:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25938270/Screenshot_2025_04_03_at_1.09.15_PM.png?w=1920&resize=1920,1363&ssl=1 "2025 NFL Draft quarterback deep dive: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado")
The Vikings currently have this cap space according to overthecap …
Season : Total Liabilities : Team Salary Cap : Cap Space
2025 : $266,932,565 : $284,053,803 : $17,121,238
2026 : $312,725,322 : $295,500,000 : ($17,225,322)
2027 : $215,702,782 : $311,000,000 : $95,297,218
2028 : $112,342,600 : $0 : ($112,342,600)
… they will need to make moves to get that 2026 cap number where we would all like to see it and that is in the positive category. Fortunately they have a lot of ways to do this or as some say, levers to pull.
Depending on how they feel about Brian O’Neill who does not have any guaranteed money remaining, they could extend him a couple of years. If they wanted to add void years instead then they would most likely have to guarantee all of this year and maybe a small amount next year. They need his permission to add void years.
Any extension for Oliver or Van Ginkel would likely make the 2026 cap number worse.
Restructures of Greenard and Hockenson also could be on the table.
They might hold off on restructuring Jefferson due to his massive cap hits in 2027 of 43.4M and 2028 of 47.4M. Those would go up with a restructure.
It is going to be very interesting and informative to see what the team decides to do and how Brez works his magic.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings Anticipate Benefits from Beefing Up Line of Scrimmage in Free Agency
https://www.vikings.com/news/free-agency-improvements-offensive-defensive-line-2025
Football is often said to start up front.
So did the Vikings initial wave of free agency this year.
Minnesota added defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, as well as offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries.
Vikings Entertainment Network’s Tatum Everett caught up with General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell to talk about the additions to the line of scrimmage.
“That’s a position on the front where some of these great scheme play callers like Kevin want to attack you in base downs, and you maybe don’t have your elite pass rush group on the field, so you need defensive interior players who are able to stop the run but also transition and are athletic enough to get after the passer, maybe limit some of these explosive plays these great guys can get against you,” Adofo-Mensah said. “It’s really an important thing. If you look at all great teams, they’re really great in the front from different places, so we’re excited about what we were able to add.
“You talk about Hargrave and the infectious way he plays football,” Adofo-Mensah added. “I think that’s going to elevate that group, and Jonathan Allen is a pro’s pro. Honestly, he’s been on our radar for a couple of years, and we’re excited to add him.”
O’Connell called Allen and Hargrave “proven disruptors.”
“I think people may be underestimating their impact when you think about what we did on the edges last year with [Jonathan] Greenard, [Andrew] Van Ginkel, drafting Dallas Turner, who is going to have a great second year as a Minnesota Viking,” O’Connell said. “Then Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace, Jr., you’re really starting to talk about a front that is as formidable as anybody in the National Football League.”
Hargrave said the Vikings are “definitely beefing up” the offensive line and defensive line.
“Everywhere [I’ve played], everybody emphasized the trenches,” the former Steeler, Eagle and 49er said. “So you just see them making a real emphasis of just getting deep in the trenches, so that just kind of got me excited about being here. Because, like I said, in Philly, Pittsburgh, San Fran, they all believe in the same thing.”
Allen first entered the NFL in 2017 as the 17th overall pick. After wrapping his eighth NFL season by helping Washington advance to the NFC Championship Game, Allen became a free agent upon his release by the Commanders.
He and the Vikings moved quickly. Powerfully. Confidently.
Similar attributes to what he’s shown throughout his career. Now he wants to deliver on the Vikings commitment to the line of scrimmage.
“Whenever an organization brings you in and pays us the way you have, it’s definitely a lot of – I don’t want to say pressure, but I put a lot of responsibility on myself to prove them right, in a sense,” Hargrave (should be Allen) said. “They don’t give out contracts like this easily. So I think for me, my job’s to go in there from day one and prove my worth to the fans and to the coaches for believing in me. One thing I always say is you’re going to get everything I’ve got — good, bad or indifferent — so I’m looking forward to going out there and helping this team continue to be the dominant, successful defense it’s been.”
