The Minnesota Vikings have one of the better defenses in the NFL, and it is in part due to the play of their secondary. Players like Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Josh Metellus are expected to play big roles in 2026, but could there be a sleeper in the group following the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Athletic's Dane Brugler laid out his favorite picks and picks that could surprise their teams from last week's annual selection process. For the Vikings, his surprise choice was fifth-round pick and Senior Bowl standout cornerback Charles Demmings out of Stephen F. Austin.
Drugler writes, "Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth."
Flores has a track record of taking day three defensive backs and turning them into something special in his time in the NFL. Whether it is during his stops with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, or now the Vikings. Demmings has the stuff to make this pick become a homerun, but it will also be decided by the coaching of Flores.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Charles Demmings could be a surprise for Vikings fans in 2026
