Draft Grades
Tis' the season. I'll get it started. From Kiper;
Minnesota Vikings: C
Top needs entering the draft: Safety, cornerback, defensive tackle, running back, center
Save for the Kyler Murray veteran minimum signing, the Vikings didn't do a lot in free agency. The biggest changes might have been releasing Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen on the interior of the defensive line in cap-saving measures. Jalen Redmond had a six-sack campaign in 2025, but defensive tackle was definitely an issue coming into the draft.
Caleb Banks is a good player. He can wreak havoc on opposing linemen and has legit burst to affect the quarterback in the pocket as an interior pass rusher (4.5 sacks in 2024). He's at his best as a run stuffer, closing gaps with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, and he brings scheme versatility to the table. But his left foot has been a major problem.
He broke it early last season and was limited to three games. Then he broke it again at the combine, requiring surgery and putting him on the sideline until at least June. That was enough to push him down the Big Board a little bit. I had him ranked 62nd, so taking him at No. 18 was too rich. I was mostly surprised Minnesota passed on safety Dillon Thieneman, but even among the defensive tackles, I had four guys ranked higher, starting with Peter Woods and Kayden McDonald.
Minnesota did take a safety in Jakobe Thomas late in Round 3, and he can create takeaways, with five INTs in 2025. It doubled up on defensive tackle with Domonique Orange and picked up linebacker depth with Jake Golday. But my favorite pick of Day 2 was Caleb Tiernan. I had him ranked 47 spots higher than his draft slot, and he is a massive 6-foot-8, 323-pounder with a ton of experience (44 starts, mostly at left tackle).
The Vikings made four picks on Day 3, and my favorite of the bunch is Charles Demmings. He ran a 4.41 in the 40 at the combine, and with nine interceptions and 35 passes defensed in college, he's a ball hawk. But overall, Minnesota just didn't do enough to move the needle
JimmyinSD wrote:
the fact that anybody even does draft grades immediately after a draft IMO disqualifies their opinions. it takes a couple seasons in most cases to get any indication of the selections true game and fit.
We don’t even get the “we really won’t know for 3 years, but…” chestnut anymore.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
MaroonBells wrote:
It helps that we had almost twice the amount of picks we had last year. I think Banks will likely be a starter on day one, but rotate in and out with LDR. Since nose is just a 2-down position anyway, I think Orange will start day one. Vikings haven't had a guy who fits the nose tackle size profile since Flores came on board. I'm very curious to see how that impacts our run defense.
Not only the amount of picks, that there are roles for the players available all the way through the 6th round, and due in part to the fact we weren't great at drafting the last couple of years. The depth wasn't great and with want to do a salary cap reset it opens up some spots.
I think most of these 9 picks are going to make the roster and most of the 9 will get a lot of snaps as the season goes on.
Banks...agree that he will be a starter/rotation 2 downs
Golday...depends on TC, but could he start alongside Cashman & Wilson with Pace as a backup?
Orange...run-stuffer, two down starter by mid-season
Tiernan...won't start, but will be a backup similar to what Brandel was early on.
Thomas...I see him being coachable and if not starting day one, he will be starting by midseason. My prediction is Dirty Harry is retired.
Bredeson...CJ Ham 2.0
Demmings...will not start, but will get snaps
Claiborne...he will get snaps for sure. He'll make the roster as RB3.
Gerhardt...practice squad...Brandel will start. He could surpass Jurgens on the depth chart though.
Let's see how my crystal ball is by January.
Please God, just one Lombardi before I die.
I really think most of the poor grades all acknowledge the same thing. Banks was a top 10 player based on talent alone, but didn't play last year due to the foot injury, and breaks the foot again prior to the combine. That's the risk. He's a big guy obviously and feet problems with big people usially don't go away. As long as we can keep him on the field and not on IR, he's a game changer. I'm kind of curious to know what he was doing when he broke the foot prior to the Combine. Was it training, did he step awkwardly, going up stairs, etc? Anybody know if that's been posted anywhere?
I've heard the Chris Jones comps, which I agree on, but I'll give you another guy he reminds me of and that's former Raider great Darrell Russell. All the potential in the world...
supafreak84 wrote:
I really think most of the poor grades all acknowledge the same thing. Banks was a top 10 player based on talent alone, but didn't play last year due to the foot injury, and breaks the foot again prior to the combine. That's the risk. He's a big guy obviously and feet problems with big people usially don't go away. As long as we can keep him on the field and not on IR, he's a game changer. I'm kind of curious to know what he was doing when he broke the foot prior to the Combine. Was it training, did he step awkwardly, going up stairs, etc? Anybody know if that's been posted anywhere?
I've heard the Chris Jones comps, which I agree on, but I'll give you another guy he reminds me of and that's former Raider great Darrell Russell. All the potential in the world...
In his interview, not sure which one, he stated that it happened when he was practicing starts for doing the 40. He had aggressive cleats on and was coming out of the blocks at the start and heard a pop.
Check out the interviews where he's in Minnesota for the first time fielding questions from the press. I think it's the day after he was drafted.
medaille wrote:
In his interview, not sure which one, he stated that it happened when he was practicing starts for doing the 40. He had aggressive cleats on and was coming out of the blocks at the start and heard a pop.
That's certainly concerning. Like I said, I hope the doctors and training staff that signed off on him know what they are talking about and can remedy the issue.
Like I said in the Banks thread....
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
One big talking point from this Draft is the teams that took their guys and trusted "their" boards vs "consensus". Bears, Rams, Jags, and most notably -- 49ers -- had the largest Deltas between their picks and where the Consensus Big Boards listed. All playoff teams in '25. 🤷🏼♂️
— Peter Schrager @PSchrags Apr 28, 2026
One big talking point from this Draft is the teams that took their guys and trusted "their" boards vs "consensus". Bears, Rams, Jags, and most notably -- 49ers -- had the largest Deltas between their picks and where the Consensus Big Boards listed. All playoff teams in '25. 🤷🏼♂️
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
supafreak84 wrote:
I really think most of the poor grades all acknowledge the same thing. Banks was a top 10 player based on talent alone, but didn't play last year due to the foot injury, and breaks the foot again prior to the combine. That's the risk. He's a big guy obviously and feet problems with big people usially don't go away. As long as we can keep him on the field and not on IR, he's a game changer. I'm kind of curious to know what he was doing when he broke the foot prior to the Combine. Was it training, did he step awkwardly, going up stairs, etc? Anybody know if that's been posted anywhere?
I've heard the Chris Jones comps, which I agree on, but I'll give you another guy he reminds me of and that's former Raider great Darrell Russell. All the potential in the world...
7 minutes in is where the question is asked and answered
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