The Vikings offense ranked sixth in passing yards per game but 23rd in sacks allowed per attempt with a percentage of 8.94 percent.
Kelly and Fries will be tasked with helping lower that percentage and create opportunities in the run game. They anticipate some great training camp reps in their preparation to face waves of pressure from the interior.
“Jonathan’s a great player, a couple years younger than me at Alabama, but I just remember going against that defensive line when I was in college, and it also made me a better player,” Kelly said of his former Crimson Tide and current teammate. “I’m sure he’d say the same thing. And so to see him again, a familiar face in a new place, is always a great thing. And it’ll be great to go against him every single day in practice. It makes us all better.
“As far as the interior of the offensive and defensive line, the league is always progressing, added Kelly, a 2016 first-round pick (18th overall) of Indianapolis. “When I first came in, it was the true seven-man protection, and it was big tight ends and all that. And in a way, offenses always evolved, and they’ve kind of followed a little bit of college and now it’s more spread out. But at the end of the day, I think if you watch teams who win and win consistently, it’s all about running the ball, having a balanced attack, and then the defensive lines that are the best, they’re able to stop it right? Like there’s nowhere to run inside.
“You get a team in the second-, third-and-long, and now you’re Brian Flores’ defense, and you don’t know where the pressure is coming from, and that’s how you win games, right? So to invest in both sides of that, I think, is a team that understands that there’s the mentality of a team wins up front, whether that’s both sides of the ball, if you can stop the ball on defense, you put teams in a hard position to score points,” Kelly continued. “On offense, you have to run the ball. You have to protect well. It’s not always about the receivers, right? Like, if the quarterback doesn’t have time, who cares, right? In Indy, we always had the saying, ‘As o-line goes, the offense goes.’ I think that was always in the back of our mind when we went to a game, was, ‘No matter what happens, it’s on us.’ And that’s the burden that the offensive line carries, right? We’re sometimes the first people to take the criticism, last people to get the praise, right? That’s what you sign up for. That’s why the offensive line is so tightly knit. So speaking for an offensive line perspective, that’s what makes us who we are, and that’s the mentality we’ll bring this year.”
Fries described Flores’ scheme as “complex” and added it “provides a lot of different obstacles” and “makes you think mentally as much as it does in challenging you physically.”
“Getting to compete against them, you know, all spring and summer will make us battle-tested for the year,” Fries said.
Those reps also will be important in connecting Kelly and Fries with the offensive line, where the goal is to have five players functioning as one unit.
“It’s important to me that be able to build that trust with Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw and Blake [Brandel] and all those guys,” Fries said. “I want to be able for them to be trustful in me, know I’m going to do my job and know I can rely on them. So it’s really about building that trust, the communication, and then it’s just, you’ve got to put your hand in the ground and make a stand at some point. Part of it is just mental and physical, and you have to take a stand and know that you’re not going to lose this battle. You don’t have to overcomplicate it. Just a couple of simple things done really well.”
The Vikings liked what they saw from both players during film evaluation. Once Kelly agreed to terms, he helped recruit “Spud,” the nickname he bestowed on Fries early in Indy.
“We ended up with two foundational guys inside there that are going to help make our team better,” O’Connell said. “We wanted to go into the offseason with a clear purpose and plan of getting bigger and stronger up front and a little more dynamic on both the o-line and d-line, and we were able to do that on both sides of the ball.”
Adofo-Mensah noted that Fries “is a Jersey guy like I am, so we were recruiting him pretty hard, and he had some great options.”
“Ryan was like, ‘This is a great place. Let’s go do this together.’ Being able to add them both is something we’re excited about, not only from a play standpoint but the character they bring to that room.”
