Henrique Gucciardi’s Vikings Mock Draft 1.0

Generally speaking, mock drafts before free agency tell us nothing. There’s still almost two months of scouting to be done, a ton of conversations, visits, pro days, etc.

And, of course, players to be signed starting next week. So why do one now? To familiarize ourselves with some prospects, see what the Vikings could do if the draft were tonight, and some of the holes on the roster.

It’s a Safety and RB Out of the Gate for MIN in the Draft

Whether or not the Vikings choose to sign will alter what they do when they are on the clock, but what other teams do can also change who will be on the board at #18. For example, the Los Angeles Rams have been heavily linked to a cornerback early in the draft, but they likely will look somewhere else after trading for Trent McDuffie.

The quarterback will also impact the players, at least for me. If they stick with J.J. McCarthy, I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with a rookie or inexperienced center. However, if they do sign a veteran QB1, I’d like to see them use a draft pick on a new center. What happens with Jonathan Greenard will also impact the plan.

I think you all get the point. A lot will change between now and the draft. Also, I’m using PFF’s simulator to do this mock.

Henrique Gucciardi’s Mock Draft 1.0

1st Round, 18th pick: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, DB, Toledo

We still don’t know if Harrison Smith will be back. Regardless, safety is a big position of need even if he returns. But McNeill-Warren isn’t the pick because of his position. His Combine numbers don’t jump off the page, but the tape shows a player with very good zone instincts, good enough athleticism, a knack for finding the football (14 turnovers in four years), and physicality.

His tackling at the line is good, but he will need to improve it in open space, especially against stronger, faster players. He showed he belongs at the Senior Bowl, which is a natural concern for players coming from smaller schools.

Trade Alert

The Jacksonville Jaguars send picks 56 and 100 for pick 49.

There were still some prospects I liked, and the idea of having five Day 2 picks was enticing. Don’t know how this would look in the trade value charts, but for the Vikings, it looked like a good deal.

2nd Round, 56th pick: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

For very good reasons, Jeremiyah Love is the Fighting Irish running back in the spotlight. But Price is also a great prospect. He’s explosive, patient at the line, and has fantastic vision. With the team cutting Aaron Jones, a running back to pair with Jordan Mason becomes a necessity.

And I think they’d complement eachother really well. Price will have to become a better tool in the passing game to fit KOC’s offense, but he has that home-run threat that we haven’t seen since Cook’s better days.

3rd Round, 82nd pick: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn

As I said earlier, I don’t envision the team pairing McCarthy with a young center. Considering Lew is 20 years old, I think another player will be the signal-caller in 2026. Lew will likely miss a chunk of his rookie season, as he suffered a torn ACL last October.

Looking at the bright side, though, it could give him some time to develop behind the scenes. If all goes well, he should be cleared during camp, so this could be viewed as a redshirt season. A great processor and pass protector (1 sack allowed in his sophomore season), he could be the final piece in the offensive line.

3rd Round, 97th pick: Devin Moore, CB, Florida

Moore is a very big cornerback. At 6’3 and 198lbs, he shows promise as a press corner. He had multiple injuries throughout his career, but his size, jump-ball skills, and tackling ability are hard to ignore.

The Vikings are probably rolling with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers as the starters in 2026, but Moore can factor as a rotational player, particularly when in the red zone. He will have to improve a lot as a zone defender to be a starter, but he can absolutely use his size when closer to the endzone.

3rd Round, 100th pick: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

If Moore stands out because he’s big, Louis stands out for being small. But don’t let it fool you. He may lack the size to take on blocks in the running game, but he had 10.0 sacks in the last two seasons. When playing for Brian Flores, the ability to blitz is a must.

He has a little Ivan Pace to him, in that he can slip out of blocks, with 24 tackles for loss since 2024. But he is way better in pass coverage, and has a knack for finding the ball in the air. His 2025 season was worse, but he showed the potential to be, at least, a solid starter.

5th Round, 161st pick: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

6th Round, 195th pick: Cole Brevard, DL, Texas

6th Round, 197th pick: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston

With Jalen Nailor likely out, the Vikings should look to add another young receiver. With Tai Felton on the roster and in contention to be the new WR3, Lance can come in as a depth option. A very good route runner, he would benefit from learning from Justin Jefferson and Keenan McCardell.

Brevard may not be a scheme fit, as he lacks the versatility that Flores loves. But he can be a solid nose tackle for this defense.

Especially considering I’ve taken an undersized linebacker, a 6’3, 346lbs defensive tackle who eats space would be a smart move. You are unlikely to find a do-it-all player at #197, so finding athletic projects and/or role players is the objective here.

There’s a lot of talk about Hockenson being a cap casualty. Even if he stays, 2026 looks like his last year in purple and gold. So, trying to find another receiving tight end is a good move. Koziol fits exactly that mold, playing mostly as a big slot for Houston in 2025.

Blocking is a huge area of improvement for him, but he does remind me of a young Josh Oliver, who’s also very big and had trouble in the running game. With a 6’7 frame and strong hands, Koziol could be a weapon over the middle and in the redzone.

6th Round, 202nd pick: V.J. Payne, DB, Kansas State

7th Round, 234th pick: Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke

7th Round, 240th pick: Eric Gentry, LB, USC

Safety is a position the Vikings should invest heavily in, even if they trust Jay Ward. Payne would add depth and speed to a unit that needs it.

Athletically, he has the build of a great safety, with a rare combination of size and speed. He is a very good zone defender who played multiple roles in Kansas State’s defense, but he will need to improve his tackling to be an effective player.

Anthony comes as a draft project. He has the size (6’6″) and a solid build at 258 lbs, though he could add some more bulk. But he is as raw as it gets and will need serious development to see the field. But with Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard (at least for now), and Dallas Turner, he will have time to do so.

Gentry would be one of the tallest linebackers in the league at 6’7. He will have to add some bulk, but it is super rare to find a player with his size, athleticism, and playmaking. If he adds weight and improves his play strength without sacrificing much of his speed, there’s a real possibility that the Vikings find their linebacker duo in this class. It’d also be very funny to see a 6’0 and a 6’7 linebacker duo.

The Vikings may be hard-pressed to find immediate starters in this draft. After all, this was one of Kwesi’s biggest perceived flaws among fans and the media. So, selecting two players with injury history may not sit well with everyone.

But, to me, Lew and Louis have enough upside that it didn’t bother me, and they should factor in as key players from 2027 and beyond. McNeill-Warren and Price would have an impact from Day 1, while Louis would have the chance to start as a rotational player and key special teams contributor.

Lance and Kozior would spend their first two years developing and with few snaps, but could have bigger roles in the future. At least they should improve the depth. Payne is the late pick with the most potential out of the group and, if he’s able to improve his tackling during camp, could even be part of the defense as a rookie.

Brevard is a player with a very specific role, but not less of a contributor because of it. Anthony and Gentry should spend every single day at the gym, but there’s potential there.