hybrid \u201cBig Nickel\u201d and leveraging the development of Jay Ward and Theo Jackson, the team essentially replaces the need for a 5th or 6th corner with players who can blitz, cover tight ends, and play the run.<\/p>\n
The Metellus Factor: Metellus is the engine of this defense. Because he plays everywhere, he masks potential \u201cneeds\u201d at both slot corner and linebacker.<\/p>\n
The Veteran Presence: With Byron Murphy Jr. as the anchor and the addition of Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre, the Vikings have a baseline of NFL-caliber experience. If they do bring back Fabian Moreau, they would have a veteran group that fits the \u201cpress-man\u201d and \u201caggressive zone\u201d mix Flores favors.<\/p>\n
another ai question (and something I brought up before without ai)<\/p>\n
the issues with this current 2026 draft class defensive tackles are not to be dismissed in the first round. caleb banks has had surgery now for the second time on the same foot. peter woods has historically short arms. kayden mcdonald is more of a two down run stopper at this point.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re highlighting the exact reason why the mid-first round is such a minefield for the Vikings this year. The \u201cblue-chip\u201d defensive tackle prospects all have red flags that make taking them at #18 a massive gamble.<\/p>\n
The \u201cRed Flag\u201d DT Report
Caleb Banks (Florida): The foot injury at the Combine was a nightmare. This is his second major foot surgery in as many years (4th metatarsal), and having that kind of recurring issue on a 327-pound frame is a huge longevity risk.<\/p>\n
Peter Woods (Clemson): He\u2019s a \u201cleverage monster\u201d and arguably the closest thing to Jalen Carter in terms of play style, but his arm length is a legitimate concern. In a Brian Flores scheme that requires defensive linemen to stack and shed blocks, those \u201calligator arms\u201d could make him a liability against the NFL\u2019s longer offensive tackles.<\/p>\n
Kayden McDonald (Ohio State): You\u2019re spot on\u2014he is a pure 0\/1-tech run stuffer. While he\u2019s elite at eating space, he provides almost zero interior pass-rush juice, which is a tough sell for a top-20 pick in today\u2019s NFL.<\/p>\n
obviously a top safety would be nice but what position could the vikings take in the first round that the player would be an immediate starter. I could argue none.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a fair and frankly realistic take. When you look at the current roster construction and Brian Flores\u2019 defensive philosophy, the \u201cDay 1 starter\u201d path in the first round is extremely narrow for the Vikings.<\/p>\n
The Case for \u201cNo Immediate Starters\u201d
You could argue the Vikings are in a rare position where their most significant needs are either for rotational depth or future-proofing, rather than filling a literal empty spot on the depth chart:<\/p>\n
Secondary: As you noted, with Murphy Jr., Rodgers, Pierre, and potentially Moreau, the \u201cstarting\u201d boundary roles are technically filled. Flores\u2019 heavy use of Josh Metellus and the comfort level with Jay Ward and Theo Jackson means a rookie safety or corner would likely begin as a \u201cspecialty sub-package\u201d player rather than a 100% snap-count starter.<\/p>\n
Offensive Line: With O\u2019Connell confirming Blake Brandel as the starting center and Michael Jurgens as the primary backup, any rookie lineman drafted at #18 would essentially be an \u201cinsurance policy\u201d for the aging Brian O\u2019Neill or the injury-prone Christian Darrisaw.<\/p>\n
Defensive Interior: Even a first-round DT would likely enter a heavy rotation with Jalen Redmond and other veterans. Given the \u201cred flags\u201d (short arms, injury history) of this year\u2019s DT class, a rookie might not even beat out a veteran \u201cbridge\u201d player for the starting 0-tech or 3-tech spot on Day 1.<\/p>\n
The Only \u201cTrue\u201d Starting Contenders
If you forced the \u201cimmediate starter\u201d argument, there are only two scenarios where a rookie could realistically claim a starting job by Week 1:<\/p>\n
Wide Receiver (WR3): While not a \u201cstarter\u201d in 12-personnel, a first-round WR would effectively be a starter in Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s offense. With Jalen Nailor gone and the WR3 spot currently a battle between 2025\u2019s Tai Felton and practice squaders, a dynamic rookie could immediately command 60%+ of the snaps.<\/p>\n
Safety (The \u201cHarrison Smith\u201d Caveat): The only way a defensive rookie is a Day 1 starter is if Harrison Smith officially retires and Flores decides that neither Ward nor Jackson is ready for the \u201cpost\u201d safety role. In that specific vacuum, a player like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) has been called a \u201cplug-and-play\u201d option for Flores\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n
