Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The wait is over for NFL fans. Round one of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off tonight from Pittsburgh, with the Minnesota Vikings holding the 18th overall pick.
The first round begins at 7:00 p.m. and will air on ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network. It’s the first time the draft has been held in Pittsburgh since 1948. The league has also shortened the time teams have to make first-round picks from 10 minutes to 8 minutes.
The suspense at the top of the board is minimal. The Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Mendoza led the Hoosiers to the national championship last season and won the Heisman Trophy. He’s considered the clear top quarterback in a class that most analysts say is thin at the position.
After Mendoza, the draft is expected to turn toward the trenches and defensive playmakers. The New York Jets pick second and have been weighing edge rushers Arvell Reese of Ohio State and David Bailey of Texas Tech. The Arizona Cardinals hold the 3rd pick, followed by the Tennessee Titans at 4 and the New York Giants at 5. The Giants hold a second top-10 selection at 10th overall after a blockbuster pre-draft trade that sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered the biggest wild card on draft night. Widely viewed as one of the best athletes in the class, Love’s draft position is uncertain because running backs are rarely selected at the top of the first round.
For the Vikings, the 18th pick comes with real needs. Minnesota released veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason, and the future of longtime safety Harrison Smith remains uncertain as he weighs retirement. Those two position groups, safety and defensive tackle, are widely considered the team’s top draft needs.
Mock draft consensus has overwhelmingly connected the Vikings to Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Thieneman posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, along with a 41-inch vertical jump and 18 reps on the bench press. He played two seasons at Purdue as a deep safety before transferring to Oregon, where he played closer to the line of scrimmage. Analysts say his versatility would make him an ideal fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores and a natural heir to Smith.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has also been linked to Minnesota. Sadiq ran a 4.39-second 40 and is viewed as a speedy receiving threat, though most draft analysts expect him to be off the board before the Vikings pick at 18. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has also been mentioned as a possible target if he slips.
The Vikings currently hold three picks on Day 2 of the draft, which will likely be used to address additional needs at center and along the defensive line.
The draft continues Friday with rounds 2 and 3 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Rounds 4 through 7 will wrap up the event Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m.
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