Can the Vikings secure a franchise center in the 2026 draft? An Iowa prospect offers talent but faces questions about his age and potential longevity.
The Minnesota Vikings are set to begin their 2026 NFL draft on April 23. The draft could set off fireworks if they play it right. Or, it could reignite questions about the franchise's drafting process which has failed for much of the last few seasons.
The Vikings are looking for a few key needs which we have stated in recent days. Among them, the team has needs at center, defensive back, wide receiver, and, perhaps to a lesser degree interior defensive line.
One analyst discussed a potential center the Vikings could add, but that could come with controversy. Dustin Baker of Vikings Territory writes that Minnesota could find a quality center out of Iowa, but the knock on the player is his age. Baker discussed the potential addition.
"Jones is old. Let’s broadcast that worldwide before you get too excited. He’ll be a 25-year-old rookie, and for some fans, that’s a non-starter. Some players have a second NFL contract by Jones’ age. Jones highlighted his 50 starts and fit in a zone-based system. He’s the cleanest fit for teams that want a center who can reach block and who can climb to the second level.
And as an age-25 rookie, he better be ready to roll in September. Why on earth would a team draft a 25-year-old rookie center and sit on him to develop for a couple of years? It’s worth noting that Jones is also “undersized,” with some pundits calling him a diet Tyler Linderbaum, who just struck free-agent gold with the Las Vegas Raiders last month.
Bleacher Report‘s Brandon Thorn on Jones: 'Very good initial quickness and burst to close space and establish first meaningful contact on defenders in the zone run game and on back blocks. Can hook shades, complete overtakes on combination blocks and transition into the drive-phase late in the rep to steer and widen defenders out of lanes.'"
Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow (60) waits to snap the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesThe question with many of the 24-to-25-year-old draft prospects is less whether or not they can play and more about how long they can play. Center can have a long career depending on the player and his health, but it's not guaranteed. It does raise potential questions about the value of drafting one early. That said, the Vikings are not in position to be picky.
Minnesota needs starters. We'll see if they have one in the Iowa prospect or another one to fill their need at center.