Analyst names Minnesota Vikings’ ideal top two picks in 2025 NFL draft
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has identified the “ideal” first two picks for the Vikings (and every other team) in a new article. Here’s who he has Minnesota taking:
Round 1: No. 24 overall: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Round 3: No. 97 overall: Wyatt Milum, OG, West Virginia
“Minnesota brought back Byron Murphy Jr. and signed ex-Eagle Isaiah Rodgers but could still use a corner with size on the outside. The 6-1 1/2, 197-pound Thomas has size to spare and will lock up larger targets when allowed to use his physicality downfield. The Vikings traded their 2025 second- and third-round selections in separate deals last spring, then were awarded a third-round compensatory selection — which they use here to fill a hole at left guard by selecting Milum, who could successfully shift inside from left tackle thanks to his active feet and willingness to finish.”
Note: This is not a real trade pitch. It is just a mock draft that some dude is using to come up with something to write about I guess
Browns-Vikings blockbuster trade pitch has Cleveland leapfrogging Steelers to draft QB of future
Zierlein predicts Sanders to fall past the New Orleans Saints No. 9 overall, creating an Aaron Rodgers-like slide on Day 1 of the draft. In this scenario, he believes the Browns will look to make a move to stop Sanders’ slide and land their quarterback of the future.
If the Browns have their eyes on Shedeur Sanders, they would be wise to trade from the 33rd overall pick into the first round, so they can secure the fifth-year option that would then come with Sanders’ rookie contract. It helps that Minnesota, which currently owns just four selections in this draft, needs more picks.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was one of those individuals speaking with the media Tuesday morning about a variety of topics. When he was asked about one particular free agent addition, his response was very noteworthy.
One of the lower-profile signings the Vikings made this offseason was also their first during the legal tampering period in former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. He signed a two-year contract worth up to $15 million with incentives.
The biggest reason why the Vikings targeted Rodgers? According to O’Connell, it was defensive coordinator Brian Flores who said that he was identified pretty early.
“Isaiah was a guy that ‘Flo’ identified pretty early. I’ve been doing this long enough with Flo, but once he has that tone in his voice about guys, he’s been pretty darn accurate.”
Being a capable tackler is a huge thing for Flores’ defense. The aggressive nature which Flores calls the unit means defenders will be in one-on-one positions and need to make a tackle in space.
Rodgers also fits in other ways. He’s played in a variety of schemes in his career, with last season playing a lot of zone in Vic Fangio’s. They use a variety of concepts with the majority of them being zone. They also do some match concepts and Rodgers does a good job of understanding when to pass off receivers.
The Vikings have shown a trend of bringing in players who are injured. It’s a strategy where the Vikings feel they can get an advantage on the open market. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been known to try and find advantages on the market and he’s identified injured players as one of those.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about that and gave a long answer that dives into everything with player health. Strap in, it’s a good one.
“Yeah, I think, you know, every more and more every year, it’s more of like Tyler and those they got them like, we’re gonna be just fine. They’ve just proven time and time again, world-class down there with what they do. Same with, you know, we’re really excited about Joe down in the strength and conditioning space with, you know, being able to keep Marquis and Dan, you know, in a world where the players now have the resources that with Ben, in the in the nutrition world, all of that plays into it. All of that is an idea of, how do we maximize our roster? But also combined with what we want to do, schematically and as football coaches, with what we can offer? We’ve just seen Aaron Jones and some of these guys that have either come off injury, Andrew Van Ginkel from the foot injury a year ago, and their second team all-pro, Aaron Jones playing 17 games. It just feels to me like we can use the resources but also the collaborative approach that I have with all of them to build a year-round schedule that maximizes every one of our 17 ops.
