Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. will reportedly visit the Vikings after Pro Day as Minnesota evaluates defensive options in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings ranked third in total defense last year, but they could still look to get younger in the draft next month.
On Thursday, NFL draft analyst Cody Carpenter reported that linebacker Anthony Hill, Jr. will have a "Top 30" visit with the Vikings following Texas' Pro Day next week.
Hill is an athletic prospect who the Vikings could add on Day 2 of the draft. He generated a 9.80 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), ranking 66th out of 3,286 linebackers tested since 1987.
Weighing in at 6'2", 238 pounds at the combine last month, Hill had 21 bench press reps, earning a "good" composite size grade in the RAS system.
Hill's athletic profile set him apart, though. His 37" vertical jump and 10'5" broad jump gave him an "elite" explosion grade. He ran a 4.51s forty-yard dash, posting 2.63s and 1.58s 20-yard and 10-yard splits, respectively, giving him another "elite" speed grade.
But Hill shouldn't be labeled as a "workout warrior". He is ranked 46th on Mock Draft Database's Consensus Big Board, and PFF has Hill listed as their 86th overall prospect.
In 2025, Hill received a 71.6 overall PFF grade, but he excelled in tackling. He had a 4.5% missed tackle rate, which ranked third among FBS linebackers who logged at least 481 defensive snaps. Ohio State's Sonny Styles, one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, had a 2.2% missed tackle rate while Arvell Reese, a potential top-3 pick, had a 6.0% missed tackle rate (still tied-11th among linebackers).
We shouldn't treat tackling college players as tackling NFL players, but Minnesota's linebackers missed too many tackles in 2025. Blake Cashman was solid, posting a 5.3% missed tackle rate. But Ivan Pace, Jr. (18.6%) and Eric Wilson (17.5%) were far too inconsistent at bringing down ball carriers.
Hill graded out as a better run defender (79.7 PFF grade), but he received a slightly above-average grade in pass coverage (63.6). Do the Vikings see potential to grow as a pass defender? Or would they be willing to swap him and Wilson out, who they re-signed to a three-year, $22.5 million contract to begin free agency?
If we're going off the Consensus Big Board, Hill could be available at pick 49 in the second round, although there's no guarantee he'd be there. PFF suggests a third-round grade, which could make Hill more suitable for the Vikings' 82nd overall pick.
Either way, Minnesota appears to be looking to get younger on defense. Their unit is one of the league's best, but it's full of older veterans. Getting younger and cheaper now and in the future helps.
Keep an eye on Hill when the Vikings are on the clock at pick 49 in the second round. If he's available, Minnesota could take its next linebacker, signaling a youth movement.