The Minnesota Vikings have made another selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with this pick, they have gone back over to the defensive side of the ball, this time to the defensive backfield.
Jakobe Thomas
Date of Birth: 30 June 2003 (22 years old)
College: University of Miami (FL)
Drafted: Third round, #98 overall
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 210 pounds
Career Accomplishments: Second-Team All-ACC (2025), Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP (2026)
With the 98th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings have picked Jakobe Thomas, a safety
from the University of Miami (FL).
Thomas had a long, winding journey through his college football career, as he played his first three seasons at Middle Tennessee State, then transferred to play one season at Tennessee before playing his final season at “The U.” That does highlight one of his strengths, as he’s played in multiple defensive systems and had no issues with picking any of them up throughout his career.
Thomas is a safety built for a two-high system, where he can play more of a center-field role. He’s outstanding in coverage, as he had five interceptions for the Hurricanes last season.
With the Vikings potentially having to deal with the loss of Harrison Smith, it remains to be seen how big an impact Thomas is going to have straight away for the Vikings defense. He still has plenty of developing to do, but there’s at least a chance that he’s going to get some opportunities pretty early on in his career in purple.
Welcome to Minnesota, Jakobe Thomas!
