Rob Kleifield
EAGAN, Minn.The Vikings keep stacking players with elite measurables.
Minnesota selected former Northwestern offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan with the 97th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday night, addressing its offense for the first time after picking former Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks at 18 on Thursday, former Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday at 51 and former Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange at 82.
Tiernan is a native of Livonia, Michigan, and was listed on hisNFL.comprofile at 6-foot-7 5/8 and 323 pounds. He started 43 of 52 games for the Wildcats and switched from right to left tackle for his final three seasons after manning the right flank as a part-time starter in 2022 opposite Peter Skoronski.
Tiernan posted the 10th-highest vertical jump by an offensive lineman at the combine dating to at least 1999, according to MockDraftable. His leap of 35 1/2 inches was three inches shy of the top rung reached by Garret Greenfield in 2024. For what it's worth, Buccaneers five-time Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs jumped 36 1/2 inches in 2020, and Seahawks Super Bowl guard Grey Zabel ascended to that height in 2025. The Athletic's Dane Brugler noted in "The Beast" that although Tiernan exclusively played tackle in college and offers swing tackle ability, he may be best off long-term as a guard due to a lack of length.
In 2025, Tiernan allowed three sacks and 13 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and earned the following grades 70.5 overall; 84.3 pass-blocking; 59.7 run-blocking. He received greater marks two seasons ago 82.3 overall; 88.9 pass-blocking; 74.8 run-blocking and allowed as many sacks and pressures as '25.
Tiernan was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2021 coming out of Detroit Country Day school in Beverly Hills, Michigan. He helped his team win a state championship at Ford Field in a shortened 2020 season.
The selection of Tiernan was announced on stage in Pittsburgh, the site of this year's draft. Now, Tiernan will join an offensive line room led by O'Neill, left tackle Christian Darrisaw and guards Donovan Jackson and Will Fries.
Vikings history in NFL Draft
Tiernan is the fifth player ever picked out of Northwestern by Minnesota and the first since defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo in the seventh round (220) in 2017. The most notable Wildcat-turned-Viking is 1963 44th overall pick Paul Flatley, who caught 202 passes for more than 3,000 yards across five years.
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