“Also, their expertise, not only Tyler, but our doctors, of what is the injury, where’s the timeline on that injury? And then what are, what would we envision our process or return to play, kind of analysis, and then what actually happened? Because a lot of times you look at Jonathan Allen, I mean, torn pec, and then ends up coming back and playing and not just playing, he played pretty darn well when he did come back. So you have to take all that into account each situation, although injuries as a whole are very easy to paint with a broad brush if they sign a bunch of your guys. Well, it’s not that simple, and it’s more it’s more something where you have to treat each one of its own because each player is going to come back, either on their own timeline, or all these guys are ready to go for the offseason program. That’s a lot of your players every year. I mean, we have many guys that have different things come up during the season. They don’t miss a single snap, but then they need to get things handled as the offseason extended.”
Kevin O’Connell confirms suspicion why the Vikings traded for Jordan Mason after signing Aaron Jones
Vikings traded for Jordan Mason to maximize Aaron Jones
The trade for Mason seemingly came out of nowhere. They gave up picks 160 and 2026 sixth round pick that they got from trading Ed Ingram to the Houston Texans for Mason, and pick 187. It was a relatively free trade when you consider how small of a price it was.
The reason for the Mason trade was twofold: it was very inexpensive and also meant to maximize Aaron Jones.
“Yeah, I think the big thing we learned about Aaron Jones last year is he can be an every-down back. He was a featured part of our offense. But what we wanted to make sure that we were doing is we were using him in a way that allowed him to be his most impactful self, which is early down run/pass game. He’s got third-down value. I don’t think people give him enough credit for his pass protection, either when we’re dropping back or third downs, but when he has historically had that 1-A, 1-B backfield structure, he could be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball. So it was always about bringing Aaron back, huge leadership role on our team.”
The way O’Connell framed the discussion was very interesting. Jones is at his best when his workload is smaller. Having that second back to share the load with him has been huge when it comes to keeping him fresh and healthy.
They didn’t just bring in a player to share the load with Jones, O’Connell talking about Mason shows how intentional they were with specifically acquiring Mason.
“Jordan Mason was a guy we played against last year. Really felt him in a zone run scheme with kind of gap compliments like the Niners do. We really felt what we were looking for was right before our very eyes: a heavy runner, slash runner, tough to tackle, gets in space and has burst and explosion to finish runs. And also a guy that probably doesn’t get enough credit in his pass protection and just every down versatility. So we really aren’t pigeonholed into any one particular scheme, or, you know, in the run or pass phase.
“But I do think Jordan’s going to bring something to the table in those short yardage situations, those goal line situations, goal to go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team, and that starts with me to make sure we improve in that area, because we certainly have improved personnel wise. I think Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah) would have a better feel for the totality of it, but I do remember it was not a quick process. It was something that we were trying to figure out what made most sense for both sides.”
Vikings could be in line for not 1, not 2, but 3 comp picks in 2026
The way the Vikings could receive a third has to do with Trent Sherfield, the depth wide receiver who spent last season in Minnesota and then signed with the Broncos this offseason. His $3 million average salary is right on the cusp of qualifying for a seventh-round comp pick. And as pointed out by The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, he has pretty reachable incentives in his contract — $500K for playing 40 percent of the Broncos’ snaps, another $500K for 30 catches — that could bring him up to $4 million in 2025 if he earns a decent-sized role in Denver’s offense.
A couple of stories that show why KOC is a really good man, coach, and leader.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell: ‘Seattle’s Going To Be Really Happy With Sam [Darnold]’
Coming off of the best season of his career, Darnold seems set to have another good season with offensive weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell pointed to Darnold’s athletic ability, along with his intelligence and leadership as some of Darnold’s strengths.
“I think he’s a guy that’s smart, has command of the system, athletically gifted, but most importantly can make every throw, can touch every blade of grass you need him to, both in and out of the pocket as the Seahawks kind of learned a year ago, playing us.”
And while it may be a sore spot for Seahawks fans, O’Connell pointed to the Seahawks 27-24 loss to the Vikings, where Darnold led a game winning touchdown drive, as a key example of what exactly Darnold is capable of.
