The Vikings might be set as far as adding any more free agents until after the draft when it will not affect the compensatory pick calculations. I believe this includes a backup QB unless that player was released (Rodgers) or did not play last year (Tannehill). They could sign some players to minimum level deals that I believe would not affect the comp picks. Maybe a tight end or safety?
If the season started next week the Vikings would have a pretty good team. Which brings us to the draft and what positions might the team prioritize? I think that the salary cap and contracts could provide some insights or not depending on your point of view. Right now the Vikings have 21.9M in cap space for 2025 and are negative 16.6M for 2026 according to overthecap. Brian O’Neill has the largest cap hit for 2025 at 26M. His cap hit in 2026 is 23M which is also the last year of his deal. He turns 30 on Sept 15th. I think an extension should be on the way. Players like Lane Johnson and Rob Havenstein have played well at their age 34 and 32 seasons. The first year of an extension for O’Neill will be at age 32. I think a 2 yr 38M deal sounds good but could be a little high. Jack Conklin just signed a 3 yr 45M deal this year.
I wonder if they will extend Van Ginkel? He deserves some kind of bump no? This is the last year of his deal? Would Kwesi trade Van Ginkel and if he did, what could he get?
Cleveland got a 2025 5th and 2026 6th for Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 7th.
New England got a 2025 3rd for Matt Judon.
Philadelphia got a 2026 3rd for Haason Reddick.
Chicago got a 2023 4th for Robert Quinn.
I think a 3rd or 4th would be fair.
But why? Well, they did trade a lot to go get Dallas Turner last year. Shouldn’t we think of him playing the same way we think of JJ playing? I know, I know. The positions are different and they need more depth at the OLB/EDGE positions. Plus, the current depth after Turner is Bo Richter and Gabriel Murphy both of whom were undrafted free agents. I don’t know but I would not be surprised if Kwesi surprises us with another move this offseason (besides the Rodgers nightmare).
I think it is interesting to consider even if it has a slim chance of happening. What else is there to discuss? I can talk mock drafts all day!
I am still of the belief that the Vikings should not consider the offensive and defensive lines as settled and safe. They should continue to add talented youts to improve the depth. The Eagles look formidable and the Vikings will need all they can get to battle.
What do you think they should do?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Are The Vikings Scared To Take A Chance On J.J. McCarthy? | Stinkin’ Truth Podcast
At the 11:15 mark Stink starts talking about JJ McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers, and the Vikings. He basically says that it seems like the Vikings are saying they do not know about JJ (nobody really knows but he does have potential). He goes into detail about how things work when QBs get to the line of scrimmage. He talks about a meniscus injury and said it is only a 2 to 4 week injury since he has had a few. He said JJ chose to get it stitched down instead and that the odds of it not getting re-injured are slim. He does say he is not a doctor but knows a lot of doctors. That is probably not that worrisome.
The major point, for me, that “Stink” spoke about was the fact that JJ did not practice last year at all. He spoke about Mahomes and how he was killing the first string defense in practice all year while running the scout team which told KC everything they need to know. He said Mahomes was running the other teams plays too. He said Rodgers was doing the same thing in Green Bay when he was sitting behind Favre. He goes on to say that flirting with Rodgers indicated to him they they did not know and wont know until they do. He said that KOC likely has confidence in his system though which is expected based on past results.
Interesting perspective. I think that even though JJ did not get to practice and if he sat another year it would not be the end of the world, there is a chance that it wont be a setback.
Why Vikings can’t just hand J.J. McCarthy the QB1 role | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
At the 4:30 mark, Chris Simms, yore favorite QB analyst (not all), talks about the Vikings wanting to give JJ all the work and to see how he looks. He talks about bringing in a Flacco or Tannehill to push JJ on the field. They say at the end that bringing in Rodgers will hurt JJ more than help.
‘It could happen’: Russini says Vikings fans ‘have to come to grips’ with Aaron Rodgers possibility
Until Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers or retires, Dianna Russini is going to hammer home what she believes is a realistic possibility where Rodgers signs with the Minnesota Vikings.
Rodgers and Minnesota isn’t going to happen now. Perhaps never. But Vikings general manager Kwesii Adofo-Mensah made it clear that he won’t 100% close the door on the Rodgers. That said, the Vikings like where they’re at with J.J. McCarthy. At least for now — and Russini thinks Vikings fans need to “come to grips” with the Rodgers possibility.
“I do think there’s a world — and I know Vikings fans don’t want to see it. Whether it’s their hate for Aaron Rodgers. Whether it’s they feel J.J.’s not getting a fair shake. Whatever the reason is for why some Vikings fans don’t want to see Aaron Rodgers, they have to come to grips — there is a world that exists, this year, where Aaron Rodgers hangs out and the Minnesota Vikings pick up the phone and they make the call. It could happen,” Russini said Thursday on Scoop City. “
“J.J. McCarthy has not been told he is the starter. He has not been told he is the No. 1 guy. Even before Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold walked away, or at least went to other teams, it was always discussed that it would be a competition this summer,” Russini said. “They’re not telling him anything. That is also telling to me. They don’t know, how could they know? He’s coming off injury, they need to see it.”
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Note: She is like a dog that wont let go of the bone no?
