The Minnesota Vikings made history during the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting four defensive players before the start of Round 4—the most such early-round defensive picks in franchise history. Now, two of those rookies are generating buzz as dark horse candidates for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, according to ESPN analyst Ben Solak.
Defensive tackle Caleb Banks and linebacker Jake Golday have already caught the attention of national pundits, even before stepping onto an NFL field. If either player wins the award, it would mark the first time a Viking has claimed Rookie of the Year honors since wide receiver Percy Harvin did so back in 2009.
Banks, a disruptive force on the interior, faces a steep climb. Solak points out that no defensive tackle has won Rookie of the Year since Aaron Donald in 2014, with only Ndamukong Suh achieving the feat earlier this century. "Banks is that sort of talent and an enticing bet accordingly," Solak notes, but he adds a major caveat: a foot injury suffered at the NFL Combine in late February. "He also plays in a Brian Flores defense that doesn’t allow defensive tackles to play the sort of unhinged, penetration-oriented style that leads to sacks," Solak explains. As a reference, Flores used the No. 13 pick on Christian Wilkins during his tenure with the Dolphins in 2019, and Wilkins managed just two sacks as a rookie. "It’s hard to see the path for Banks," Solak concludes. Vikings fans will be closely monitoring whether Banks can recover in time for Week 1, let alone contend for the award.
Golday, a second-round pick out of Cincinnati, is considered an even longer shot. Solak describes him as "an off-ball/on-ball tweener" who will be stuck behind established starters at both outside and inside linebacker. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner hold down the edge, while Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman anchor the middle. "He will undoubtedly have flashy plays in subpackages," Solak says, "but he simply will not see enough snaps—barring injury—to contend for this award." Many scouts view Golday as a raw prospect, and with the Vikings boasting impressive inside linebacker depth, his path to significant playing time remains unclear.
Do you think Banks or Golday have what it takes to defy the odds and bring DROY glory back to Minnesota?