The Minnesota Vikings, along with the rest of the NFL teams, are gearing up for the 2026 NFL draft, which kicks off Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After months of preparation, the event is finally here, and it’s shaping up to be a significant one for the Vikings.
Minnesota has nine of the draft’s 257 picks, beginning with No. 18 overall in round one of the event. “Teams typically are slated to have at least one selection in each of the seven rounds, but Minnesota has executed multiple trades,” the Vikings explain on their official website.
Ahead of the event, the NFL has announced that a familiar face will be on the stage to help the Vikings announce their second and third round picks. That presenter is current Vikings player and offensive tackle Brian O’Neill.
NFL Announces Minnesota Vikings Personality to Introduce Team’s Picks at 2026 Draft
Ahead of the event, the NFL has announced the legends and active players representing each NFL team in the draft’s second and third rounds. For the Minnesota Vikings, it’s O’Neill.
O’Neill is actually one of only four active players at the draft who will be helping their teams announce day two selections. The other active players taking the stage are Arizona‘s James Conner, Pittsburgh‘s Joey Porter Jr. and Tennessee‘s Jeffery Simmons.
O’Neill was likely picked to present because he’s a University of Pittsburgh product, and the draft is obviously taking place in that city. The Vikings selected O’Neill in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft with their 62nd overall pick.
Last-Minute Mock Draft Pick for the Minnesota Vikings Going Into the 2026 NFL Draft
So, who will Minnesota take with their No. 18 selection? That’s the question of the moment. In a mock from ESPN’s Jordan Reid released on Monday, April 20, Reid has the Vikings selecting tight end Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon.
Having the Vikings take Sadiq is a bit of a surprise, because the tight end position isn’t where the Vikings have their largest roster hole. But, Reid makes a good point that Sadiq is just too good to pass up.
“Tight end isn’t the Vikings’ biggest need — those would be safety and defensive tackle — but Thieneman is off the board as a possible Harrison Smith replacement and there isn’t a defensive tackle worth taking at this point of the draft,” he states in the piece. He adds, “Sadiq is a speedy (4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash) receiving tight end whom Minnesota could use in multiple ways in its offense.
Sadiq’s official NFL draft profile calls him a “versatile tight end with a shredded physique and alluring potential as a volume target.”
“His athleticism and break quickness should allow him to uncover against man coverage on all three levels,” his profile adds. “He’s talented after the catch, with the ability to make things easier for play-callers and quarterbacks looking to move the sticks.”
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the few teams left that are really an unknown as far as who they’ll take with their first draft selection. But, they would be wise to consider this budding tight end.
NFL Announces Vikings News as 2026 Draft Approaches