TGIFF and Welcome to Skoloholics, your home for Minnesota Vikings Discussion! Every day you can join us for the latest Minnesota Vikings news, tons of Minnesota Vikings discussion, NFL news and updates, and most anything else you may have on your mind. At Skoloholics, the real action is in the comments, so if you haven’t checked out the comments section yet, sign up and join the conversation.
Vikings & NFL News
The Vikings drafted Caleb Banks, Defensive Lineman – Florida with the 18st pick in the 2026 draft last night. Nothing really surprising happened, I guess the closest would be Ty Simpson being take at #13 by LA Rams, which “experts” would say was a bit early. Here’s some info on the newest Viking:
KOC on the pick
From Vikings.com
The Vikings added extra length and a whole lotta power to their defensive line group Thursday. Minnesota opened the 2026 NFL Draft by tabbing former Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, Banks boasted the longest wingspan at the NFL Combine, measuring a whopping 7 feet, 1.75 inches. That wingspan landed in the 99th percentile for defensive tackles and is the longest recorded at the combine since 1999.
Banks played only three games for the Gators in 2025 and recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery, missing most of the campaign due to a foot injury that required surgery. He has 34 collegiate games (24 starts) under his belt for Louisville and Florida and totaled 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and a blocked field goal.
NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks and analytics site Pro Football Focus ranked Banks as the second-best defensive lineman in this year’s draft class, while Brooks’ counterpart Daniel Jeremiah listed him No. 3. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Banks fourth in the position group, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., ranked him fifth. Brooks highlighted Banks’ “immense size, freakish talent and heavy hands to dominate opponents at the line of scrimmage.” “While injuries prevented him from putting together a statement-making 2025 campaign, the disruptive flashes at the Senior Bowl matched the performance from his junior season,” Brooks wrote. Banks joins a Minnesota defensive line group that has changed significantly over the past couple of seasons. The Vikings last spring signed veteran free agents Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen but have parted ways with both players; Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez garnered attention last season and are returning to help lead the room that also includes returnees Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani and 2025 draft selection Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
From NFL.com
Overview
Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count. His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him.
Strengths
- Outstanding physical traits with good short-area quickness.
- Uses long arms and heavy hands to stun blockers.
- Has power to press and separate at the point.
- Controls the action convincingly when he lands first.
- Above-average first-step quickness and pursuit movements.
- Rush traits waiting to be unlocked as a pro.
- Combines step fake and slap to create pressure opportunities.
- Above-average burst to close on the quarterback.
Weaknesses
- Looked heavier and slower in 2025, when he dealt with foot injury.
- Plays with high hips, losing ground to double teams.
- Hands get a little sloppy working from blocker to blocker.
- Takes time to disengage and tackle his gaps.
- Lacks openings and closings as a pass rusher.
- Fatigues and sees his rush effectiveness decline.
Sources Tell Us
“I have tremendous respect for him. He hurt his foot in camp, tried to play through it and then had to have surgery in September. Most guys who are top-50 (prospects) would have just shut it down but he busted his tail to make it back for the last two games. That says something about his character.” — AFC national scout
He obviously has elite size and great athletic ability for a dude that big,. HIs wingspan is absolutely freakish, he’s like an Andean Condor. The draft “experts” mentioned a comparison to Chris Jones of KC, but after going and watching some of the video available on him, he kinda reminds me of Kevin Williams. However, he was likely only available at #18 because of a recurring foot problem. I respect the fact that he came back and played the last couple games of the season last year, he easily could have just packed it in and focused on getting ready for the draft but he wanted to get back on the field. If he is fully recovered he could be a really good pick, but if not fans will riot and burn KOC, Flores, and Bryzsensksklski at the the stake.
We’ll see what the Vikings do tomorrow with their picks, they can still go in different directions, CB, S, C, TE, or even WR, edge (pending a trade of Greenard) or RB, I don’t see them trading back as they already have 9 picks in this draft, especially a bunch of late picks. Also, LOL at this
Media Selection
Thread Guidelines
- Keep politics to a minimum. We are adults, news happens, and we can talk about it. What we don’t want is to go down rabbit holes and turn a productive conversation into name calling and personal attacks.
- Be respectful and civil. You don’t need to agree with everyone, you also don’t need to make it personal. Attack the argument, not the poster.
- Keep the NSFW language/pictures to a minimum. We don’t want anyone getting in trouble at work for hanging out here.
- To summarize, behave like adults. Treat each other with respect, and things will be fine. Mods will take out content they feel is pushing the boundary. If you want to reach out about something, please do. We want to have robust discussions, that’s why we’re here, just be civil.
- Twitter sized version: Be cool to one another.
NFL Draft Grades.
I know, I know, they are for entertainment purposes only. But they are not as bad as usual.