“Sam basically willed the team to win that game and he’s got that in him,” O’Connell said.
During Darnold’s introductory press conference, head coach Mike Macdonald was asked about that game and said, “It was a heck of a battle. It was a knock-down drag out fight to the end, and to Sam’s credit, they kept battling and found a way to win in the end. A lot of respect for, obviously, what he did in the game.”
Darnold threw for 4,319 yards last season and 35 touchdowns with the Vikings.
At the NFL Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Macdonald said the team liked Darnold because, “They love the leader, the teammate. The film speaks for itself with his accuracy, he’s able to push the ball down the field. Particularly with us, we’re going to move the pocket a good bit now, Sam’s a great thrower on the run, he’s able to make a lot of plays that way. Then on critical down in the red zone and third downs, especially last year, he had such a great year, and we’re going to count on him to come through in those situations.”
O’Connell noted Darnold’s growth throughout his journey as quarterback, which now spans five NFL teams in what will be eight seasons this year.
“I think what I’m most proud of with where Sam is at in his quarterback journey now is I think he is as close to where he belongs, as far as people view him in this league. At the same time, I think he’s got enough experience now that he can really play the position that “above the neck” mentality and make the other 10 guys in the huddle better. There’s a lot of really good things Sam’s going to bring to the Seahawks.”
“I think it’s not easy to come to a team with some established leaders, leadership like we have in Minnesota and be almost unanimously voted a captain, which he was. So I think Sam is going to walk in the door authentic, he’s going to be himself and I think players gravitate towards that. Seattle’s going to be really happy with Sam.”
Minnesota Vikings coach salutes departing lineman from Alabama
“I don’t know if it’s been talked about enough,” O’Connell said while attending the league’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. “One of the best left tackles in football, Christian Darrisaw, goes down, and Cam Robinson comes into our building on a Wednesday and we win the next nine football games we played against some great pass rushers. I just don’t know how many times in the league that that’s happened. But I think that’s a credit to Cam and what he’s been able to do. He’s played a lot of football. And the one thing about the tackle spot is, you know, there’s not very many snaps you’re not blocking that defensive end.”
“He’s obviously stepping in for a pretty legitimate player in Laremy that’s had a ton of success,” O’Connell said. “So I just think Cam’s going to do well. And knowing a little bit about (Texans coach) DeMeco (Ryans) and (general manager) Nick (Caserio) and kind of what they’ve built there from a play-style standpoint, I think they’re going to like a lot that Cam has to offer.”
Vikings ‘30 visit’ tracker: Which NFL draft prospects are Minnesota hosting?
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Seahawks
Sent: Pick 24
Received: Pick 50, Pick 52, Pick 234
…
Trade Partner: Chargers
Sent: Pick 52
Received: Pick 56, Pick 158
…
Trade Partner: Jaguars
Sent: Pick 97, 2025 4th
Received: Pick 88, Pick 194
…
Round 2, Pick 50 Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State 5’11.5” 221
Round 2, Pick 55 Mason Taylor TE LSU 6’5.1” 251
Round 3, Pick 88 Shemar Turner DT Texas A&M 6’3.1” 290
Round 5, Pick 139 Zah Frazier CB UTSA 6’2.7” 186
Round 5, Pick 158 Luke Kandra C/G Cincinnati 6’4.6” 319
Round 6, Pick 187 Fadil Diggs EDGE Syracuse 6’4.3” 257
Round 6, Pick 194 Malachi Moore S Alabama 5’11.2” 196
Round 7, Pick 234 Cody Lindenberg LB Minnesota 6’2.3” 236
Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:
- No discussion of politics or religion
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- 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
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:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25938270/Screenshot_2025_04_03_at_1.09.15_PM.png?w=500&resize=500,500&ssl=1 "2025 NFL Draft quarterback deep dive: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado")
