The 2026 NFL Draft will award compensatory picks to teams that lost top free agents from last year’s class. That includes the Minnesota Vikings, who saw Sam Darnold sign a three-year, $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
How did the Vikings get a compensatory pick for San Darnold?
The Vikings received a third-round pick for letting Darnold walk in free agency. That is now the number 97 overall pick in the draft. It is the highest compensatory pick this year because Darnold’s compensation was the highest among all the qualifying free agent signings
in 2025.
What did the Vikings do with the compensatory pick from Sam Darnold?
During the 2026 NFL Draft, we will update when the Vikings make pick 97.
How was Sam Darnold’s performance for the Seahawks in 2025?
The Vikings may have had a regret or two about moving on from Darnold last year. The former top-three pick out of USC led the Seahawks to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the NFC. Darnold had zero turnovers in the playoffs as the Seahawks won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Should the Vikings have re-signed Sam Darnold?
Given where the Vikings were with J.J. McCarthy and Darnold in a crowded quarterback room, the decision at the time was the correct one. However, given how McCarthy has played in his first full season as the starter, it appears the Vikings may have made the wrong decision. McCarthy will fight for his starting job in 2026 against former top overall pick Kyler Murray.
What is a compensatory pick?
Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that suffer a net loss of qualifying free agents during the previous year’s free agency period. So 2026 NFL Draft compensatory picks are awarded due to free agents lost in 2025.
Then those player are ranked on the amount of salary, playing time, and a bunch of other criteria and slotted into the end of rounds three through seven.