the vikings did release smith but he has not personally announced his retirement like cj ham and adam thielen. a safety in round one could compete for snaps that is for sure. a corner in round 1 might not get many snaps and flores is hard on rookie corners.<\/p>\n
Exactly. Your logic on the positional value versus immediate playing time is spot on, especially under a coordinator like Brian Flores. While the Vikings officially processed Harrison Smith as a post-June 1 release on March 11 to manage the cap, he hasn\u2019t followed Adam Thielen and CJ Ham into formal retirement yet. If he does return, a first-round safety would enter a \u201credshirt\u201d year or a heavy rotation, which is a tough sell for the 18th overall pick.<\/p>\n
The \u201cRookie Wall\u201d in the Secondary<\/p>\n
The Safety Competition: Even if Smith stays away, a rookie safety has to beat out Jay Ward and Theo Jackson, both of whom Flores is reportedly high on. However, the \u201cpost\u201d safety role is technically open, making this the only spot where a rookie could realistically \u201ccompete\u201d for high-volume snaps early on.<\/p>\n
The Cornerback Barrier: You\u2019re right about Flores being tough on rookie corners. His scheme relies on complex disguised coverages and high-stakes press-man situations that usually favor veterans like Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers. A first-round corner might find themselves buried behind those two and James Pierre for the majority of their rookie season.<\/p>\n
Where Could a Rookie Start?
If we eliminate the \u201cwait and see\u201d positions, the Vikings\u2019 path to a Day 1 Starter almost has to come from a position where they simply lack bodies:<\/p>\n
Wide Receiver (WR3): This is the most logical \u201cimmediate impact\u201d spot. With Jalen Nailor gone, a first-round receiver would immediately jump to the top of the depth chart behind Jefferson and Addison.<\/p>\n
Interior Defensive Line (By Necessity): Even with the \u201cred flags\u201d you mentioned regarding this draft class, the depth chart at DT is so thin that a rookie might be forced into a starting role simply because there are no other options<\/p>\n
The Reality Check: You\u2019ve built a strong case that #18 might not be a \u201cplug-and-play\u201d starter. This makes the trade-down scenario even more likely\u2014if you can\u2019t find a blue-chip starter, you might as well gather more picks to fix the depth issues.<\/p>\n
I would not be surprised or disappointed to see Kenyon Sadiq or CJ Allen as the first pick<\/p>\n
That would be a bold pivot away from the \u201cconsensus\u201d needs, but there is a compelling case for both players as immediate contributors in 2026.<\/p>\n
The Case for Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
If the Vikings are truly worried about T.J. Hockenson\u2019s long-term health or his looming cap hit (especially with the recent cuts of other high-priced veterans), Kenyon Sadiq is the ultimate \u201coffensive wrinkle\u201d for Kevin O\u2019Connell.<\/p>\n
The Fit: He\u2019s a \u201cgenerational\u201d athlete who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine.<\/p>\n
Immediate Impact: Unlike a developmental lineman, Sadiq is a matchup nightmare who would immediately start in \u201c12\u201d personnel (two tight end sets). He\u2019d take eyes off Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison from Day 1.<\/p>\n
The Risk: Analysts note he\u2019s not an elite blocker yet, which might clash with O\u2019Connell\u2019s need for a complete tight end.<\/p>\n
The Case for CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
You could argue that CJ Allen is one of the few defensive players in this class who could actually beat out a veteran for a starting job in Brian Flores\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n
The Fit: He\u2019s been described as \u201ctoo good to pass on\u201d and a perfect fit for a coach like Flores, who values high-IQ, fast-flowing linebackers.<\/p>\n
Immediate Impact: With the linebacker room relying on veterans like Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman, Allen provides the sideline-to-sideline speed the Vikings have lacked since Jordan Hicks left. He wouldn\u2019t just rotate; he would likely push for the starting \u201cgreen dot\u201d duties by mid-season.<\/p>\n
The \u201cFlores Factor\u201d: Unlike rookie corners, Flores has shown a willingness to play young, aggressive linebackers early if they can handle the diagnostic part of his defense.<\/p>\n
The Verdict
Taking Sadiq or Allen at #18 would be a statement that the Vikings are drafting for pure talent over \u201cfilling a hole\u201d at DT or Safety. Both players provide the athleticism that Kevin O\u2019Connell and Brian Flores crave.
