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NFL Draft live updates: Vikings have No. 18 overall pick

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Published  April 23, 2026 5:20pm CDT
Minnesota Vikings
FOX 9

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The NFL Draft is Thursday night, the first of three days for all 32 NFL teams to add some of the top prospects to their rosters.

The FOX 9 Sports team has complete coverage from the Minnesota Vikings’ Draft party at U.S. Bank Stadium, which you can watch in the live player above. FOX 9's Vikings NFL Draft Special will air from 6:30-7 p.m., leading up to the first round of the draft.

FOX 9’s Dawn Mitchell and Ahmad Hicks are joined by Vikings’ analyst Ron Johnson, and Pete Bercich from the Vikings Audio Network.

Vikings have No. 18 pick

What we know:

Barring any trades, the Vikings have the No. 18 pick in the first round. For several weeks, the name they’ve been linked to is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. He would likely be the ideal replacement for Harrison Smith. The Vikings are waiting for word from the veteran safety on if he’ll return for his 15th season, or hang up the cleats and retire.

Vikings in the NFL Draft: What will they do with the No. 18 pick?

Vikings in the NFL Draft: What will they do with the No. 18 pick?

The NFL Draft is Thursday night, and the Minnesota Vikings have the No. 18 overall pick. FOX 9's Ahmad Hicks joined All Day to give analysis on what the Vikings will do, and what else to expect from the draft.

What we don't know:

Which direction the Vikings will go with their first round pick. They have needs in the secondary, and on the offensive line with center Ryan Kelly retiring in the offseason.

NFC North Division

The other side:

We also wait to see what other NFC North Division teams do in Thursday night’s first round.

The Detroit Lions are one pick in front of the Vikings with the No. 17 overall pick. The Chicago Bears have the No. 25 overall pick, and the Green Bay Packers currently do not have a first round selection, barring a trade. The Packers gave the Dallas Cowboys their 2026 first round pick last season in exchange for Micah Parsons.

Vikings have 9 total selections

The Vikings have nine total draft choices this year, barring any trades. They have four top-100 picks:

  • 1st round – No. 18 overall
  • 3rd round – No. 49 overall
  • 3rd round – No. 82 overall
  • 3rd round – No. 97 overall (compensatory)
  • 5th round – No. 163 overall (from Eagles in the 2025 Sam Howell trade)
  • 6th round – No. 196 overall (from Colts in the 2025 Mekhi Blackmon trade)
  • 7th round – No. 234 overall
  • 7th round – No. 235 overall (from Panthers in the 2025 Adam Thielen trade)
  • 7th rond – No. 244 overall (from Texans in the 2024 Cam Akers trade)
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