Week 8 will begin with a clash of adversity-stricken playoff contenders hoping to get back on track. Both teams had early-season bouts of euphoria, with the Los Angeles Chargers starting 3-0 and the Minnesota Vikings getting their first taste of quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
In the weeks since, McCarthy has been sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Los Angeles has crumbled under the weight of offensive line injuries. That’s put a damper on September hype, and it’s helped reveal flaws in these teams’ foundations.
As the Chargers and Vikings prepare to do battle, it’s worth taking a look at how they might approach the 2026 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings three-round mock draft
Round 1, Pick 15: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Minnesota is fortunate not to need to draft by need in April. The offensive line is underrated, most high-value positions are taken care of, and even after McCarthy’s injury, an early-round quarterback isn’t likely.
Terrell has maintained his first-round stock by continuing to blend an ability to create turnovers with a willingness to play the run. In Brian Flores’ defense, that makes Terrell an excellent fit.
Offering elite burst, quick feet, and a nuanced feel for zone coverage, Terrell is an easy addition on the boundary, where Flores’s blitzes and trap coverages can embolden him.
Round 2, Pick 46: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
Further addressing the Vikings’ secondary, Thieneman has long been considered a top-50 prospect. Harrison Smith is still staving off retirement, but a long-term plan behind him is necessary. His current partner in crime, Joshua Metellus, is defined by his versatility. Thieneman offers more of the same.
Thieneman has enough size (205 pounds) to make plays in the box, although his run defense is more dutiful than dominant. He’s more comfortable in coverage, where he can take on a variety of roles and allow his near-elite athleticism to win out.
Round 3, Pick 77: Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
Adding three top-100 prospects to the defense before a single offensive selection is both a matter of how the board could fall and the current set of investments to Kevin O’Connell’s baby. Durant, a flexible, athletic interior lineman, is worthy of pushing off an ancillary offensive contributor.
Minnesota’s defensive line is suspect; neither Jonathan Allen nor Javon Hargrave looks great so far this season. Jalen Redmond is the team’s future on the interior, and Durant’s skill set is a little duplicative. However, Durant’s ability to penetrate against the run could earn him a starting role, rather than rotational depth behind Redmond.
Round 3, Pick 97: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
Singleton’s stock has suffered in 2025. He’s been far less consistent, isn’t creating as many big plays, and is losing ground to other backs in a mediocre crop of prospects. Yet, his blend of size (6’0″, 225 pounds) and speed keeps the door open for him to raise his stock later in the process.
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He’ll need to improve between the tackles to meet the expectations of his early-cycle hype, but his physicality and explosiveness demand a real workload. Jordan Mason has earned the right to headline next year’s committee. That shouldn’t keep Singleton out of this team’s plans.
Singleton is a fairly natural receiver who can earn passing-down snaps without sacrificing the physicality Minnesota gets from Mason.
Los Angeles Chargers three-round mock draft
Round 1, Pick 19: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker began the season as the consensus EDGE1, but Clemson’s defensive struggles have lowered his profile (perhaps unfairly), and he’s yet to dominate against a Sunday starter at offensive tackle. As his stock settles closer to Round 2 than as the top defensive player in the class, a good team can still take advantage of his skill set.
Parker wins with speed to power better than almost anyone in this class, and he gives teams enough on early downs to consider starting full-time from the jump. This is a fairly complete prospect with an impressive blend of measurables, production, and pedigree.
For a defense bereft of adequate depth along the edge, Parker could have an instant impact in Los Angeles.
Round 2, Pick 52: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to diagnose the biggest holes on the Chargers’ roster. Coincidentally, they sit next to each other.
Los Angeles’ interior offensive line is arguably the worst in the class, headlined by Bradley Bozeman’s struggles and amplified by inconsistencies at guard. The situation is untenable, and after offensive tackle injuries struck early in the season, the offense is stuck compensating for insurmountable flaws.
Bisontis is making a strong case to be the top guard in the 2026 NFL Draft. With experience at right tackle before spending the last two seasons at left guard, Bisontis is a pass-first guard to keep Justin Herbert on his feet.
Round 3, Pick 83: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
There is plenty of time for stocks to fluctuate, but the opportunity to grab both the top guard and center in this class is enticing. Lew entered the season as the top center on my board and has tread water with continued consistency against SEC competition.
Lew is technically sound with proof of concept as both a pass protector and run blocker. His footwork is one of his best traits, his experience shows in his hand usage, and there’s enough athleticism to elicit some upside at the next level.
By virtue of being a projected Day 2 pick, Lew becoming an above-average starter may be less likely than it was entering 2025. He doesn’t need to reach his potential to be a real improvement in Los Angeles.
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