The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next April, a city where the Vikings have had success in the past, but hope to carve out new memories by hitting some homeruns along the Allegheny River with their draft picks. Before next April, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Vikings were attached to LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. The talented defender out of the SEC had a breakout season after transferring to the Tigers from Virginia Tech. As a result, he has cemented himself in the first round discussion and could go as high as the top ten in the draft come April.
Kiper explains the pick, writing, “Delane would bring top-end ball skills and some really good coverage technique to Minnesota. The Vikings redid their cornerback room in 2025 free agency, but they still have depth problems behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Plus, Minnesota managed just eight interceptions this season (tied for sixth fewest). Well, over the past two campaigns, Delane has six picks and 18 pass breakups. That’s impact production, and coordinator Brian Flores would love to get a player such as Delane into his unit.”
The Vikings’ secondary was an underrated issue due to splash performances from Isaiah Rodgers. For any team to rely on those types of games from Isaiah Rodgers or any individual cornerback, you are asking for problems. As a result, pairing him with Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. is a solid trio for the Minnesota defense to rely on.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Mel Kiper gives the Vikings some secondary help in latest mock draft
