Jeremiah, a former Ravens, Browns and Eagles college scout, added: "And to me, when you're picking in Day 2 and you get somebody that can start for you for the next eight to 10 years, that's a heck of a pick."
NFL Network's Charles Davis also pointed toward the trenches, and he noted there are linemen to be found on both sides of the ball in the meat of the draft. Specifically, he said it will be interesting how Minnesota approaches its offensive unit because it's "a good group that they've got going right now," but must plan for when guys are hurt; the Vikings deployed 26 different OL groupings in 2025 due to injuries.
Jaime Eisner of The Draft Network suggested Northwestern tackle Caleb Tiernan as a fit for the Vikings. Eisner described him as "a true left tackle" that's really flying under the radar through the process so far.
"I've put him in the first round of my mocks a few times," Eisner said before clarifying that the second round is a likelier destination for Tiernan. "I really like his game; he had a really solid year. I know people don't really follow Northwestern football as much as some of the bigger programs, and I'm in Chicago, so I get a chance to see him a little bit more, but that's somebody who can develop into a starting left tackle by Year 2. … To see a true left tackle that you can get outside the first round, I think is pretty rare, because you're going to see a handful of those guys go early. So he's somebody I would keep an eye on."
Lance Zierlein, who evaluates hundreds of prospects for NFL.com, wrote that Tiernan is a candidate to bump inside to guard "due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection," for what it's worth.