Minnesota Vikings News and Links: What Position Needs An Upgrade Next?

May 8, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You gotta love the Jennings signing! The team needed a more reliable wide receiver behind Jefferson and Addison. Jennings has proven he can handle being the #1 option at receiver.

We will soon find out about the structure of Jennings deal and I would not be surprised if there were a void year or two included. Also, the incentives might be NLTBE (not likely to be earned).

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Jennings’ 2025 Stats vs. Potential 2026 Incentives
Based on his 2025 performance with the 49ers, we can project which tiers would likely be NLTBE:

Metric : 2025 Actual : Potential LTBE Tier : Potential NLTBE Tier
Receptions : 55 : Up to 55 : 60+ or 70+
Receiving Yards : 643 : Up to 643 : 750+ or 900+
Touchdowns : 9 : Up to 9 : 10+
Snaps : ~67% : Up to 65 : %75%+

The NLTBE amounts wont count against the 2026 cap. If he reaches them they would count against the 2027 cap.

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I am hoping to see a veteran EDGE rusher added too. The team could look at a cornerback but I imagine it would be best to bring back Fabian Moreau after he played well last year. I could see them trying out Marshon Lattimore in the hope to extend him in 2027 but that would leave one corner with less snaps.

Of course, the cherry on top would be for Harrison Smith to run it back one more time but if he is truly done playing then maybe they look at Taylor Rapp, Jabrill Peppers, or Ifeatu Melifonwu.

The team is not looking too bad.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

NFL Player Comparisons for Every 2026 Minnesota Vikings Draft Pick

Caleb Banks: Jordan Davis
The pinnacle outcome for Banks, the Vikings’ first-round pick, would be Chiefs star and future Hall of Famer Chris Jones, a six-time All-Pro. Both are 6’6″, long-armed interior pass rushers, and there are some reps on Banks’ tape that are reminiscent of Jones. But again, that’s the 100th-percentile outcome for this year’s 18th overall pick.

A more realistic comp that would still be a solid outcome for Banks is Davis, the 6’6″, 340-pound DT the Eagles took 13th overall out of Georgia in 2022. Davis has earned a PFF grade above 70 in all four of his NFL seasons and set career highs in sacks (4.5), TFL (9), pass breakups (6), and pressures (28) in 2025. He’s not a star, but he’s a quality player in the middle of Philadelphia’s defensive line who may still be ascending at 26 years old.

Jake Golday: Andrew Van Ginkel
Domonique Orange: Dalvin Tomlinson
Caleb Tiernan: Matt Goncalves
Jakobe Thomas: Jalen Pitre
Max Bredeson: Reggie Gilliam
Charles Demmings: Sean Murphy-Bunting
Demond Claiborne: Brashard Smith
Gavin Gerhardt: Michael Jurgens

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Note: Banks is more similar to Chris Jones and more athletic even though Jones was about 17 lbs lighter.

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