There has been a lot of discussion about interior offensive line still being an issue besides Brandel. Cornerback and interior defensive line are also position groups where the team will need players due to most of the current contributors being free agents. Due to a lack of draft capital filling these positions is going to be tricky. Ideally, you wont need the draft to get an immediate starter. It would be nice but just getting players that can contribute would be great.

Looking at the free agents in 2025, interior defensive tackle is going to be tough to fill and there will be a lot of competition. Considering what transpired with the top of the guard market last year, I would not want to pay between 15-20M per year for a free agent guard. The pickin’s are slim. Cornerback should have plenty of options to choose from and I expect that is where they would spend the money with safety right behind. They might need a linebacker for depth and maybe a running back although I could see them re-signing Aaron Jones.

When you do not have much draft capital and free agency is not that great, then you have to be wise and not overspend just to get a body.

Separately, would the Vikings try to sign Daniel Jones for the rest of the season? Is he an upgrade over Nick Mullens or just another QB for depth?

Daniel Jones landing spots: Raiders, Colts (but not Cowboys) among best fits after Giants release

Minnesota Vikings

Speaking of McCarthy, the Vikings shouldn’t be re-signing Sam Darnold with the rookie first-round waiting in the wings to make his healthy debut in 2025. Jones would fit the profile as the ideal No. 2 to McCarthy with his mental makeup for Kevin O’Connell system.

---

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Vikings-Bears Week 12 predictions from the Vikings On SI staff

Will Ragatz: Bears 20, Vikings 17

I know the Vikings have won four in a row at Soldier Field, but it’s hard to shake the memory of that venue being such a tough place for them to win prior to 2020. And that’s not the only reason why I don’t have a great feeling about this game. Caleb Williams is coming off a strong outing under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, while the Vikings’ defense has been susceptible to giving up some chunks in the passing game. The Bears have also been very good at generating takeaways, which has been an issue for Sam Darnold. With the Vikings on a three-game winning streak and the Bears on a four-game losing streak, it just feels like something might give here, so I’m picking a loss for the first time all year. I’d like to be wrong.

Joe Nelson: Vikings 27, Bears 8

I think we all have to pause for a moment and take a 30,000-foot view of the Bears. When you get in close you see a shiny new quarterback with big-time potential in Williams, but when you zoom out you see a franchise in disarray. The head coach doesn’t seem to have the support of his players, and the Bears’ four victories came against the banged-up Los Angeles Rams the woeful Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Maybe the Bears just aren’t good? That’s what I’m thinking. Make it five straight wins at Soldier Field for Minnesota.

Nolan O’Hara: Vikings 23, Bears 17

Jonathan Harrison: Vikings 24, Bears 7

Tony Liebert: Vikings 28, Bears 17

Here are last week’s predictions. Season records for our pickers:

Will: 8-2

Joe: 8-2

Nolan: 6-4

Jonathan: 6-4

Tony: 4-6

---

Bears QB Caleb Williams Sends Strong Message on Vikings Coach

“Obviously, he’s gonna he’s going to blitz you. He’s the king of cover zero blitz and finding a bunch of different ways to do it. And then you know they’ll switch it up and just fly 22 [Harrison Smith] out from two yards away from me and fly him all the way back to the safety and things like that,” Williams told reporters on November 20.

The Vikings blitz at the NFL’s highest rate at 37.7%, per Pro Football Reference. Unsurprisingly, they also boast the top pressure rate at 29.6%, the sixth-highest sack rate at 8.7%, and rank third in the league with 35 sacks through 11 weeks.

Flores and the Vikings’ defense have also held opposing quarterbacks to the fifth-lowest passer rating with a 79.4 mark.

There are, however, some weak spots that Williams and the Bears can take advantage of.

“Us being decisive, us having a plan for all of that [is key]. And then from there, get the ball to your playmakers, run the ball well and efficiently. And from there, when they give you shots and give you explosive plays, you make those plays,” Williams said.

“It affects the, I guess you can say, play calling for the defense when you’re able to hit explosive plays or when you’re able to get the ball out and be decisive when they’re sending all these different exotic blitzes and things like that. I think it affects the play-caller on the other side, and you got to find other ways to attack.”

Williams has completed 55.9% of his throws against the blitz this season, and 41.7% when he is under pressure, per PFF.

However, he has a 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio against the blitz.

Despite the Vikings’ favorable sack and pressure numbers, their pass defense ranks 28th in yards and 19th in touchdowns allowed. They have the eighth-highest average depth of target and the fifth-most air yards on completions.

---

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson expects to see more snaps moving forward

T.J. Hockenson said this week that “I would expect things to go up” in terms of snaps moving forward. Certainly a possibility Sunday if Josh Oliver (ankle) can’t play.

Seifert also noted that Hockenson’s snap rate is down at 45.5% after hitting 79.5% last season. The tight end has a decent matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, making him a low-end TE1 option.

---

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky accidentally reveals that the national media doesn’t pay much attention to the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings might be 8-2 but it sure feels like the national media doesn’t know much about them.

They certainly don’t believe in them like other teams with similar records, despite the fact that they have the league’s best defense and an offense that has consistently generated explosive plays this season. But because their quarterback is Sam Darnold, they aren’t given the proper respect.

That lack of understanding and respect continued on Thursday.

The latest example of the national media ignoring the Vikings came on ESPN’s Get Up on Thursday morning. Mike Greenberg asked who the biggest threat to the Lions is and low and behold, Dan Orlovsky completely ignored the Vikings.

Greenberg asked Dan Orlovsky if the Eagles are the biggest threat to the Detroit Lions and his answer will rile up Vikings fans.

