The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and for the Minnesota Vikings, it was a weekend full of debate. Some analysts scratched their heads at the selections, while others applauded the front office for plugging key roster holes. Now that the draft dust has settled, it's time to see where the Vikings land in the early power rankings before training camp kicks off.

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco has placed the Vikings at No. 19 in the NFL, slotting them just behind the Cincinnati Bengals (17) and the Detroit Lions (18), and barely ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (20) and Pittsburgh Steelers (21). That's a drop of three spots from their previous ranking, with Prisco projecting a 9-8 finish for Minnesota in the upcoming season.

Of course, power rankings are always a matter of perspective—what one analyst values, another might overlook. Prisco gave the Vikings credit for bringing in quarterback Kyler Murray, naming him the likely starter for 2026, and acknowledged the team's efforts to add much-needed defensive pieces. However, some critics might argue the Murray move carries more weight than Prisco gives it, or that the defense still needs more work, which could push Minnesota even lower in other rankings.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you believe matters most for a team's success. For Vikings fans, the real test will come when the pads go on and the games count.