MNRL Sub (MNRL) S-3 Shelf registration

Exhibit 5.1

May 21, 2020

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Dr., Suite 150

Austin, TX 78730

Re: Registration Statement on FormS-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on FormS-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on or about the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the offer and sale (a) by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of (i) shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, in one or more series (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be issued in the form of depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”); and (iii) warrants for the purchase of shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, or any combination of the forgoing (the “Warrants” and, together with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock and the Depositary Shares, the “Securities”); (b) by the selling stockholders named in the Registration Statement that may exchange shares of the Company’s Class B common stock (the “Exchanging Holders”) along with a limited liability company unit of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC for a share of Common Stock of up to 18,384,074 shares of Common Stock (the “Exchange Common Stock”); and (c) by the selling stockholder named in the Registration Statement (the “Selling Stockholder”), of up to 3,856,823 shares of Common Stock (the “Resale Common Stock”).

We have also participated in the preparation of a Prospectus relating to the Securities, the Exchange Common Stock and the Resale Common Stock (the “Prospectus”) which is contained in the Registration Statement to which this opinion is an exhibit.

In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined, among other things, the (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (ii) the Registration Statement, (iii) the Prospectus and (iv) the records of corporate proceedings that have occurred prior to the date hereof with respect to the Registration Statement. We have also reviewed such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinions expressed

Vinson & Elkins LLP  Attorneys at Law Austin  Dallas  Dubai  Hong Kong  Houston  London New York  Richmond  Riyadh  San Francisco  Tokyo  Washington 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77002-6760 Tel +1.713.758.2222  Fax +1.713.758.2346  www.velaw.com

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herein, and as to factual matters arising in connection with our examination of corporate documents, records and other documents and writings, we relied upon certificates and other communications of corporate officers of the Company, without further investigation as to the facts set forth therein.

In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents; (iv) the Registration Statement and any subsequent amendments (including additional post-effective amendments), will be effective and comply with all applicable laws; (v) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner specified in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement to the Prospectus; (vi) one or more prospectus supplements to the Prospectus will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (vii) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (viii) any securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Warrants being offered will have been duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise; and (ix) the Exchange Common Stock and the Resale Common Stock will be sold in the manner set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations, and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to shares of Common Stock to be offered and sold by the Company, when both (A) the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company (or a committee thereof) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Common Stock and related matters and (B) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered (ornon-certificated shares of Common Stock shall have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Common Stock), then the shares of Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable;

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2. With respect to shares of any series of Preferred Stock to be offered and sold by the Company, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of the series, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a resolution establishing and designating the series and fixing and determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights thereof and the filing of a statement with respect to the series with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Designation”) and (B) certificates representing the shares of the series of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (ornon-certificated shares of Preferred Stock shall have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, then upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein; or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of the Security or the instrument governing the Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), the shares of the series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid andnon-assessable;

3. With respect to the Depositary Shares to be offered and sold by the Company, when (A) the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Depositary Shares, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designation relating to the Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares and the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (B) the depositary agreement or agreements relating to the Depositary Shares and the related depositary receipts have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary appointed by the Company; (C) the shares of Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares have been deposited with the depositary under the applicable depositary agreement; and (D) the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate depositary agreement approved by the Company, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, the Depositary Shares will be legally issued;

4. With respect to the Warrants to be offered and sold by the Company, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, (B) the agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent

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appointed by the Company, and (C) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered in accordance with the appropriate agreements relating to the Warrants and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board or such officers upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be legally issued and such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement is subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law);

5. With respect to shares of Exchange Common Stock, when both (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the shares of Exchange Common Stock and related matters and (B) certificates representing the shares of Exchange Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered (ornon-certificated shares of Exchange Common Stock shall have been properly issued) in accordance with the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, then the shares of Exchange Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable; and

6. The shares of Resale Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Selling Stockholder have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

We express no opinions concerning the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.

The foregoing opinions are limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we do not express any opinions as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the statements with respect to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

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Very truly yours,

/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.