Mock drafts point to a surprising consensus: the Vikings may target LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mock draft season is in full swing with several being posted across several sportswriting publications. A surprising consensus might be building for which position the Vikings will target in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Cornerback might not be the most obvious position the Vikings need to upgrade, but it is the position many mock drafts have them eying with the No. 18 pick.
Whether or not the high frequency of cornerback predictions is due to what others think the Vikings need most or several corners grading around No. 18 overall is uncertain. Still it seems obvious that many see Minnesota going that route.
Jordan Reid of "ESPN" is one of the latest to send a defensive back to Minnesota. He had the Vikings selecting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 18 pick. Reid delved into his reasoning for the pick.
"Minnesota lacks young, high-upside players in the secondary, which drafting Delane would solve. He is technically sound with a savvy skill set, which would fit nicely into Brian Flores' diverse scheme. Delane has the speed to turn and run with targets in man coverage, but his eyes in zone coverage are among the best of any corner in this year's class. His 27.8% completion percentage allowed was the third-lowest rate in the FBS, and he had 11 pass breakups and two interceptions this season."
LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) reacts to a stop on fourth down against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesThe LSU cornerback may not make it to the No. 18 pick, but if he does, Delane could be a terrific selection for the Vikings. That Delane allowed so low a completion percentage speaks to how high a ceiling he has at cornerback. When you consider the competition he faced on a weekly basis, his production becomes more impressive.
Delane, of course, played in the SEC this season. Albeit his schedule in particular featured a handful of good quarterbacks.
LSU faced Cade Klubnik (Clemson), D.J. Lagway (Florida), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Marcel Reid (Texas A&M), Taylen Green (Arkansas) and John Mateer (Oklahoma) at quarterback this season. Only Reid's and Pavia's team scored more than 24 points against Delane and the LSU defense.
Can one cornerback transform a defense? Probably not. It can, however, simplify all the pieces around the player. With Delane or another corner, Minnesota would hope for a cornerback that could lock down a quarter of the field. Perhaps the LSU star is that player for the Vikings.
We'll keep an eye on what positions are popular picks for Minnesota moving forward. For now, the expectation is the Vikings will be looking to add strong coverage on the outside.