Charlie Campbell
Solid Starter
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati – Round 2 
Brian Flores has done a nice job of getting solid play out of veteran free agent additions during his time as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. With those veterans aging, it made sense for Minnesota to add some linebacker youth to develop and provide more depth for the 2025 season.
At Cincinnati, Golday was a solid linebacker in 2025, showing a solid skill set while totaling 105 tackles with 3.5 sacks, three passes broken up, and a forced fumble. At 6-foot-4, 239 pounds, Golday has good size for the NFL and is a rangy linebacker. Golday has good quickness and physicality. Golday could be a well-rounded three-down starter who is dependable in run defense and pass coverage.
The Vikings don’t need Golday to start right away, but after a year or two for development, he could be their long-term starter at middle linebacker and the replacement for Blake Cashman. With Flores to guide him, Golday should turn into a solid starter for Minnesota.
2025: Donovan Jackson, G
2024: Dallas Turner, DE
2023: Jordan Addison, WR
2022: Ed Ingram, G
2021: Wyatt Davis, G
2020: Jeff Gladney, CB
2019: Garrett Bradbury, C
2018: Daniel Carlson, K
2017: Pat Elflein, C
2016: Laquon Treadwell, WR
2015: Trae Waynes, CB
2014: Scott Crichton, DE
2013: Xavier Rhodes, CB
Most Likely To Bust
Dominique Orange, DT, Iowa State – Round 3
Duringh is college career, Orange flashed an impressive skill set. He is a mammoth defensive tackle capable of eating up blocks and causing disruption at the point of attack. Along with being big, Orange has surprising quickness and athleticism for such a heavy nose tackle. While Orange is talented, he slid to the third round of the draft because of makeup concerns. Sources from other teams said they had Orange lower on their draft board because of poor work habits. They felt Orange was not as diligent as he needed to be with managing his weight and stamina on the field. Many players struggle to change that after getting NFL paychecks, so Orange looked like the riskiest and the prospect with the most bust potential in the Vikings draft class.
2025: None
2024: J.J. McCarthy, QB
2023: None
2022: Brian Asamoah, LB
2021: Chazz Surratt, LB
2020: Ezra Cleveland, OT
2019: Dru Samia, G
2018: Brian O’Neill, OT
2017: Ben Gedeon, LB
2016: Willie Beavers, OT
2015: Danielle Hunter, DE
2014: Teddy Bridgewater, QB
2013: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR
Potential Boom Pick
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida – Round 1
The Vikings tried the veteran duo of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen during the 2025 season, but they disappointed, and Minnesota moved on from both veterans. In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings added a potential long-term replacement in Banks. He could be a great fit in Brian Flores defense and end up being a very good pro early in his career.
At the point of attack, Banks is a disruptive presence that impacts the line of scrimmage more than his numbers illustrate. Banks has an excellent combination of size, strength, length, and quickness. He showed vast improvement during the 2024 season and looks like he was scratching the surface of his potential. With more experience and development, Banks could be an impact player for an NFL defense.
In the pass rush, Banks does an impressive job of collapsing the pocket for a nose tackle prospect. Banks has a serious bull rush with devastating power that can overwhelm blockers. He can embarrass some guards with how he can get them backpedaling against their will straight into their quarterback. On top of a power bull rush, Banks shows a nice rip move to get on the edge of blockers and collapse the pocket. He is tough to stop once he gets moving, and Banks shows a burst to close. Banks has the ability to be a speed rusher, and he will surprise some interior linemen with pure explosion at times. Banks could stand to play lower and not stand so high. When does he neutralize his speed and power, and offensive linemen can lock him up. He also has some stiffness that is common with players of his stature, so he could stand to work on hoop drills more to improve his ability to sink his hips.
As a run defender, Banks should be an asset for his pro team. He is strong, large, and stout at the point of attack. He has the power to anchor and stop downhill runs coming straight at him. Banks can also work off blocks and flow down the line to get in on tackles. Improving his leverage and playing lower will help him become an even better run defender. His propensity to play too high at times is the critical weakness that Banks must fix for the NFL.
Banks is a good fit for Brian Flores’ defense. Banks is versatile, where he can be a run-stuffing nose tackle, a disrupting three technique, and be a five technique if they go to 3-4 sets. If Banks can stay healthy, he could turn into a very good starter for Minnesota and has boom pick potential.
2025: None
2024: None
2023: None
2022: Lewis Cine, S
2021: Christian Darrisaw, OT
2020: Justin Jefferson, WR
2019: Irv Smith Jr., TE
2018: Mike Hughes, CB
2017: Dalvin Cook, RB
2016: Mackensie Alexander, CB
2015: Eric Kendricks, LB
2014: Anthony Barr, LB
2013: Sharrif Floyd, DT
Future Depth Player
Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern – Round 3 
The Vikings are set with their starting tackle tandem of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, but they were lacking depth talent behind them. With extra selections in the third round, Minnesota grabbed Tiernan, and that was a solid selection. Tiernan was a well-rounded blocker for Northwestern, showing an ability to protect the quarterback and contribute to the ground game. He may not have the skill set to be a dominant starter in the NFL, but he could at least be a good swing tackle backup. Tiernan should provide quality depth for Minnesota over the next few seasons and might emerge as a capable starter if injuries force him onto the field.
2025: Sai’vion Jones, DE
2024: Troy Franklin, WR
2023: Marvin Mims, WR
2022: Damarri Mathis, CB
2021: Caden Sterns, S
2020: Albert Okweugbunam, TE
2019: Dre’Mont Jones, DT
2018: Daesean Hamilton, WR
2017: Brendan Langley, CB
2016: Connor McGovern, G
2015: Max Garcis, C
2014: Corey Nelson, LB
2013: Kayvon Webster, CB
Walt