Just before the main event, VikingsTerritory will publish a final predictive mock draft, when all clues have been compiled, once and for all. Until then, here’s the penultimate stab at predicting the Minnesota Vikings’ seven-round approach in 12 days.
Minnesota stacks nine picks in this penultimate 2026 mock draft.
The Vikings have nine picks — four before Round 4 and five after.
Advertisement
Trade-Down Scenario Sends Minnesota in Several Different Directions
Draft showtime nears.
Auburn Tigers defensive end Keldric Faulk (15) charges into the backfield on Sept. 6, 2025, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, during a matchup against the Ball State Cardinals. Faulk applied steady pressure as Auburn controlled the game, rolling to a decisive 42-3 victory in front of a home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Jake Crandall-Imagn Images.
We felt it was necessary to include one mock draft this cycle that featured a Greenard trade, mainly because the smoke has been out there since early last month.
Advertisement
So, in this scenario, the Vikings get their 2nd-Rounder from Kansas City, Greenard joins the dynastic Chiefs, and Minnesota turns around to draft Greenard’s replacement in Faulk. The Auburn EDGE is known for his leadership, accountability, and character. He also won’t turn 21 until the fall.
The Vikings would basically start the outside linebacker clock over in this scenario.
The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Faulk: “Faulk’s draft stock fluctuates wildly, depending on whom you ask. His grades will vary from team to team based on his defensive scheme fit. Expect a wide range of opinions, but the bottom line is that Faulk is a Round 1 pick all day long and should hear his name called in the first 25 picks.”
“There are a lot of similarities between Faulk and Arik Armstead; the latter was also 21 years old coming out of Oregon. Faulk is slightly shorter than Armstead but is more athletically gifted. He should have a long, successful NFL career ahead of him and could be one of the steals in this draft.”
The fruit of the Greenard trade? That’s Price, the RB2 from Notre Dame, who played second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love. Price scored 13 touchdowns last year, even with Love getting the bulk of attention.
He has 4.49 speed, elite vision, and has been compared to Javonte Williams by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Round 2 (Pick 49) Caleb Banks (DT) | Florida
Advertisement
Sticking with the defensive line, Banks may fall due to his boom-or-bust profile and injury history. He may not be fully ready because of a foot injury this summer.
The Gator has nose-tackle size with a pass-rusher’s mentality. After the departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency, it’s a 2nd-Round steal in Banks to Minnesota.
Round 3 (Pick 82) Connor Lew(C) | Auburn
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has hinted that his team will explore a rookie center after Ryan Kelly retired in March; Lew is the route in this mock draft.
Advertisement
Lew is 6’4″ and 310 pounds, and his draft stock has fallen to Round 2 or 3 because of an October ACL tear. He’s known for fluidity and has a wrestling background. Blake Brandel may start Week 1 at center, but Lew wouldn’t be too far behind in taking the starting job.
Round 3 (Pick 97) Kamari Ramsey (S) | USC
Preferring OLB and DT on defense to start this mock, Minnesota doesn’t exit the draft without a safety. Ramsey is 21 and a guy who could eventually wear a green dot in Brian Flores’s defense.
Often, excellent safeties can be found in the draft’s mid-rounds. The Vikings lean into that mentality after passing on Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Advertisement
USC safety Kamari Ramsey addresses reporters on Jul 24, 2025, at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, during Big Ten media days. Ramsey discussed his development and expectations heading into the season, drawing attention as one of USC’s defensive leaders during the conference’s annual offseason media gathering. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images.
The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler on Ramsey: “Ramsey might not have any one exceptional trait, but he is solid across the board with his athletic tools, smarts and toughness. Staying healthy will be the most important hurdle when it comes to locking down a regular role.”
Minnesota has already met with Claiborne, whose draft stock has climbed in recent weeks. His skill set is reminiscent of De’Vone Achane in Miami, and the Vikings’ new assistant head coach, Frank Smith, just spent three seasons with Achane.
Behind Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Jadarian Price, Claiborne slips onto the purple depth chart as more youth at running back, which Minnesota desperately needs after swinging and missing on DeWayne McBride and Ty Chandler in recent drafts.
And, yes, it’s two running backs in the mock because there’s an extra roster spot after C.J. Ham’s retirement. That — and Jones will turn 32 in December. He’s virtually assured to be hampered by some kind of injury in 2026.
Advertisement
Round 6 (Pick 196) Domani Jackson (CB) | Alabama
Jackson started for two years at Alabama, and that school isn’t known for producing duds.
This 23-year-old is also fast as hell and can be used on special teams. Some will claim this is too late for Minnesota to draft a cornerback, but the aforementioned Flores has proven that cornerbacks aren’t an extreme priority in his system.
Round 7 (Pick 240) Caleb Douglas (WR) | Texas Tech
Advertisement
Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) takes the field on Nov 29, 2025, at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, during a game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Douglas entered the action in the second quarter, adding speed and energy to the Red Raiders’ offense in a road environment. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images.
Douglas is a deep threat who can get vertical with the best of this rookie class. He started two years at Texas Tech and logged 846 yards and 7 touchdowns last year.
Round 7 (Pick 244) Eric Gentry (LB) | USC
When the offseason began, inside linebacker felt like a probable Vikings need, but then the club re-signed Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr.
The fact remains that Minnesota confusingly dropped Kobe King and Austin Keys last year, two depth linebackers, so Gentry is the selection to round out the draft. Gentry has a 35-inch wingspan and could likely contribute immediately on special teams.
Apr 15, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (3) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Players and coaches are wearing number 42 in recognition of Jackie Robinson Day. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet when the St. Louis Cardinals aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
St. Louis beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Saturday for their sixth straight win, while Los Angeles’ offense has gone quiet during its four-game losing streak.
Michael McGreevy tossed six scoreless innings on Saturday to help the Cardinals move a season-best seven games over .500 at 20-13.
“We’re going to give you hell when you play us,” McGreevy said. “There (were) a ton of expectations put on us in the offseason, and it’s been so freeing for the guys just to be able to show up and play.”
Jordan Walker hit his 10th home run of the season Saturday and is 6-for-8 with four RBIs in the first two games of the series.
Advertisement
“It just feels nice that the work that I put in during the offseason is showing up here,” Walker said. “Now the main focus is just keeping it consistent, and it feels like I know what it feels like, so when I get (off track), just get back on.”
The Dodgers have gone five straight games without a home run and have hit a total of three homers in their past 11 games. Los Angeles also hit into four double plays in Saturday’s loss.
“It’s what every team is going to go through in baseball throughout the course of a season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I felt tonight, although it didn’t show for the first eight innings, I thought the intentions were better on balls in the hitting zone.”
Advertisement
Los Angeles has been held to two runs or fewer in six of its last 11 games.
After opening the season on a tear at the plate, Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages has eight hits in his last 38 at-bats. He struck out twice Saturday.
“Just trying to focus on what I can do, not focus so much on the whole,” Pages said through an interpreter. “Just focus on taking good at-bats, doing good turns, not really trying to get too ahead of myself. Baseball is really hard. So offensively, there’s gonna be times where we’re not clicking, and that’s one of those times right now.”
Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (4-0, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers. He won his fourth straight start last Sunday, allowing four hits over six solid innings in a 6-0 home win over the Chicago Cubs.
Advertisement
Wrobleski, 25, has allowed two runs on 16 hits in 26 innings across his last four outings.
Pedro Pages is 4-for-6 with two homers against Wrobleski, who is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three career games (two starts) versus St. Louis.
The Cardinals will counter with right-hander Dustin May (3-2, 5.28), who spent the first five-plus seasons of his career from 2019-25 with the Dodgers.
May, 28, gave up two runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Monday. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, going 3-0 in those outings. May is facing his former team for the first time.
Ulster welcome Exeter Chiefs to the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening (5:30pm) with a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final on the line—and the bookmakers have them slight favourites at -2.
It’s a tight spread for a knockout game, but the team news from Richie Murphy suggests Ulster are going all-in to get the job done on home soil.
Big Guns Return at the Right Time
There are 14 changes from last week’s URC outing, which tells you everything about where Ulster’s focus has been. This is close to full strength—and it shows.
Advertisement
Captain Iain Henderson returns to lead the side, partnering Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row. More importantly, the back row gets a serious lift with the return of Nick Timoney from injury, alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus.
That trio gives Ulster real bite at the breakdown and ball-carrying power—something they’ve lacked at times this season.
Up front, Tom Stewart anchors the front row between Sam Crean and Tom O’Toole. It’s a solid unit, but it will need to stand up physically against a typically abrasive Exeter pack.