“I believe they are. The Eagles are, but I don’t think they’re by themselves. I think Philadelphia matches up well, because the way that their talent is on the perimeter and their athletic offensive line. But I also think two other teams that I would say are capable of doing it that I feel confident in, that is one Green Bay and two, the Los Angeles Rams. I think if we’re being honest, there’s been one team that has gone toe to toe with Detroit this year and played them really well. Now the Bucs beat them, but Jared (Goff) played atrocious in that game, in the red zone and turnovers: the Rams week one (went toe-to-toe), and I know that are they going to get in? Because all the injuries there are a team along with the Packers and the Eagles, I think those three are capable of doing it that had the most confidence in.”

The biggest issue with the comments from Orlovsky is the claim that only the Rams went toe-to-toe with the Lions. Did he not watch the Vikings take them to the wire and hold a lead with 19 seconds left in the game before Jake Bates hit the game winning field goal? Did he forget that if a Darnold pass on third and four goes a few inches shorter they drain the clock and get the win?

---

Vikings named landing spot for polarizing $112.5 million QB in potential blockbuster

The Minnesota Vikings once kicked the tires on a former Green Bay Packers superstar who had failed to resurrect his career during a short stint with the New York Jets.

Comically, some NFL analysts believe the Vikings could run it back and do the same exact thing, some sixteen years later.

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently named his top potential destinations for Aaron Rodgers, should the Jets decide to clean house and designate Rodgers as a post-June 1 cut this offseason. Benjamin didn’t only name Minnesota as a landing spot — he named it as the third-most likely scenario behind only the Tennessee Titans and retirement.

Here was Benjamin’s take on a potential blockbuster signing:

“Besides the storybook parallels to Brett Favre, who also went from Packers legend to Jets and Vikings rental to close his career, this one registers as sneakily plausible. The Vikings would surely prefer to re-sign current starter Sam Darnold, who’s fared reasonably well under Kevin O’Connell, but what if Darnold opts for a better-paying gig in 2025 free agency, confidence restored, ready to depart the lurking shadow of first-round pick J.J. McCarthy? Minnesota might still want a placeholder as McCarthy returns from knee surgery, and Rodgers would be getting a ready-made lineup with the best offensive line, skill weapons and defense he’s had in years. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the San Francisco 49ers’ front office when the Niners reportedly tried to land Rodgers in 2021, and he’d also be betting on the vengeance factor, allowing Rodgers to play the Packers at least twice.”

---

Vikings Predicted to Part Ways With $67 Million Fan Favorite

The Minnesota Vikings‘ 2025 offseason has many moving parts with 11 notable contributors poised to reach free agency. Fourth-year safety Cam Bynum is arguably the toughest decision for Minnesota. Known for his viral celebrations, Bynum’s play precedes his dance moves. He is third on the team in tackles, second in interceptions and tied for first in pass deflections.

ESPN ranked Bynum the No. 16 free agent in the upcoming class and the No. 2 safety behind only Miami Dolphins star Jevon Holland, ranked No. 3 overall. Bynum should command a strong market of interest in free agency.

Meanwhile, the Vikings’ entire starting cornerback group — Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin — are also playing on expiring contracts.

Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling predicted that if it comes down to retaining Murphy, who has been the team’s best cornerback through 10 games, or Bynum, Minnesota will let Bynum walk.

“They need corners, none of them are signed,” Goessling said on the “Vikings Access” podcast, adding that Mekhi Blackmon will be coming back from a torn ACL and that the need to re-sign Murphy supersedes Bynum at safety. “I think the value of a corner is more than a deep safety.

“[Bynum] fits. He’s been great in the role that he’s had. Independent of that, if you’re spending money on those two spots, I think the corner is where they prioritize it.”

The Vikings have cap space to pay both, but that would hinder the ability to make splash free-agent moves elsewhere like guard and interior defensive line.

---

Minnesota Vikings 2025 NFL Mock Draft: A new running back in Round 1

Round 1 (28): RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

Aaron Jones is set to be a free agent after this season, so a late first-round draft pick on a running back could help the Vikings get more ground production. Judkins has earned an 87.0-plus PFF rushing grade in each of his three college seasons while averaging at least 3.0 yards per carry.

Round 3 (97): CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State

The Florida State standout has earned a 77.4 PFF coverage grade in 2024, after garnering a 78.7 PFF coverage grade last season. Across 740 career coverage snaps, he has allowed a catch on only 53.6% of throws sent his way.

---

Yore Mock

Minnesota Receives:

2025: Round 2, Pick 37, 2025: Round 3, Pick 96

New York Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 28

…

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 40, 2025: Round 5, Pick 147

Dallas Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 37

…

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 100, 2025: Round 6, Pick 195

Los Angeles Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 96

…

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 4, Pick 109, 2025: Round 5, Pick 159

Carolina Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 100

…

40. Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina 6’3” 227

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

---

97. Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa 6’0” 225

Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

---

109. Darrell Jackson Jr. DL Florida State 6’5” 330

Robert Myers-Imagn Images

---

144. Ar’maj Reed-Adams IOL Texas A&M 6’5” 331

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

---

147. Mello Dotson CB Kansas 6’1” 190

Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

---

159. Jake Majors IOL Texas 6’3” 315

Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

---

164. Terrance Ferguson TE Oregon 6’5” 255

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

---

195. Saivion Jones EDGE LSU 6’6” 280

Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images

---

243. Ozzy Trapilo OT Boston College 6’8” 309

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

---

---

Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

• No discussion of politics or religion
• No feeding of the trolls
• Leave the gender hatred at the door
• Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
• Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
• No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
• If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
• While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm