Brian Flores, Vikings
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Vikings defensive coordiantor Brian Flores
The Minnesota Vikings are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with nine total selections throughout the course of the event.
Round 1, Pick 18
Round 2, Pick 49
Round 3, Pick 82
Round 3, Pick 97 (compensatory)
Round 5, Pick 163 (via Eagles)
Round 6, Pick 196 (via Colts)
Round 7, Pick 234
Round 7, Pick 235 (via Panthers)
Round 7, Pick 244 (via Texans)
There’s no question that Minnesota must address some deficiencies all across the team. Defensive interior line, center, and secondary appear to be the most pressing needs.
Fortunately for these Vikings, an absolute phenomenon of an athlete at DT has arisen late in the 2026 draft process.
Vikings Eyeing Nigerian NFL Draft Prospect at Defensive Tackle Uar Bernard
Brian Flores, Vikings
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Defensive coordinator Brian Flores of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic introduced Uar Bernard to the American football world.
“Jordan Luallen trained some of the most freakish athletes at the 2026 NFL combine: A 245-pound edge rusher who vertical-jumped 41 inches, a jumbo wide receiver who ran a 4.3 40, and a 293-pound defensive tackle who ran 4.8.
But Luallen told The Athletic he’s never seen an athlete like the one he’s been training for the past 10 weeks for this year’s NFL draft. Uar Bernard (pronounced “ooh-are”) measured in earlier this week at the NFL’s HBCU showcase at 6-4 1/2, 306 pounds with 11-inch hands and almost 36-inch arms.”
According to Ryan Fowler, the Vikings are 1 of 6 NFL teams to show interest in Bernard. The Cowboys, 49ers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Commanders are the other clubs to express interest in hosting Bernard for a visit.
Janik Eckhardt of PurplePTSD and Vikings Territory added some insight regarding the trajectory of Bernard in the NFL.
“Bernard is a project that will likely take years to provide a return on investment, if he ever can. Yet, teams often spend their later draft picks on players with potential rather than selecting pro-ready athletes and Bernard fits that mold, though perhaps a little more extreme than usual.”
And another snipped from Feldman about Bernard’s freakish athleticism:
“Other people who have spent their lifetimes in football say Bernard looks like a Marvel creation. Bernard’s body fat: 6 percent. He vertical-jumped 39 inches and broad-jumped 10-10, which was 14 inches more than any other defensive tackle did at this year’s combine. His 40-yard dash: 4.63.”
It’s hard to predict where Uar Bernard will land in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the Vikings may have some opportunities with their 5 selections in rounds 5-7.
J.J. McCarthy Gets Big Defense from Blake Corum
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy during an NFL game.
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 14: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after his team defeated the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Bobby Kownack, digital content producer for NFL.com recently shared some words of affirmation for McCarthy spoken by Corum.
“The ceiling is so high for J.J. You’ve got to think, his rookie year, he went down with the injury. Last year, he had a bunch of injuries, as well, so he hasn’t been on the field much. He hasn’t really had a lot of playing time that quarterbacks need.
It’s a lot different going from college to the NFL. J.J. is a field general. I think he’s going to take the challenge that they’ve given him, obviously bringing in Kyler Murray, there’s gonna be a competition. That’s going to light a fire under him. But he’s just an overall good human being. He’s a competitor.”
Corum, a Michigan teammate of McCarthy for 3 seasons, didn’t end his defense there.
“I know he’s no someone who’s going to let naysayers or outsiders determine the type of player he’s going to be. He still has the pencil in his own hand. He’s still writing his story. I think this is going to be a great year for J.J., and I’m super excited to see him prove everyone wrong.”
In technical terms, just because Kyler Murray is a Viking, it doesn’t mean the Twin Cities have seen the last of J.J. McCarthy on the field.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been very vocal in claiming there to be a true competition this offseason for the starting QB job. While it’s quite unlikely to think it’s a competition that McCarthy would win, there is a technical non-zero chance he wins the job that was supposed to be his to begin with.