The Minnesota Vikings traded back in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, going from 49 to 51, and with that pick, they turned the card in for Jake Golday, a linebacker out of Cincinnati. While this wasn't necessarily a major need for this Vikings roster, the vision is there to eventually replace an aging position group. What does the grade look like?

Well, seeing that names like C.J. Allen out of Georgia were still on the board, it's certainly a questionable choice.

Golday was a massive producer in college, totaling over 100 tackles last season. However, questions surrounding his coverage skills and with other positions of need, especially in the secondary, leave this pick as a C-.

Yes, the Vikings can still address the secondary, especially safety, with one of their two third-round picks, but this isn't a stellar start to the draft.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: NFL Draft: Jake Golday gets an average grade for the Vikings