ESPN's draft guru has turned in his final grades for the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft has concluded and the grades are pouring in. The grade issue has been discussed at length this weekend along with the consensus board vs. team's boards on social media. The initial grade is for the player, fit, team need, and the talent. Consider these grades the first quarter of a four quarter school year. Your first quarter grade is part of the grade, not the end all be all. When the games are played is when the final grade will be important.
Having said that, what did draft guru from ESPN, Mel Kiper, Jr., think of the Vikings draft?
Minnesota Vikings: C
Top needs entering the draft: Safety, cornerback, defensive tackle, running back, center
"Save for the Kyler Murray veteran minimum signing, the Vikings didn't do a lot in free agency. The biggest changes might have been releasing Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen on the interior of the defensive line in cap-saving measures. Jalen Redmond had a six-sack campaign in 2025, but defensive tackle was definitely an issue coming into the draft.
Caleb Banks is a good player. He can wreak havoc on opposing linemen and has legit burst to affect the quarterback in the pocket as an interior pass rusher (4.5 sacks in 2024). He's at his best as a run stuffer, closing gaps with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, and he brings scheme versatility to the table. But his left foot has been a major problem.
He broke it early last season and was limited to three games. Then he broke it again at the combine, requiring surgery and putting him on the sideline until at least June. That was enough to push him down the Big Board a little bit. I had him ranked 62nd, so taking him at No. 18 was too rich. I was mostly surprised Minnesota passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, but even among the defensive tackles, I had four guys ranked higher, starting with Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald.
Minnesota did take a safety in Jakobe Thomas late in Round 3, and he can create takeaways, with five INTs in 2025. It doubled up on defensive tackle with Domonique Orange and picked up linebacker depth with Jake Golday. But my favorite pick of Day 2 was Caleb Tiernan. I had him ranked 47 spots higher than his draft slot, and he is a massive 6-foot-8, 323-pounder with a ton of experience (44 starts, mostly at left tackle).
The Vikings made four picks on Day 3, and my favorite of the bunch is Charles Demmings. He ran a 4.41 in the 40 at the combine, and with nine interceptions and 35 passes defensed in college, he's a ball hawk. But overall, Minnesota just didn't do enough to move the needle."
The Vikings draft is hard to decipher, especially with no permanent GM. This offseason has been bizarre for Minnesota.