Vikings Land Cincinnati LB Jake Golday at No. 51 in 2026 Draft
The Vikings traded down from 49 to 51 to select Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday (6'4", 240, 4.62 40) with the No. 51 pick, passing on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the process. Golday posted 105 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks and 3 PD last season and fits Brian Flores’ scheme as a downhill blitzer/run defender, though coverage remains a work in progress. He figures to contribute on special teams initially and develop into a larger role, marking Minnesota’s first second-round pick since 2022 with an instant grade of B-.
