Thanks to the Jonathan Greenard trade tonight, the Minnesota Vikings had back-to-back picks at 97 and 98. The picks prior to 98 were defensive lineman Caleb Banks, linebacker Jake Golday, defensive lineman Domonique Orange, and offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan.
At pick 98 in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings finally addressed the secondary by selecting Jakobe Thomas, a safety out of Miami. Many were wondering when Minnesota would take secondary help, and they did here.
Thomas is a physical box safety who flies around the field and often finds himself up near the line of scrimmage, looking to help in run support. He's a more than willing tackler who fills gaps and looks to make a play. His aggression can be a detriment to his game, however, as his all-or-nothing mindset leaves him out on an island if he makes the wrong read.
Minnesota waiting until the end of round three to find the Harrison Smith replacement is curious, and while Thomas may not be it, he will be a fine rotational piece.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings select S Jakobe Thomas 98th overall in 2026 NFL Draft