‘What does that tell you?’ A.J. Hawk on Vikings leaving door open for Aaron Rodgers
Fact: The Vikings had the opportunity to slam the door shut on Aaron Rodgers but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t do it. If you ask Rodgers’ close friend A.J. Hawk what that means, he seems to think it carries some weight.
“Yeah, they didn’t close the door completely. That’s the thing. You had the opportunity to close the door completely, publicly at least, if you were the Vikings and you did not. What does that tell you?” Hawk said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I don’t know if that means there’s a possibility that the Vikings would want to bring him in or not, but it means there’s gotta be some kind of chance of that, correct?”
It appears to be a three-option situation for Rodgers.
Sign with the Steelers
Retire
Wait in free agency and hope the Vikings call
“That’s the question that I don’t think he knows. I don’t know what he’s waiting on. I really don’t,” Hawk said, noting that he doesn’t think Rodgers will wait until the April 24 NFL draft to make his decision.
Vikings named potential suitor for unsigned $7.2M starter: ‘Best boundary cornerback available’
The Vikings were able to re-sign their top pending free agent in Bryon Murphy Jr. and add a pair of intriguing veterans in Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but from a 30,000-foot view, Minnesota’s cornerback room feels a bit shaky.
Murphy isn’t your typical lockdown, No. 1 boundary corner, as defensive coordinator Brian Flores will move him from the boundary to the slot to help create playmaking opportunities. Rodgers has some upside, especially after signing a two-year deal for just $11 million, but he filled a reserve role for the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Okudah is a former first-round pick, but he’s been a major first-round bust through five injury-plagued seasons. Minnesota has another option on the roster in former third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon, but he’s coming off 2024 ACL surgery.
The Vikings could address their need for a true boundary corner in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is just a month away. They could also look to make a post-draft free agent signing, with an eye on bolstering the lineup without impacting the NFL’s compensatory pick formula.
There are still some good veteran options out there, and Mo Moton of Bleacher Report named the Vikings as potential suitors for former No. 47 overall pick Asante Samuel Jr. Here was his take on the former Los Angeles Chargers starter:
Asante Samuel Jr. is the best boundary cornerback available. When you consider his age, he has the potential to be a long-term starter. The 25-year-old registered at least two interceptions and 11 breakups in each of his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Last year, though, he missed 13 games because of a shoulder injury. Nonetheless, Samuel allowed a passer rating under 90 without giving up a touchdown in four outings. Still in his prime, he has room for growth. At 5’10”, 180 pounds, the Florida State product isn’t a fit for every defensive unit, especially teams that prefer cornerbacks who disrupt receiver routes by jamming them at the line of scrimmage. However, Samuel’s ball production will help him land in a starting spot at a decent pay rate.
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Note: I do not think the team would pay Samuel Jr. 14M. Maybe they would offer a one year 7M or so prove it type deal. But, after giving Rodgers a pretty good deal, signing Okudah, and getting Blackmon back, it does not make a lot of sense because all of these dudes signed to get snaps. Where are the snaps going to go? You can say let it be a competition which it will, but Samuel Jr. probably will look at the signings and depth chart and wonder where are his snaps? Same thing with a first or second round corner IMHO. At least with the rookie the salary is controlled.
Vikings ‘30 visit’ tracker: Which NFL draft prospects are Minnesota hosting?
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24
Received: Round 2 Pick 5, Round 3 Pick 4
…
Trade Partner: Arizona Cardinals
Sent: Round 2 Pick 5
Received: Round 2 Pick 15, Round 3 Pick 14
…
Trade Partner: Carolina Panthers
Sent: Round 3 Pick 4, Future Round 3 Pick
Received: Round 2 Pick 25, Round 7 Pick 14
…
Trade Partner: Seattle Seahawks
Sent: Round 3 Pick 14
Received: Round 3 Pick 18, Round 5 Pick 37
…
Trade Partner: Dallas Cowboys
Sent: Future Round 5 Pick
Received: Round 6 Pick 28, Round 7 Pick 23
…
47: R2 P15 G Grey Zabel – North Dakota State 6’5.7” 312
57: R2 P25 S Xavier Watts – Notre Dame 5’11.6” 204
82: R3 P18 DL Shemar Turner – Texas A&M 6’3.1” 290
97: R3 P33 TE Elijah Arroyo – Miami 6’5.1” 250
139: R5 P1 DL/FB J.J. Pegues – Ole Miss 6’2.4” 309
175: R5 P37 RB Brashard Smith – SMU 5’9.7” 194
187: R6 P11 QB Riley Leonard – Notre Dame 6’3.6” 216
204: R6 P28 WR Monaray Baldwin – Baylor 5’9” 172
230: R7 P14 CB Korie Black – Oklahoma State 6’0” 190
239: R7 P23 LB Eugene Asante – Auburn 6’0.04” 223
UDFA
QB Taylor Elgersma – Wilfrid Laurier
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt – Arizona
WR Da’Quan Felton – Virginia Tech
OT Bryce Cabeldue – Kansas
G Tyler Cooper – Minnesota
C Jacob Bayer – Arkansas State
DL Warren Brinson – Georgia
EDGE Ethan Downs – Oklahoma
EDGE Danny Striggow – Minnesota
LB Kain Medrano – UCLA
S Donovan McMillon – Pittsburgh
P Kai Kroeger – South Carolina
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