Midfield Power and Back Three Threat
Advertisement
Ulster’s strength arguably lies in their midfield. Stuart McCloskey is back pulling the strings at 12, bringing his usual mix of direct running and distribution. Alongside him, Jude Postlethwaite continues to grow into the role at 13.
Out wide, Jacob Stockdale returns on the left, with Zac Ward—Ulster’s leading try-scorer this season—on the right. Add in Michael Lowry at 15, and there’s plenty of attacking spark if Ulster can get quick ball.
The half-back pairing of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy will be key. Doak’s control and kicking game, in particular, could decide whether Ulster play this in the right areas.
Bench Impact Could Be Decisive
Advertisement
Murphy has gone with a 5:3 split on the bench, signalling a clear intent to win the physical battle late on.
Eric O’Sullivan and Tom McAllister provide fresh legs in the front row, while Bryn Ward adds energy in the back row.
In the backs, Jake Flannery and Ethan McIlroy offer versatility and attacking threat if the game opens up.
In tight knockout matches, that depth often proves the difference—and Ulster look well covered.
Advertisement
The Betting Angle: Is -2 Too Low?
A -2 handicap is about as tight as it gets. It’s essentially asking one question: do Ulster win the match?
Given the return of key players, home advantage, and Exeter’s patchy away form, the line looks slightly on the conservative side.
That said, semi-finals are rarely straightforward. Exeter will bring physicality, set-piece pressure, and enough experience to keep this close if Ulster don’t start well.
Advertisement
The biggest risk for Ulster is discipline and game management. If they give Exeter territory or easy points, this turns into a dogfight quickly.
Verdict
Ulster have named a team capable of winning this—and more importantly, one built for knockout rugby.
With Henderson leading, Timoney back, and McCloskey carrying in midfield, they should have enough control and power to edge it.
Advertisement
It won’t be pretty, and it won’t be comfortable—but it doesn’t need to be.
Joshua is set for the biggest payday of his career for the fight with Fury but the latter’s promoter, Frank Warren, has said the bout fight will not happen if Joshua loses to Prenga.
“There is a lot of pressure going into this fight but there’s also a lot of questions to be answered,” said Hearn. “Physically, mentally, fighting again at all and that’s why it’s needed.
“We want the best Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury. We don’t want a guy that, ‘maybe he should’ve had a warm up fight – he wasn’t quite ready’.
“We want to be 100% ready for that fight and, if he is, he’ll beat him and he’ll knock him out.”
Advertisement
Joshua’s was beaten by Daniel Dubois in his last fight before beating Paul and his last win against a recognised opponent came against Otto Wallin in December 2023.
“100%, I think there is no doubt about that,” said Hearn when asked if Joshua’s fight against Fury would be off he lost to Prenga. “There’s no doubt, and that’s the risk that we take.
“Even before the incident in Nigeria, we were always having this fight. Now he has been through that, we probably need this fight even more, if I’m honest.
“Now don’t get me wrong, the risk of that versus the pot of gold at the end, it is a risky game, especially when you are fighting a guy that not many people know about, has had 20 knockouts in 21 wins and has got absolutely nothing to lose.
Advertisement
“We know it’s dangerous, but if you can’t beat that guy then you don’t really deserve to be in a ring with Tyson Fury.
“I think with AJ that is a fair assessment and he understands that as well.
“It’s not about trying to protect money here – ‘Oh we don’t want to take that fight because if we get beat we won’t get paid the money’.
“We have to look good in that fight because we want to beat Tyson Fury. We’ve got no interest in just turning up and taking the money.”
Nico O’Reilly expects the title race to go to the wire as Manchester City chase Arsenal.
City, trailing the Premier League leaders by six points but with two games in hand, need to win at Everton on Monday to keep the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Three successive wins — including a crucial victory over Arsenal — have given City a momentum they are determined to maintain.
O’Reilly, who has excelled in left-back and midfield roles this term, said: “We’re confident in ourselves. There are still a few games to go and it could go down to the last game.
“We’re going to try and win every game and score as much as we can. We’re going into every game trying to put a good performance in and win.”
Advertisement
City moved top of the table on goals scored by beating Burnley last time out but FA Cup involvement and the league schedule have since allowed Arsenal to move back in front.
The Gunners now have the advantage of points on the board, but O’Reilly insists that has not affected City’s approach.
The 21-year-old said: “I’m feeling good and positive and ready for the last few weeks. Everyone is feeling good and we’re excited for the last few weeks of the season.”