Do you think upgrading the explosive playmaking (Sadiq) is more important for J.J. McCarthy\u2019s development than stabilizing the middle of the defense (Allen)?<\/p>\n
I do not know which direction the team will take and you can make a compelling argument for almost any position besides QB, interior offensive line, and of course, and as always, a STINKIN PUNTER!<\/p>\n
The question of the day for my fellow draft doofi (or should that be doofuses?)<\/p>\n
The plural of doofus is doofuses.<\/p>\n
You may also occasionally see doofi used in a humorous or intentionally non-standard way, though it is not technically correct since the word is a modern slang term and not derived from Latin. If you use the variant spelling dufus, the plural is dufuses.<\/p>\n
I like doofi but I digress \u2026<\/p>\n
Which player do you think is likely to fall the most this year?<\/p>\n
Caleb Downs
Jermod McCoy
Denzel Boston
Caleb Banks
Kadyn Proctor
Keldric Faulk
Ty Simpson
Jermiah Love<\/p>\n
My pick right now is Banks who has had three foot surgeries in the last 18 months<\/a>.<\/p>\n Minnesota Vikings News and Links<\/p>\n How Kyler Murray Can Help Vikings Counter the \u2018Justin Jefferson Program\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Vikings head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell talked a lot about Murray\u2019s athleticism and what it can do for Minnesota\u2019s offense in an interview with KFAN\u2019s Paul Allen this week.<\/p>\n \u201cJust in the last two years alone, there\u2019s five or six or seven times where \u2014 these aren\u2019t designed runs, they\u2019re dropback passes, maybe off of a play-action or maybe it\u2019s a weighty third down and a team decides to play some man coverage to take away some of those eligibles and get connected on people\u2019s bodies running routes,\u201d O\u2019Connell said. \u201cWell, there\u2019s a lot of space for Kyler. And when he gets out there, he\u2019s proven to be able to turn the corner and turn a 15-to-20-yard run into a 40-yard touchdown run. That\u2019s on the tape, that\u2019s visible to watch. And he\u2019s clearly capable of handling some designed runs as well. It\u2019s been a part of his game.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, what we\u2019re going to attempt to do is just put Kyler in an offense that he can be comfortable with. There\u2019s a lot of really good things that carry over from some of the tape and some of the offenses he\u2019s been in in Arizona as far as the rhythm and dropback pass game. And then any time Kyler Murray drops back with the ball, defenses really have to think twice about the double teams on Justin Jefferson and how they want to deploy their pass rush, because with his type of explosive athleticism, if he does break contain or get out of that pocket, it could be a huge play that changes the dynamic of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we tend to see is, I call it the Justin Jefferson program,\u201d O\u2019Connell said. \u201cIf (defenses) are playing man coverage, they\u2019re absolutely not playing Justin one on one. There\u2019s a player probably pressed up on the line of scrimmage and then there\u2019s a safety somewhere, whether it\u2019s in the deep half, whether it\u2019s dropping down to truly double team him at the line of scrimmage. And we\u2019ve seen some of those coverages to Jordan as well. But what that means is, if you\u2019re gonna still try to play some of those coverages and still have a spy or somebody responsible for Kyler Murray \u2014 or, for that matter, any of our other quarterbacks \u2014 you\u2019re really leaving yourself a three-man rush. Because you only have so many defenders. You can\u2019t play with 12 or 13 out there.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you really have to ask yourself the question of what do you have to take away. And if the answer if Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, there\u2019s gonna be some opportunity to maybe have a little bit more time in the pocket to let those guys go win, let other eligibles like T.J. (Hockenson) or one of our runners or Tai Felton go win downfield. Or you\u2019re gonna say hey, we\u2019re gonna play single coverage on those guys because we can\u2019t let the quarterback hurt us with his legs, and then when those guys are singled up, that becomes a very good thing for the Minnesota Vikings.