Take on Golday: ‘listed as a linebacker but he was more of a slot defender (or old school walked-out Will linebacker for those familiar with that nomenclature). He has great size and is a good athlete’
NFC North Grades
Bores B
FTP C+
Loins B-
Vikings B
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2026-nfl-draft-grades-giants-among-4-teams-with-an-a-while-a-super-bowl-contender-doesnt-do-so-hot-051100373.html#minnesota-vikings
Time will tell. Giving out grades before they take the test.
‘Entertainment Purposes Only’
The analysis portion was more thoughtful than usual.
I brought my wife breakfast in bed.
She was not impressed.
The Teacher replied ‘Don’t even think about it’ when I shared this with her. #grin
New Army Combat Fitness Test has to be completed in 30 min.
Reminds me of the Prison’s Academy Fitness Test we did. I know the distances were different but I had the highest ‘old guy score’ (over 40) in our class.
‘They must first run one mile, followed by 30 dead-stop push-ups, a 100-meter sprint, 16 lifts of a 40-pound sandbag onto a 65-inch platform and a 50-meter carry of two Army water cans weighing 40 pounds each.
The test then requires soldiers to complete a 50-meter movement drill with a high crawl and a 25-meter three- to five-second rush before a final one-mile run.’
And must be completed in Boots and BDUs. Gender and age neutral and must be completed annually.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/army-unveils-combat-field-test-new-fitness-assessment-critical-step-forward
About half the force is either gonna die, or get out, but I’m digging it!
They have a year before failing the test has consequences.
I think I would struggle with the 40 lb sandbag lift. Otherwise I would have been ok, then that is not now.
I understand… that was then…
I didn’t want anyone to think I was saying that I only had an issue with that one part NOW.
Hard to get more woke then the latest shooter.
‘Allen was affiliated with a group called “The Wide Awakes” and had attended a “No Kings” protest in California’
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whcd-shooting-suspect-planned-target-trump-officials-manifesto-reveals
Where they celebrate peace and acceptance of all.
Long Snapper from Southern Utah… going to two NFL mini camps.
They don’t want to wear our LS’s arm out during ‘minicamp’??
I wonder why the Pope (who is from the murder capitol of the world, Chicago) hasn’t said anything about the attempted assassination of Trump last night. He sure has had a lot to say lately. Now he says nothing.
He is too Liberal to say anything, he doesn’t live in the ‘Real World’.
And I say this as a Baptized Catholic.
Pretty simple, because it was completely staged yet again.
Ahhh, you poor thing.
I hope that is sarcasm.
A conspiracy orchestrated by Hillary Clinton to overthrow the United States government, approved by Barack Obama and carried out by his syndicate.
Zero assassination attempts on Barack Obama.
Zero assassination attempts on Susan Rice.
Zero assassination attempts on John Brennan.
Zero assassination attempts on James Clapper.
Zero assassination attempts on James Comey.
Zero assassination attempts on Hillary on tranquilizers.
And they funded the KKK and Nazi groups to attack democracy.
Guess where treachery, sedition, and assassination attempts are coming from?
And when it all fails, they call it staged.
The incriminating Bluesky posts of the shooter who tried to assassinate Trump have already been deleted, as well as his profile. Who did this? He’s in jail.
His ‘partner’?
Bluesky itself trying to pretend that ‘no lib would ever do that, they are all peaceful. It is the right that is violent, the Southern Law Center said so’.
Hmmmm…
Caleb Banks broke his left foot and played 3 games in 2025.
He broke his foot again at the combine.
He is out until at least June apparently.
Correct. Hopefully he lets it heal completely this time and loses some weight to take a little strain off it for the future.
All of that was known before the draft.
And the Vikings had the foot examined by multiple medical experts. They reported that once he is cleared in June he should have no issues going forward.
Now if the medical experts were right or not is the concern.
But, there is a reason they call it the “practice” of medicine.
Since I have never done a mock draft or paid any attention to any of the draft
“experts” who did, I wonder if anyone got a single one of the players we drafted right? I mean anyone across the Nation. Did anyone guess even one of the players we took?
I drafted Goldey in the 2nd several times. In fact I complained here that the site gave me a ‘D’ for the pick but if I drafted a smaller, less athletic, and lower rated black LB in the same spot it gave me a ‘C+’ grade.
Racist it was.
I drafted Caleb in the first at the very beginning a time or two before I learned about his injury history.
Cool!
Guess he impressed the coaching staff right from the get go…
Potentially…
Our WR coach McCardell evidently ‘pounded the table’ for him before last years draft. So I guess we will see if he was right.
So Wilson, Turner, Cashman, and Van Ginkel are the starting LB’s. I think Golday is a rotational piece at best this year..