O’Reilly has been one of the stars of City’s campaign, first establishing himself as a member of the back four before being handed opportunities in his more natural midfield position.
Advertisement
He is among the leading contenders for young player of the year awards, but O’Reilly is focusing only on the immediate task.
“It would be a great achievement but there are still a few games to go and we’ll see what happens,” said O’Reilly, whose form also looks set to earn him an England World Cup spot.
“I just need to knuckle down and keep working hard.
“With all the games and how intense it is, I don’t think there’s much time to reflect yet. I think that’s when we have time off.”
With all of the playoff basketball going on, it seems like I’ve forgotten all about baseball. However, that’s not the case. I’ve still been monitoring it, and we’ve collected some cash on the few bets I’ve put out on the game lately. Today, I have a really strong look at the game between the Reds and Pirates that takes place in Pittsburgh.
The Reds are one of the best teams in baseball, which is not exactly something that I expected to write this season. They made the postseason last year, but considering the lack of moves in the offseason, I just didn’t expect them to be great.
What is probably the most surprising about the Reds is just how good they have been on the road this season. Last year, there wasn’t really any good road team. Those that were above .500, with the exception of the Astros, made the postseason.
Advertisement
A Cincinnati Reds cap with a special logo is seen during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 3, 2021. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 3-2.(Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Today, the Reds look to keep that success going with Rhett Lowder on the hill. For the year, Lowder is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has made six starts for the year, with exactly half coming at home and on the road. He has an ERA a full run lower on the road than at home, allowing five earned over 17.1 innings. Four of those runs came in one game against the Marlins. The Pirates are hitting just 2-for-11 against Lowder in their careers.
The Pirates are better than they were last year, but not exactly a successful club at the moment. They are hovering around .500 for the season, which is about what they were doing last year. The team still needs to figure out hitting, but they are doing better than last year.
They lost five straight games before this series, losing one to the Brewers and four to the Cardinals. Maybe it was just a bad stretch, or maybe it is a sign of things to come. In those games, they allowed 35 runs and scored 18. That’s an average of seven allowed and 3.6 scored.
Advertisement
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 26, 2026.(Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
Trying to get the Pirates back on track is Carmen Mlodzinski. For the year, he is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has been substantially better at home, but most of his opportunities have come on the road. He is pitching to a 1.69 ERA and allowed just two earned runs over 10.2 innings. His lone home start saw him go six scoreless innings and allow two hits and two walks. In his history, he has allowed just three hits in 27 at-bats against the Reds.
We have two starters today who are in better situations for them. Mlodzinski has been better at home, and Lowder better on the road. These are still small sample sizes, but it is a bit encouraging. The way the Pirates have been bleeding runs makes me concerned that the under will be toast. The Reds have been a bit all over the place with scoring and runs allowed.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski throws a pitch during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on April 21, 2026.(Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
In this particular situation, I think it makes the most sense to back the under. Both teams have been playing higher-scoring games right now, but with these two hurlers, we should see fewer runs.
For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has expressed concern over the continued detention of Senegalese football supporters in Morocco after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The fans were reportedly arrested after the final match between Senegal and Morocco during the tournament hosted by Morocco.
Speaking on the issue, President Faye said he personally reached out to Mohammed VI in a bid to secure the release or pardon of the detained supporters, but efforts have not produced any positive outcome.
Advertisement
“I wrote to the King of Morocco to congratulate him on hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and to ask him to pardon our fans,” Faye said.
“I addressed the legal, diplomatic, and religious aspects, but he did not issue any positive response.”
The situation has continued to attract reactions from football fans in Senegal, with many urging both governments to find a diplomatic solution to the matter.