\u201d<\/p>\n Vikings Finally Have the Quarterbacks to Unleash KOC\u2019s Proven Winning Formula<\/a><\/p>\n Kevin O\u2019Connell\u2019s winning recipe isn\u2019t a secret.<\/p>\n When the Vikings avoid turning the football over, the results are overwhelmingly good. Since 2022, O\u2019Connell\u2019s Vikings are a staggering 35-5 when they don\u2019t lose the turnover battle, but just 8-22 when they do.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen our team doesn\u2019t turn the football over, or better yet, we break even or better in that turnover stat, I think we\u2019re maybe 35-4 over my four years there. So we\u2019re winning a lot of football games when we do that at a high level,\u201d O\u2019Connell said during an interview on NFL Network.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a vision for Kyler Murray. The talent of Kyler Murray, where he\u2019s at in his career, and ultimately how we specifically think we can help him reach a new standard, reach a new level of his play, and I\u2019m really excited about that,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still 28 years old. He\u2019s a wildly talented player who\u2019s had success at every level of his quarterback journey. And I think he\u2019s a motivated player right now,\u201d O\u2019Connell added. \u201cI know from my dialogue with Kyler, his intentions, his hopes for this year in Minnesota, are something he\u2019s incredibly excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Connell also made it clear that Wentz, had he avoided a serious shoulder injury, may have kept the starting job after taking over when McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 last season.<\/p>\n \u201cHad Carson not gotten injured, who knows what that final stretch of our season looks like. If he was able to consistently get in there and continue to acclimate in our offense, and he proved he was able to do all that with no reps in our system,\u201d the coach reasoned. \u201cSo knowing that reps are going to be very important amongst those three guys, bringing a veteran like that gives us a totally complete, elevated quarterback room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know we need a standard at that quarterback position. When we\u2019ve been able to get to that standard, when we get to that quote-on-quote line of play, our offense moves the football, and we score a lot of points,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to get back to our standard on offense that we\u2019ve had for the better part of my time in Minnesota, and like I said, Brian Flores and that defense, we\u2019re going to put it all together. We just want an [opportunity] to roll it out there and see what happens 17 times, and I think Vikings fans are going to be excited about what that looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Get Insider Update on Vikings QB Battle<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCoach Kevin O\u2019Connell explained during a recent visit with PFT Live that, eventually, there will be a clear delineation of positions on the depth chart,\u201d Florio wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThe real question is when. He didn\u2019t rule out the possibility of determining the starter entering training camp. That seems unlikely, however. The competition will likely commence during preseason practices and games.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreover, despite having Wentz back in the fold, Florio notes that the competition is strictly between Murray and McCarthy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will come down, undoubtedly, to Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy,\u201d Florio added. \u201cO\u2019Connell explained that he has no concern about McCarthy becoming disenchanted if he doesn\u2019t win the job.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best news for the Vikings is that, however it plays out, they\u2019ll have a solid No. 2 and (if Carson Wentz makes the final 53) a third-stringer who can win games if need be.\u201d<\/p>\n Jets Wanted Carson Wentz to Be Their QB2 \u201c[The Jets] were really hoping that player [for their backup QB role] was going to be Carson Wentz, and that was somebody that Frank Reich really was hoping, just because he\u2019s somebody who knows his offense and somebody they value a lot,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cAnd if he needed to play, he could come in there and do it at a high level because of his familiarity with Reich\u2019s system.