A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings faced the Detroit Lions in a showdown for the NFC North title in Week 18. They fell short but still finished the 2024 regular season with the second-best record in the conference.

The team had high hopes in 2025 with first-round pick J.J. McCarthy set to step in as a young, cost-controlled quarterback to maximize a winning roster. The Vikings finished top 10 in points scored and points allowed last season.

But that hasn't panned out entering the final month of the 2025 regular season.

Minnesota's offense has cratered with McCarthy at quarterback and dropped to a bottom-eight offense in points and yards entering Week 15 despite a bounce-back win against Washington. The Vikings are back in prime time this week against the Dallas Cowboys.

The two teams are still in contention for the playoffs but the chances are slim. NFL's Next Gen Stats gives Minnesota less than a 1% chance to make the postseason regardless of the outcome on "Sunday Night Football." Dallas isn't much better at 11% entering the week; Minnesota could drop their chances to 3% with a win on the road.

That's a bleak playoff outlook for a team that's made the postseason twice in the last three years. Minnesota is on pace to finish last in the NFC North for the first time since 2013.

Fans could be looking forward to an offseason full of questions for the team. The best way to answer those questions is the NFL Draft. Minnesota had only five selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, including just one in the top 100 picks.

That's not the case for the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's what picks the Vikings are projected to have in the draft, their needs and a mock draft for the franchise:

Vikings 2026 NFL Draft picks

Minnesota will likely have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. That'd be the most they've had since 2022. Here's where they're projected to be entering Week 15 via Tankathon:

  • Round 1, No. 11 overall
  • Round 2, No. 43 overall
  • Round 3, No. 75 overall
  • Round 3, No. 97 overall (projected compensatory pick for Sam Darnold signing with Seattle during the 2025 offseason)
  • Round 5, No. 161 overall (from Philadelphia via trade)
  • Round 6, No. 197 overall (from Indianapolis via trade)
  • Round 7, No. 226 overall
  • Round 7, No. 242 overall (from Jacksonville via trade)

The Vikings' four picks in the top 100 selections would be the most the team's had in that range since 2022 as well.

Vikings draft needs

Minnesota has top players at key positions. Justin Jefferson's one of the best wide receivers in the league and Jordan Addison makes for a good tandem on offense. Another tandem, outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, have played very well on each edge for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Running back Jordan Mason's played well with more opportunity in 2025 and the offensive line has played well when healthy.

But the team could use more talent at multiple positions on the active roster. Here's their top needs for the 2026 NFL Draft:

  • Cornerback: Minnesota got a surprisingly good season out of Isaiah Rodgers but the franchise needs young talent to develop. Byron Murphy Jr.'s regressed after signing a three-year contract in the 2025 offseason.
  • Safety:Harrison Smith is 36 years old and hitting free agency in 2026. Josh Metellus is a versatile piece and the team's top player in coverage per NFL Next Gen Stats' coverage EPA. Like cornerback, the team needs young talent in the back end in a division with lots of talented wide receivers and tight ends.
  • Linebacker: Both Ivan Pace Jr. and Eric Wilson are hitting free agency in 2026. Blake Cashman's missed time in each of the last two seasons and will be 30 next season. This is a strong linebacker class which is useful for Flores' system.
  • Quarterback: McCarthy's first season as a starter calls into question whether or not he should be the team's long-term answer at the position. It isn't a strong quarterback class but there could be options in the later rounds that may serve well as developmental passers.
  • Interior offensive line: Offensive line health has been rough for the Vikings in 2025. Using one or more picks on depth pieces along the offensive line, especially on the interior, could pay off for a team looking to evaluate its quarterback for the future.

Vikings mock draft

  • Round 1, No. 11 overall: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
    • McCoy is the top cornerback prospect in the class with a mix of ideal size, athleticism and length for outside cornerback at the NFL level. The only question is his medicals. The Volunteers' standout missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL suffered before the summer. If he's healthy, he'd be an ideal pick for the Vikings.
  • Round 2, No. 43 overall: LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
    • This year's linebacker class is one of the best in recent memory and that extends beyond the first round. Lawson is slightly undersized (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) but still within the size archetype that the Vikings have deployed in recent years. His athleticism makes him a good fit, though. He'll be a solid coverage linebacker earlier than later.
  • Round 3, No. 75 overall: IOL Brian Parker II, Duke
    • Parker played tackle at Duke but won't have the length or size at 300 pounds to stick on the outside in the NFL. He's better suited at guard at the next level. His hand placement and usage should make him a suitable depth piece as a rookie and contend for a starting position in time.
  • Round 3, No. 97 overall: QB Jayden Maiava, USC
    • Maiava may return to school for another year under Lincoln Riley. If not, he could be a steal for the Vikings. He's got NFL size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) and the arm talent to make every throw. He's worked in different schemes and picked them up well. His biggest flaw is handling pressure which will only get tougher at the NFL level.
  • Round 5, No. 161 overall: S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
    • Nwankpa may unfairly get compared to former Hawkeye defensive back Cooper DeJean in the draft process. He's similarly sized with athleticism to at least match with tight ends in the NFL. He's reliably in the right place at the right time for run defense as well.
  • Round 6, No. 197 overall: TE Tanner Koziol, Houston
    • Koziol is a mismatch in the red zone thanks to his size at 6-foot-7 and massive catch radius. He's a tough tight end as well who will give plenty of effort as a blocker. He transferred to Houston from Ball State in 2025 and kept up his production.
  • Round 7, No. 226 overall: CB Tacario Davis, Washington
    • Davis is one of the longest cornerbacks in the class at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and should be a fantastic fit as a press corner. He lacks elite speed which may limit him. He makes up for it as a plus run defender which will come in handy against NFC North offenses.
  • Round 7, No. 242 overall: RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma
    • The Vikings' running back room has plenty of power with Mason set for the future. They could use a speedy home-run hitter, though, and Ott could provide that in the late rounds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings mock draft: Minnesota's picks, needs and targets