EAGAN, Minn. -- As the Minnesota Vikings approach training camp later this month, it's hard to find a national discussion that centers on anything other than their pending quarterback competition between incumbent J.J. McCarthy and free agent addition Kyler Murray. So as a service to those who appreciate variety, here's another question that should loom large over camp: Will any of their defensive rookies earn immediate starting jobs?
The Vikings selected four defensive players in the top 100 picks of this spring's draft, a surge of resources that would seem to make the answer obvious. But in Minnesota, the 2026 class must navigate a complicated defensive scheme. It will also need to impress coordinator Brian Flores, who won't be influenced by résumé when making lineup decisions.
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In his three previous seasons with the Vikings, Flores has tapped only one rookie starter: undrafted linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. in 2023. Over Flores' tenure, the Vikings have the NFL's second-fewest rookie starts (16) and the second-fewest rookie snaps (2,110) among defensive players, according to ESPN Research.
Part of the explanation is obvious. During that period, the Vikings selected only one defensive player (linebacker Dallas Turner) among the top 100 picks of a draft. There weren't many options.
But Turner's path was a reminder that Flores won't force-feed players onto the field. Drafted in the 2024 first round, Turner played only 300 snaps as a rookie and cracked the starting lineup in his second season only because of injuries to teammates. In his third season, Turner will take over the spot vacated by Jonathan Greenard, whom the Vikings traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this spring.
"I talk to our guys about it all the time," Flores said. "This is a unique system. It's a demanding system. We've got high standards, high expectations. For some people it's a lot. There's stress and anxiety, but what I want our guys to know is it's definitely an opportunity for growth. There's a lot of calls. There's a lot of techniques. A lot of fundamentals."
The Vikings selected defensive lineman Caleb Banks out of Florida with the No. 18 pick of the 2026 NFL draft. AP Photo/Abbie Parr Internally, the Vikings believe first-round pick Caleb Banks should win a starting defensive end job if his broken left foot is fully healed. Third-round selection Domonique Orange is also expected to challenge Levi Drake Rodriguez at nose tackle. Second-round pick Jake Golday began this spring as an off-ball linebacker, meaning he is likely to be a backup behind veterans Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson, and third-round pick Jakobe Thomas should be in the mix for the safety job that will open if veteran Harrison Smith follows through on plans for retirement.