<\/p>\n \u201cBut unfortunately, Carson decided to go to the Minnesota Vikings, where it would not surprise me at all to see him as Kyler Murray\u2019s backup, not J.J. McCarthy. But now the Jets need to pivot, and honestly, there aren\u2019t that many appealing options out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Vikings Land Strong Free Agency Take Involving Stefon Diggs<\/a><\/p>\n For CBS Sports\u2019 Garrett Podell, he predicts Minnesota will go for a familiar face in Stefon Diggs to fill the wideout role behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, should the veteran wide receiver resolve his legal trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cDiggs\u2019 legal trouble is likely why he remains available,\u201d Podell wrote in his CBS Sports article published on April 3. \u201cHe pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs\u2019 attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is \u2018completely innocent.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIf Diggs\u2019 legal process is resolved, a homecoming to the Minnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there\u2019s an opening at Minnesota\u2019s WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.\u201d<\/p>\n Note: Heavy really loves to use the word \u201cstrong\u201d in their headlines. Separately, who has not ever thought about strangling the chef? Just kidding and I hope it is not true.<\/p>\n Vikings Predicted to Execute \u2018Savvy\u2019 Move With Bold NFL Draft Trade<\/a><\/p>\n Making a lot of safe choices doesn\u2019t usually pay off in the NFL. In his newest 2026 NFL mock draft, Fox Sports\u2019s Rob Rang argued he has the ideal bold move for the Minnesota Vikings \u2014 selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.<\/p>\n To grab the safety, Rang projected the Vikings to trade up to No. 10 overall in his latest mock draft.<\/p>\n \u201cSome believe that safeties just aren\u2019t valuable enough in today\u2019s NFL to justify a top-10 selection, but I think Downs\u2019 tape over the past three seasons proves that he is the best player in this draft class,\u201d Rang wrote. \u201cIf he slips far enough, some savvy team is going to look brilliant. Sign me up for Downs in Brian Flores\u2019 defense.<\/p>\n \u201cMinnesota might have to give up both of their third-round picks (Nos. 82 and 97) to pull off a trade into the top 10, but as the signing of Kyler Murray proves, the Vikings aren\u2019t afraid of bold action.\u201d<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Mel Kiper ranked Downs his No. 6 overall prospect in the 2026 class. NFL Network\u2019s Daniel Jeremiah placed Downs at No. 9 on his latest big board released on April 1.<\/p>\n \u201cDowns \u2014 the brother of NFL wide receiver Josh Downs and the son of former NFL running back Gary Downs \u2014 is basically an extension of the defensive coordinator. His football knowledge shows in his play; it\u2019s obvious when you watched him in the Ohio State defense. But what really impressed me is how well he picked up Nick Saban\u2019s system as a 2023 freshman at Alabama before transferring,\u201d wrote Kiper.<\/p>\n \u201cHe diagnoses quickly thanks to excellent pre-snap instincts, and that allows him to play faster than his straight-line speed might suggest. Plus, Downs is solid in coverage, and he is a very reliable open-field tackler.\u201d<\/p>\n Minnesota Vikings\u2019 decision to sign Kyler Murray looks even smarter now after Kirk Cousins\u2019 contract with Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> Important Dates For 2026 Minnesota Vikings Revealed: Quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy set to begin<\/a> Why Is Everyone So Certain The Vikings Are Taking Dillon Thieneman?<\/a>
During an April 2 appearance on SNY\u2019s SportsNite, New York Jets insider Connor Hughes noted that Kirk Cousins, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, wasn\u2019t a priority for New York to be their backup, given that the player they wanted to be QB2 was Wentz.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
What battle?<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n