EAGAN, MINN. — The Minnesota Vikings ripped their roster down to the studs and rebuilt it in free agency, shocking the league by signing Kyler Murray to command the offense. Now, the 2026 NFL Draft looms large. Rob Brzezinski sits in the general manager’s chair after the organization fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January. The war room inside TCO Performance Center hums with nervous energy. Brzezinski holds nine picks. He needs to protect his newly acquired franchise quarterback and surround him with immediate firepower. According to the latest PFF mock draft simulator, Minnesota attacks the offensive side of the ball early and often.
The draft board rarely falls perfectly, but PFF projects a miracle at No. 18. Jordyn Tyson drops right into Minnesota’s lap. The Vikings lost Jalen Nailor to Las Vegas in free agency, leaving a massive hole alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Tyson brings absolute electricity to the turf. He hauled in 1,812 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns across two brilliant seasons at Arizona State. You can almost feel the concrete vibrating at U.S. Bank Stadium as he hits top speed on a deep post route. The Allen, Texas native pairs elite body control with top-end speed. Drafting Tyson transforms an already dangerous receiving corps into a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries.
Center Ryan Kelly abruptly retired right before free agency, sending shockwaves through the offensive line room. Michael Jurgens currently projects as the starting center, but the PFF simulator forces the Vikings to reach for Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis. Bisontis allowed just 17 pressures over two years after sliding from tackle to guard. He plays with sheer violence. However, this pick burns valuable Day Two capital on a position of relative strength. Will Fries and Donovan Jackson already hold down the guard spots through 2026. Brzezinski must find better value here.
The simulator finds its footing in the third round. First up at pick No. 82 is Auburn center Connor Lew. Lew looked like a first-round lock before tearing his ACL in October 2025. Medical flags push him down the board, but his raw power in the run game makes him a massive steal. He can sit on the bench and rehab while Jurgens handles the immediate snapping duties.
At pick No. 97, Minnesota grabs Washington running back Jonah Coleman. The 5-foot-9 bulldozer racked up 15 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason returned on one-year deals, so the backfield needs an injection of youth. Coleman lacks Olympic speed, but he embraces contact. He shatters arm tackles and fights for every dirty yard. Fans in the freezing parking lots will love his bruising, blue-collar style.
Late-round draft picks require heavy projection. Teams hunt for specific physical traits and high ceilings. PFF hands the Vikings a mix of raw athletes and developmental projects across the final rounds.
“We brought Kyler in here to win right now. You don’t make that kind of aggressive move without a plan to load up the arsenal. We have nine swings at the plate, and we plan to hit some home runs.”
— Rob Brzezinski, Acting Head of Football Operations
The NFC North demands physical, punishing football. Detroit and Green Bay continue to stack massive defensive lines. If the Vikings want to protect their heavy investment in Kyler Murray, they must hit on these mid-round offensive line picks. Landing a talent like Connor Lew in the third round provides an immediate succession plan at center. Adding Jordyn Tyson creates a three-headed monster at wide receiver that forces defensive coordinators to play light in the box, opening up massive rushing lanes for Aaron Jones and Jonah Coleman. The division crown runs through the trenches, and a draft class like this gives Minnesota the exact ammunition it needs to make a deep run in January 2027.
