The Vikings’ 2026 rookie class arrived at training camp with an unusual amount of momentum.
Caleb Banks looked healthy after a long recovery from his foot injury. Domonique Orange had flashed inside. Demond Claiborne’s speed became one of camp’s most-discussed traits. Max Bredeson quickly found a role in the revamped run game. Charles Demmings made play after play at cornerback.
Then came the first preseason game.
Minnesota’s 13-10 win over the Giants did not erase the encouraging camp reports, and one August exhibition cannot define a draft class. But it offered a useful reminder of the difference between flashing against teammates in practice drills and executing under the speed, physicality and uncertainty of an NFL game.
Some rookies helped themselves. Some encountered the learning curve. Most did a little of both.
Bredeson looked ready for the assignment
Of the draftees, the clearest rookie winner was Bredeson.
Minnesota picked the Michigan fullback in the fifth round to replace C.J. Ham and add a more physical element to a rushing attack that has been reworked under assistant head coach Frank Smith and offensive line coach Keith Carter. The Vikings immediately gave Bredeson a meaningful assignment in his NFL debut.
He started and he led the way.
On the first offensive snap, Bredeson led Aaron Jones toward the left edge and delivered a kick-out block that helped spring an 18-yard gain. Christian Darrisaw, Josh Oliver and Bredeson created the kind of lane the Vikings have been trying to generate throughout camp. One play later, Bredeson caught Kyler Murray’s first pass as a Viking, a short reception in the flat.
“To be out there the first play of the game is pretty special,” Bredeson said. “You’ve got to get your rhythm early and fast, so it was cool to have those two plays to start it up and feel good from there.”
The Vikings do not need Bredeson to become a high-volume offensive weapon but they need him to be reliable in the unglamorous work: locate the right defender, finish the block, contribute on special teams and provide the offense with a true fullback option.
Saturday suggested he has a legitimate chance to do that immediately.
Claiborne showed the trait that got him drafted
Claiborne’s box score was modest, 12 carries for 34 yards, but it revealed why Minnesota spent a sixth-round pick on him.
His first few touches displayed the burst that had become obvious during camp. He bounced a run outside for a productive gain, converted a third-and-one and showed enough juice to make defenders respect the perimeter. Claiborne also delivered a useful pass-protection rep while working with the second and third units, another encouraging sign as he tries to earn the staff’s trust.”
The quieter portion of his day matters, too. Claiborne gained 15 yards on his first three carries, then only 19 on the next nine. He was stopped near the goal line, where tight space and immediate contact reduced the value of his best trait.
That is not a criticism of the rookie. Claiborne was never drafted to be a 230-pound short-yardage hammer. He was drafted because he can change the geometry of a defense when he gets to the edge or reaches open space.
The preseason opener did not answer whether he is ready for a regular offensive role. It did show that his speed translates to a live setting, even when the final numbers do not jump off the page.
On the New York Giants broadcast, Hall of Famer Phil Simms said about him, “If you’re fast in August, you’re fast in the regular season.”
Quite the endorsement from the opposing analyst.
Banks saw the challenge in front of him
Banks’ NFL debut was always going to receive outsized attention. He is the Vikings’ first-round pick, a massive interior defender whose athletic profile gives him the potential to become a centerpiece of the defensive front for a decade.
The Giants game showed both the appeal and the work ahead.
Banks made three tackles and had some better moments, including a red-zone run stop with Ivan Pace Jr. He also generated penetration on one rushing play and helped draw a holding penalty.
But he was washed out by double-teams a few times and struggled to consistently win with leverage. That is not a new concern. Pad level, block recognition and playing within the structure of a defense were all areas Banks needed to refine coming out of Florida.
The rookie was notably candid after the game.
“I feel like there are some things I need to work on, definitely pad level, just playing some blocks,” Banks said. “That comes with the game, and it’s going to take time.”
He also acknowledged that instincts can become over-aggression for a young player trying to make an impact.
“You kind of get happy feet,” Banks said. “You want to go make a play and you do the wrong stuff, and then you get double-teamed and get pushed to the ball. Next play, you know what you’ve got to do and you get better.”
That answer is more encouraging than a rookie pretending he played flawlessly. Banks recognizes the gap between his raw ability and the precision the NFL requires. The Vikings have time, and they have a defensive line coach in Ryan Nielsen whose reputation is built on demanding technical improvement. But Saturday made clear that Banks is still a developing player, not a finished product.
The premium picks had uneven days
Second-round linebacker Jake Golday received plenty of snaps, but the game offered no major indication that he is ready to force his way past Blake Cashman or Eric Wilson.
Golday was involved in the defense’s worst play, a third-and-23 screen that turned into a 40-yard gain for Devin Singletary. Several Vikings contributed to the breakdown, so it would be unfair to place the mistake entirely on Golday. Still, he took a poor angle and did not make the kind of impact play that changes a rookie’s immediate standing.
The Vikings did not use him in an especially creative way, either. Golday mostly worked as an off-ball linebacker, which may have been intentional. Flores rarely needs to show the full menu of pressures and packages in August.
Third-round tackle Caleb Tiernan had an even rougher afternoon. He was flagged on consecutive plays, first for holding and then for a false start, before leaving with a left ankle injury. A preseason game is not a verdict on a rookie lineman, especially one asked to play after the starters exited. But the penalties reinforced how much polish is required before Tiernan can be trusted as a swing tackle. That leaves Ryan Van Demark as the clear top backup tackle for now.
Center Gavin Gerhardt played a quiet game as the third-team center. Cornerback Chuck Demmings arrived at MetLife Stadium with a ton of camp hype, but his game was not noteworthy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at his position. Defensive tackle Domonique Orange did not produce a splash play, but he showed a couple of intriguing moments against the run. Like Banks, he must adjust to the NFL’s speed and strength.
Third-round safety Jakobe Thomas did not play because of back stiffness that has limited his practice work. That absence was a missed opportunity in a safety competition that has become more consequential following Jamal Adams’ season-ending knee injury.
The next steps matter more than the first result
No sensible evaluation of Minnesota’s draft class should end after one preseason game.
Bredeson’s debut was a strong sign that he can contribute right away. Claiborne’s speed remains an enticing element in a backfield that lacks his kind of breakaway gear. Banks, Golday and Tiernan each showed why talented college players often need time to adjust. Jakobe Thomas needs to get healthy and back on the field.
The Vikings drafted this group for more than a single August afternoon. They drafted Banks and Golday with the expectation that they can grow into core defensive pieces. They drafted Bredeson and Claiborne because the offense needed different answers. They drafted Tiernan and Jakobe Thomas because depth must eventually become development.
Training camp created excitement. The preseason opener delivered the more useful part of the process: a clear list of what each rookie has to prove next.
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