The Minnesota Vikings prioritized their defensive line in April's draft, selecting Domonique Orange 68 picks after taking Caleb Banks 18th overall in the first round. Yet it appears that Orange could be more ready-made to contribute to the defense early in 2026.
Orange boasts a stout frame, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 322 pounds. Conditioning may not be as big of a hurdle for Orange as it currently is for Banks— Orange stayed on the field for a high volume of plays with Iowa State over his four-year collegiate career, logging 1,575 snaps.
That could mean significant reps for Orange when the regular season begins, whether he is a starter or not, ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote last weekend.
"Similar to Banks, Orange got extensive work with the first
team at nose tackle and produced a viral moment in the second preseason game by dropping his 322-pound frame into pass coverage," Seifert said. "Whether he starts or not, he is on pace to get significant playing time."
Brian Flores bringing Safety Blitzes from Depth and dropping the Nose 😂
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) August 22, 2026
*whispers*
This is their base defense! pic.twitter.com/4wltSLsnZ6
The Vikings are hopeful that Banks, who appears to have fully recovered from his foot injury, can now grow into a larger role with the defense. As for Orange, Minnesota may be expecting a more Week 1-ready rookie.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings could lean on 'Big Citrus' to help stuff runners in 2026
