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.
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman recently released the latest 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle. Within it, the Vikings were attached to Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald. The pounder of the Buckeyes’ defensive line showcased himself in 2025 and has cemented himself among the best defenders in the college ranks.
Wasserman explains the pick, writing, “Minnesota features several veteran interior pass rushers, but Jalen Redmond was the only defensive tackle on the roster to post at least a 60.0 run-defense grade this season. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald would provide immediate value on early downs after leading all interior defenders in run-defense grade (91.2) and run stops (30) this year.”
Adding McDonald alongside Jalen Redmond on the defensive line would give them a dynamic young pairing to build the edges around. They would help the likes of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, but it would also be enticing to future free agents at linebacker, as they look to have better run support.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings get a new defensive lineman in latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