None of our draftees were going to be considered to be a ‘day one starter’ even before the draft.
Caleb might be, or some others based on injuries.
Maybe our UDFA punter if he wins the Training Camp Competition.
But but butt…they all have to be Hall of Famers or else we DEMAND the GM be PHYRED!!
‘DEMAND the GM be PHYRED!!’
Ummm FYI, we currently don’t have a GM.
Laughing.. so hard… nice SoCal.
He’ll likely rotate through and play inside and outside like VG does, he is versatile, which Flores demands
The RAS is in!
The RAS is Real!!
Got one for our UDFAs?
Nope… if I see one, I’ll post.
Yes please.
It is trending like we were considering RAS heavily during this draft.
This is about the most self serving pundit graph I’ve ever seen. “Draft Capitol Used Over Expected”. Really? Please.
Once you have ‘Over Expected’ in a stat you know it is trash.
Expected by whom? Different people have different expectations.
Garbage.
Totally agree.
Hmmm….we had an attempted assignation by a left wing “No Kings’ guy and there has been no discussion on it all. Just draft talk.
What the hell is this? A football fan forum?
I see the left-wing lunatics on social media are saying it was all a set-up by Trump so he could get his ballroom built. I really feel sorry for these delusional people…..
Quite a bit of discussion on it last night if you scroll down a bit further.
Hmmm…
Mike Washington Jr, RB, has a perfect 10 RAS. He was picked 122 by Vegas, I was hoping we would get him with one of our picks at the end of the 3rd. Oh well.
Hmmm… worth the watch to see if RAS really means that much in the NFL. By this measure, he should be the greatest RB ever. Really should have been the greatest college RB ever.
I think it is a major help but not a ‘end all’ type of thing.
I think Williamson, WR had a high RAS but still couldn’t catch worth shit.
Most of our draftees had a high RAS, Both Caleb and Golday in the 9.80-9.90. range.
Yeah… my post was a bit tongue in cheek. Physical traits are a part of ability for sure, but there are other traits that make up an NFL player.
I literally did not know dogs could float…
‘I literally did not know dogs could float…’
Spoken like a true ‘Cat Person’.
Laughing… I’m a dog person. I’m just married to a cat person.
I think he is wearing a flotation device around his neck.
I know there’s all the ‘if’s’ regarding this kid’s foot.
but…..
I love this mentality. Fingers crossed this injury concern is an afterthought.
Great Pick, hopefully.
#nojinx
I didn’t know he said this… sickening.
Playing to the Woke base by telling ‘jokes’ that only they would enjoy.
I like this pick. May be my favorite selection.
To bad Ham didn’t get to work with Smith, it would have been an interesting pairing.
Agree… using a fullback effectively in the NFL seems to have gone by the wayside. Hopefully we stick with it.
I also loved this pick.
I grew up rooting for Nebraska teams that featured a fullback – was essential in the triple option. Maryland I, Power I, Wishbone – all formations that utilized a fullback as a weapon.
I’d argue the greatest fullback of all time was Tom Rathman – ex Husker and Grand Island, Nebraska native.
Love what I see on film from this kid. Loves contact. Delivers a hit with force. Brings a little toughness to this team.
NOW RUN THE GODDAMN BALL
I agree. Love the way this kid hits people. Hope he is one of our guys for a long time.
I thought it was a good pick,considering our system
Did KOC ‘spill the beans’ on The Hitman’s decision no whether to retire or not??
https://thevikingage.com/minnesota-vikings-may-revealed-more-than-intended-harrison-smith-future
My draft take: This seems to be the first draft that I recognized a “philosophy” being followed. I always thought Rick was just a gunner looking for a low round steal. I am not sure Kwesi knew what he was doing (a terrible drafter, and a worse trade facilitator).
To me, it looks like the Vikings went after athletic, big and versatility guys who fit into the system. They also focused on filling the major needs and trenched. Call me in 2 years so we can see if this draft was good or not, but it looks like they had a plan!
‘Having a plan’, including backup plans, is always better than ‘not having a plan’.
Agree. While GM’s always say their decisions are based on how the draft unfolds, really, it’s important to have a clear vision.
This sums up the draft prognosticators expertise perfectly…
On-line ‘Expert’ means good at getting clicks and getting paid.
This was so good…
Yeah I watched it last night.
Respect, hope the ‘Squid’ does well.
Instantly a fan.
Laughing…
Looks like the Mom gave him and ‘assist’ back onto the couch.
Old guys can always use an assist… believe me.
We’ll see…
Probably done by a family/gang member.
Yeah, dunno. I doubt he’ll be that guy personally, but we’ll see. Back in the day, the Redskins had a RB named Chris Thompson who was similar to this guy. He could run the ball effectively and catch the ball out of the backfield.
