Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft strategy potentially takes another hit due to circumstances out of their control

With the 2026 NFL Draft coming in just over six months, the planning has already begun. One aspect that has yet to be determined is how many compensatory selections the Minnesota Vikings will have.

These were the initial projections for compensatory picks ahead of the 2025 season.

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd
• 3rd (projected compensatory pick for Sam Darnold)
• 4th (projected compensatory pick for Daniel Jones)
• 4th (projected compensatory pick for Cam Robinson)
• 5th
• 5th (from Philadelphia Eagles)
• 6th (from Indianapolis Colts)
• 7th
• 7th (from Houston Texans)

Blake Cashman's injury could prevent Vikings from getting a comp pick

As things stand right now, the injury to inside linebacker Blake Cashman is going to cost the Vikings and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah a compensatory pick. Let me explain.

Compensatory picks are decided based on a formula. Appendix V of the Collective Bargaining Agreement explains how the process works.

1. All players shall be assigned additional points based on honors or participation, as follows:
   
   1. Selected 1st Team ALL NFL by PFWA or 1st Team ALL PRO by AP: 20 points.
   2. Selected All Conference by PFWA (except if selected ALL NFL or ALL PRO above): 5 points.
   3. One point for each percent of the total offensive/defensive plays in which the player participated (excluding special teams) provided that the player participated in a minimum of 25% of the offensive/ defensive plays (excluding special teams). For example: 67% participation equals 67 points, 0% to 24.99% participation equals no points. Exception: in the case of punters and place-kickers, 1 point will be awarded for each punt attempted and 1 point for each punt inside the 20-yard line during the regular season for the punters, and 2 points for each field goal attempted and 1 point for each field goal made during the regular season for place-kickers.
2. The sum of the numerical values in (a) and (b) above shall represent each player’s Final Numerical Value.
3. Each CFA’s Final Numerical Value shall be measured in percentile terms against all players’ Final Numerical Values to determine the position of a Club’s Compensatory Draft Selection, if any.

In basic terms, it's a formula that adds your ranking of your average annual value, adding in the percentage of snaps you play on either offense or defense, with any eligible awards you win. The top 689 players qualify for the formula, and, after starting the last four games, inside linebacker Eric Wilson now qualifies for the formula, meaning that selection for Cam Robinson is cancelled out.

Wilson only has a contract worth $2.6 million, which is 1,254th in the NFL, but playing 76.4% of the snaps through five weeks is a significant portion of the snaps. That is mainly due to Cashman missing time. As long as Cashman returns relatively quickly, that pick will come back. Right now, the pick for Robinson is projected as a sixth-round pick due to his barely playing in the last four games. However, that will shoot up once he takes over at left tackle. He could end up starting the rest of the season and shoot that pick up as high as a fourth-round pick.

With 13 weeks left in the NFL season, nothing is set in stone, but it's noteworthy that this could change how many NFL Draft picks the Vikings have.

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