The Minnesota Vikings are back in familiar territory—and not in a good way. Following the 2026 NFL Draft, the national media has once again placed the purple and gold near the bottom of the league's power rankings. NFL.com dropped them to No. 28, ranking them as the fifth-worst team in the league. ESPN followed suit, though with a slightly more generous placement at No. 24.

But here's the thing: Minnesota's roster looks stronger than these rankings suggest. The Vikings finished last season with a respectable 9-8 record, hardly the mark of a team in freefall. Yet, the power rankings treat them as if they stumbled to a 5-12 finish. It's a head-scratcher, especially when you consider that Minnesota's defense ranked third in the NFL last year in both EPA per play and DVOA. Teams with elite defenses don't typically languish near the bottom of the league's pecking order.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert, however, did highlight one area where the Vikings have clearly improved: quarterback. "Most improved position: Quarterback," Seifert wrote. "The Vikings did some good work at defensive tackle in the draft, but they had long ago accomplished the most important task of the offseason by building a more competitive QB room."

That competition centers around the arrival of Kyler Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler who signed with Minnesota for just $1.3 million—a bargain considering the Arizona Cardinals are covering the rest of his $37.6 million salary. Murray is expected to battle second-year QB J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, though most analysts believe Murray will win the role handily. And if that doesn't work out? The Vikings brought back Carson Wentz as a safety net, ensuring the position has a much higher floor than last season.

So, where would you place the Vikings in your personal power rankings? The national media may have them in the gutter, but with a strong defense, a revamped quarterback room, and a solid 9-8 foundation, Minnesota might just be the league's most underrated team heading into 2026.