Highlight reels are just that, the highlights. The early value of this guy may be as a kick returner
Indeed
First concerning that they think/feel this way.
Second concerning that they feel enough people feel this way that they are comfortable posting it.
It is sad, that the people stoop even lower than the actions they accuse Trump of. They are truely sick, whether you agree with Trump’s leadership or not
Demented and extremely dangerous…
‘They are truely sick’
TDS is a type of sickness, as is ‘woke’.
NLNVF…..draft thoughts?
Not sure if a real question or stirring the pot.
Just scroll. over 100 messages in this thread alone.
But most of his stuff was just reposting. I would love to hear people’s thoughts on draft overall
Surly we going to get a new thread?
Hate to post some brilliant thoughts just to lose them to the void within minutes.
Nope. Sorry. Now that the draft is over it can wait for Gone Fishin or Ben to post one tomorrow.
I thought we covered the bases over the course of the draft. No way to know how well we did though. It will become a clearer picture two years from now. Mostly concerned with the foot injury history of our first pick.
Yeah, I think Caleb’s foot going forward will define the draft.
If he has no more issues then his pick is brilliant. If he can’t play much it will be a failure.
Figure the braintrust understands this and did their due diligence and got reassurances. Now we will see how well the medical experts did on their analyst.
Yep. Also, if he remains healthy, but is ineffective, then that pick will be highlighted negatively. Big difference going up against lesser athletes in college versus the best in the world in the NFL.
I am not worried about him being effective if healthy. He is pretty much a physical freak and he gets to develop as he gets adjusted to playing in the League.
This is how the leftist media reacted last night… despicable.
‘Strategic Ignorance’.
Cackles Donor from Commifornia, I wonder who he didn’t like.
Strategic deflection… they were probably going after the journalists after all the hate the administration has spewed about them.
They were posting/saying that they needed to make Trump uncomfortable and go after him hard. One of their loonies took it to heart.
I thought he was dead… first reporting…
Originally reported that way yes.
Anthony Edwards goes down in T-Wolves game and it doesn’t look good.
Rub a little dirt on it. – MT (probably)
Apparently Trump will be returning to the dinner. Shooter is dead.
SS has reported that they don’t want him to comeback.
Yeah… that place is a crime scene now.
Now they are saying shooter is apprehended.
Which reporter took their shot at Trump?
Investigation still ongoing.
Effing idiots.
More like their lawyers told them not to put out the information until all the ‘T’s were crossed and ‘I’s were dotted.
Trump Evacuated from Correspondents Dinner after shots fired.
Dims/Woke/Libs/TDS types at it again.
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-attends-white-house-correspondents-dinner-for-first-time-as-president
Another assassination attempt on Trump…
The Vikings on Saturday announced the team has agreed to terms with the following 19 undrafted free agents (listed alphabetically by last name):
Marcus Allen, CB, North Carolina
Da’Veawn Armstead, CB, North Texas
Dillon Bell, WR, Georgia
Jordan Botelho, OLB, Notre Dame
Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M
Monkell Goodwine, DL, South Carolina
Shaleak Knotts, WR, Maryland
Keli Lawson, LB, UCF
Tristan Leigh, OL, Clemson
Delby Lemieux, OL, Dartmouth
Kejon Owens, RB, Florida International
Tomas Rimac, OL, Virginia Tech
Marcus Sanders, Jr., WR, Georgia Southern
Cam’Ron Stewart, OLB, Temple
Jacob Thomas, S, James Madison
Brett Thorson*, P, Georgia
Arden Walker, OLB, Colorado
Scooby Williams, LB, Texas A&M
Lyke Wysong, WR, Arizona
I recognize Delby Lemieux, listed as an OC and very athletic.
I’m not sure if these 19 guys get us to the 91 man roster yet for training camp.
1 draftee and one UDFA are all I ever mocked to us in dozens of drafts.
Boy I Suck at this stuff.
Laughing… You probably learned a lot though.
Yep, I learned that I Suck at this stuff.
Darn, one of my colleagues nephew had a pro day visit with the Vikings.
I was hoping he’d get an UDFA contract
Hmmmm…
And now, reportedly, up to eight names:
Georgia WR Dillon Bell
Georgia P Brett Thorson
Temple Edge Cam’Ron Stewart
Clemson OT Tristan Leigh
Texas A&M LB Scooby Williams
Maryland WR Shaleak Knotts
FIa Intl RB Kejon Owens
Va Tech OL Tomas Rimac
We got Scooby?
Would rather have Daphne
We have a punter!
Punter of the year in college last year.
We signed Cam’Ron Stewart, Edge, from Temple. 6’5″ 250 lbs.
Rams have already signed 10 players
We signed Dillon Bell, WR from Georgia