Minnesota Vikings have real expectations for their mid-round NFL Draft picks, with two potential starters coming from them

The Minnesota Vikings enter training camp with real expectations for their mid-round NFL Draft class, including potential starters emerging from three picks. After missing a day-two selection inside the top 100 for three years, Minnesota has three such selections this year. In the third round, it drafted Northwestern offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan, then added Miami safety Jakobe Thomas in the third, and in the fifth selected Michigan fullback/tight end Max Bredeson. Tiernan (6-foot-8, 323 pounds) has physical size but concerns tied to arm length, with 32.25-inch arms placing him around the 4th percentile for offensive tackles at the combine, and questions about how he handles speed-to-power pass rushers. Minnesota could shift him to guard because inside play reduces edge speed demands, with precedent from Blake Brandel. Thomas, taken 98th overall, is seen as a scheme-dependent fit for a Brian Flores defense that values a physical, downhill, high-IQ safety; he turned 23 during the offseason.