Don’t let the media or the general population fool you; it is never too early for a mock draft.
Just because the 2026 NFL Draft is six months away and we aren’t even halfway through the season doesn’t mean we can’t start eyeing up some intriguing draft prospects for our beloved Minnesota Vikings. Of course, our friends over at Pro Football Focus subscribe to this school of thought as well, and that’s why they’re already getting some simulation work for the upcoming draft done in the month of October.
We all know that running back remains a position to keep an eye on going forward for these Vikings, as Aaron Jones is becoming well over the prime age for the position, and there continues to be uncertainty behind Jordan Mason.
Mason, however, has proven to be a capable RB1, but with Jones aging and continuously finding himself injured, and Cam Akers and Ty Chandler being very replaceable, the position remains ripe for a young new top-tier talent out of the NFL Draft.
With records how they currently are, the Minnesota Vikings are projected to receive a mid-round selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. PFF’s Trevor Sikkema used these projections and selected Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. Hear out his rationale for the simulated selection of the young man:
“Love’s season started with a quiet showing against Miami, but that was less on him and more about a lack of opportunities. Since then, he’s been on a tear, showcasing once again that he is the most talented back in the country with an 88.0 rushing grade and 69.9 receiving grade. He’s already forced 26 missed tackles with a 3.65 yards after contact per attempt average.”
Prospects that Sikkema had the Vikings passing consisted of Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height, USC WR Makai Lemon, and Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, just to name a few.
If you think about it, it does make sense. For the time being, the Vikings have playmakers everywhere else all around the offense in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and even Jordan Mason. The Vikings going RB in the first round would not be too shocking, as it would be wise on their part to continue allowing J.J. McCarthy to drown in talent to aid in his development.
Brian Flores might be in Minnesota another couple of years while his lawsuit with the NFL is ongoing, and he is doing mighty fine with these budget-ballers like Blake Cashman and Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
One thing that’s for certain, though, is that it’s hard to predict where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his team will go with their draft picks, and the 2025 NFL Draft proved just that. A lot of us would’ve bet a lot of money that the Vikings would draft either a cornerback or a running back in the first three rounds of the event, but they didn’t end up drafting a player at either position over the course of the entire event.
If they do decide to go running back, it is hard to go wrong, given that they do get a mid-to-late first-round selection. It would be less ideal to go big-time on a running back with an early first-round selection, but Minnesota is lining up to be in their usual purgatory of a mid-first.