Mumbai Indians etched their name in cricket history on May 2, 2026, becoming the first team ever to surpass the 50,000-run mark in T20 cricket. The milestone was achieved during their IPL 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. Entering the match needing 114 runs to reach the landmark, MI crossed the historic threshold in the 15th over of their innings.Interestingly, the record came in a game where Mumbai posted a below-par total, but the significance of the achievement overshadowed the result. In their 308th T20 appearance, the franchise became the first to breach the 50,000-run barrier, underlining their longevity and dominance in the shortest format.Mumbai Indians’ tally includes runs accumulated across 286 IPL matches and 22 Champions League Twenty20 games. Their consistency over the years has made them one of the most successful and prolific teams in T20 history.Top ContributorsLeading the charge is former captain Rohit Sharma, who has been the backbone of MI’s batting with 6,286 runs. He is followed by Suryakumar Yadav (3,933 runs) and Kieron Pollard (3,915 runs), both of whom have played crucial roles in the franchise’s success.Global T20 Run Leaders (as of May 2, 2026)
Mumbai Indians – 50,003 runs (308 matches)
Somerset County Cricket Club – 48,244 runs (303 matches)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 47,304 runs (295 matches)
Chennai Super Kings – 46,438 runs (286 matches)
India national cricket team – 45,241 runs (281 matches)
Coming to the match, MI collapsed from a promising position to finish at 159/7, with Naman Dhir top-scoring with 57. The middle order once again faltered, unable to capitalise despite a solid platform. CSK’s bowling was led by Anshul Kamboj (3/32), while Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton applied consistent pressure through the middle overs.In reply, CSK chased down the target comfortably, powered by an unbeaten 67 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a steady 54* from Kartik Sharma. The victory at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium not only completed a league double over their arch-rivals but also dealt a significant blow to Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes, while keeping CSK firmly in contention.
MUMBAI : In a significant boost to her career, Delhi Capitals pacer Nandani Sharma has earned her maiden India call-up for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England, with the BCCI naming a 15-member squad on Saturday.
The 24-year-old has also been picked for the historic one-off Test at Lord’s from July 10, immediately after the tournament.
The uncapped Chandigarh seamer forced her way into contention with a standout debut WPL season, finishing as joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in 10 games for runners-up Delhi Capitals. Her campaign, highlighted by a hat-trick in just her second match, marked her out as one of the season’s breakout stars.
The squad also sees the return of wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, while Anushka Sharma and Uma Chetry miss out. Injuries ruled out promising allrounders Amanjot Kaur (back) and Kashvee Gautam (knee), opening the door for Radha’s recall and strengthening India’s spin depth alongside Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani.
Advertisement
Explaining the omissions, chief selector Amita Sharma said Kashvee would undergo surgery, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed Amanjot could be sidelined for up to five months.
Yastika, returning after an ACL surgery that ruled her out of the 2025 ODI World Cup, last played a T20I in April 2024. Her comeback adds experience to the lower-middle order and wicketkeeping group led by Richa Ghosh.
Radha, who has featured in 89 T20Is and taken 103 wickets, returns in time for her fifth T20 World Cup, bringing experience and control to India’s bowling attack.
India will open their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham and are placed in a challenging Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and the Netherlands. The squad will assemble for a pre-tournament camp at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence from May 10 before heading to England for a three-match T20I series, which will serve as preparation.
Advertisement
Harmanpreet, set to feature in her 10th T20 World Cup and lead India for the fifth time, will be aiming to end India’s wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title after their 50over World Cup triumph.
Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby as Golden Tempo surged from last place to triumph by a neck at Churchill Downs.
Jockey Joe Ortiz urged the 23-1 shot past 4-1 favourite Renegade – ridden by his brother Irad Ortiz Jr – on the line in a breathtaking finish, while Ocelli was third in the 152nd edition of the race.
“Today’s my day and Golden Tempo’s day,” said Joe Ortiz, after winning American Flat racing’s most prestigious event at the 11th attempt.
“I want [brother Irad] to win the Derby, of course – I know it’s his dream as well – but it happened that way. I think he should be happy, his horse ran a very good race.”
Advertisement
Winning trainer DeVaux said she never imagined she would be victorious in the Kentucky Derby.
“I started my career here 22 years ago as a bright-eyed bushy tailed exercise rider and I would not believe that I would be sitting up here today,” she added.
Golden Tempo was at the back of the 18-strong field with half a mile of the one and quarter mile race to go.
Renegade was also off the pace, about 15 lengths back midway through the race as he tried to become the first horse to win from the inside gate in 40 years.
Advertisement
But after storming down the final stretch it looked like the favourite had secured victory, only for Golden Tempo to edge past him on the line, winning in a time of two minutes 2.27 seconds.
Joe Ortiz followed up his victory in the Kentucky Oaks aboard Always A Runner on Friday to become just the ninth jockey to win both races in the same year.
![Dim4ou x Shunaka - Need Da Money [OFFICIAL 4K VIDEO] 2024](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1777808654_maxresdefault-80x80.jpg)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login