Compensatory picks are a sneaky way for teams to be able to add extra draft picks outside of the traditional seven they always have. Of course, they have to lose players to gain them, and the Vikings did just that this year.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote about how the Vikings are in a good spot to gain extra picks in 2026 after getting only one in 2025. Lewis was at the NFL meetings this past week and talked to Kevin O'Connell about getting compensatory picks and got some good information.
Lewis writes, "O’Connell credited Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings’ personnel staff for their approach to acquiring talent while also setting the franchise up for compensatory picks in 2026. Signees like Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were released, so they did not count against the Vikings’ compensatory formula. Over The Cap’s Nick Korte currently projects the Vikings to be in line for a third-rounder and fifth-rounder (because of Sam Darnold and Cam Robinson, respectively). O’Connell mentioned Tuesday the possibility of the Vikings receiving “two or potentially three even high-level comp picks," . . ."
Lewis also mentions that the Vikings could be in line for two more picks if Johnny Mundt plays enough for the Jaguars and Trent Sherfield plays enough for the Broncos. While 2025 may not have many picks set up for the Vikings, they are poised for major moves and flexibility in 2026, with compensatory picks lining them up for some extra selections.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings poised for a handful of compensatory picks next year