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Highlights From Day 2 of 2025 Minicamp Practice
https://www.vikings.com/video/highlights-from-day-2-of-2025-minicamp-practice
The next organized team activities.
OTAs: June 16-18
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
3 Observations: Byron Murphy, Jr., Still Picky; J.J. McCarthy Finds Jordan Addison for Deep TD
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw participated in individual drills with the offensive line group. It was an encouraging sight in the fifth-year pro’s return from a knee injury in Week 8 of 2024. Darrisaw and other linemen worked through footwork drills. He also joined in combo block drills. Veteran addition Justin Skule again filled in at left tackle with the first team during the team period.
1. Murphy a ball magnet
Byron Murphy, Jr., picked up where he left off in 2024. Murphy broke cleanly on a pass to the outside, caught it in stride and glided for what would have been a pick six.
The play occurred on the third throw of the first 7-on-7 period.
Murphy recorded a career-best six interceptions last season, boosting his career total to 14 and making his first Pro Bowl, where he claimed Defensive MVP honors after returning an interception 8 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The offseason re-signing took snaps, as did newcomers Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, at corner with the first grouping. He wasn’t done tracking footballs for the day, either.
2. Bounce back includes long TD
McCarthy showed no ill-effects from the nice play by Murphy. He drilled a throw to Jalen Nailor on the following snap to finish his first four throws in 7-on-7, which also included a pair of completions to T.J. Hockenson.
McCarthy’s day included completions to Justin Jefferson, several more to Hockenson and multiple connections with Jordan Addison.
He fit the ball into tight windows and cashed in when Addison got behind the defense for a trip to pay dirt.
3. Runners as receivers
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has emphasized how the offseason practices feel more like a passing camp than anything.
Certainly more so than training camp, particularly once pads start popping a few days after the annual tradition begins.
The Vikings did work on a few runs with Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jordan Mason during the team period.
That session also included some play-action concepts and throws to each back.
Vikings minicamp recap, Day 1: Start the year two Dallas Turner hype train
One moment stood out above the rest at Day 1 of Vikings mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
It was a seven-on-seven period, which are the only reps that happen at close to full speed during this portion of the offseason. Backup QB Sam Howell dropped back, surveyed the field, and looked to fire a ball up the seam to rookie tight end Ben Yurosek. The throw was accurate. But there to break it up, running stride for stride with Yurosek roughly 20 yards downfield, was second-year outside linebacker Dallas Turner. His defensive teammates roared in approval.
It was an incredible play from the 22-year-old Turner, who is listed at 247 pounds but looks to have maybe added a bit more muscle to his frame this offseason. Known for his pass-rushing prowess in three seasons at Alabama, Turner spent his rookie season learning to play a versatile, Andrew Van Ginkel-esque role in Brian Flores’ defense, which includes playing off the ball and dropping into coverage. Even at his size, he has the athleticism and fluidity to do it, which he showed on his first career interception last December in Seattle.
“I’m loving what I’m seeing,” veteran safety Josh Metellus said after practice. “I think he’s done the right things. He had two vets in front of him that are All-Pro type players. He’s seen it. He’s very receptive on how he’s supposed to be and the stuff he’s supposed to get done leading up to OTAs, the stuff he’s doing now. He had a great play today in coverage. Just to see the growth in the player from year one to year two, that’s what you want. With training camp coming around, all he’s gonna do is keep growing.”
“Dallas, we talked a lot about him last year and his growth throughout the season,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “He’s just kind of built on that. … He’s much more comfortable, I would say, in this environment. He knows what the expectations are. He’s got a high standard for himself, and that’s a great place to start. But he also knows he’s gotta work a significant amount to get to that standard. And he’s come in and really gotten into a routine that’s, I think, gonna allow him to put his best foot forward and put himself in position to have the type of season that he wants to have. All positive with him. Definitely a lot of growth from his standpoint, and excited to see where this goes.”
It wasn’t really a knock against Turner that he was behind a pair of Pro Bowlers in Greenard and Van Ginkel, or even Jones, who earned a two-year, $15 million deal from the Panthers this spring. It also has to be noted that Flores’ defense is not an easy one for a rookie to learn. This year, the comfort level is much higher. And you can expect Turner to be a lot more involved, including playing alongside both Greenard and AVG in many situations.
“In that room, I really see it as three starters,” Flores said. “So you’re with two guys who receive all the accolades and obviously are good players who have been in the league, who have made a lot of plays. The best thing you can do — and I think Dallas did this — is just soak up that information. Dallas is coming into his own as far as how he’s gonna contribute, and it can be a variety of ways. As a rusher, as a dropper, on the ball, off the ball, in different packages. We’re excited about his versatility but also his growth.”
Colin Cowherd has become one of the biggest and most popular radio show hosts in the country. Currently with Fox Sports, Cowherd has been with ESPN in his past and doing this for the better part of 20 years. When he says something, it gets mainstream attention quickly.
That element is what makes this so frustrating. At mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday, McCarthy threw an interception for the third consecutive practice open to the media.
The interception was the start of the conversation about McCarthy, which diverted to talking about traits in a franchise quarterback. Cowherd doesn’t think that McCarthy has an elite trait.
“There’s so much mystery here. Why does Minnesota keep flirting with other quarterbacks? And there’s too many conflicting reports on JJ McCarthy, so I just find the whole thing. There’s a lot of stuff I just don’t know. I feel sometimes I’m getting, I’m getting a little bit of a spin job here.
“I think J-Mac (Jason McIntyre), you and I have had this discussion to be a great franchise quarterback. And I, again, I think Jalen Hurts is probably 10th best in the league. But I do think he’s a top 10 franchise quarterback. If you’re top 10 in a league of 32 teams, you’re good. There’s got to be a trait. There has to be a wow trait.
“So let’s just go through them. Mahomes? Arm talent. Allen? Sheer force of size. Lamar? Athletic ability. Stafford has one of the great arms in the last 30 years in the league. He’s got a magic arm. You start stacking up these quarterbacks. There’s, there’s a trait like Elway’s arm, Marino’s arm, Aaron Rodgers’ arm and release. I go back and look at the people I trust. You know, there’s one, one or two things I never buy. I never buy this: When you say this about a quarterback, that guy is a winner. Everybody under Jim Harbaugh and Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban’s a winner. I don’t want to hear that. If you go back and look his arm is modest. His escape ability is modest. His release wasn’t super quick. There is no great trait.”
When you watch McCarthy throw the football, it’s evident that he’s got a whip of an arm. He threw the ball 61 miles per hour at the NFL Scouting Combine. Josh Metellus said after Tuesday’s practice that he’s got great zip.
“He has one of the best zips I’ve seen since being in the league, and I’ve been around some guys who could sling it. Shoutout to Sean Mannion, he was slinging it. He had a great arm. But yeah, (J.J.) throws the ball as good as I’ve been around. He can put the ball where he wants to.”
Here’s where things get really interesting. The only points that Cowherd makes about McCarthy are based on other’s scouting reports and the sole preseason game that he played in last year, where he was admittedly doninant.
“You know, my two questions are, I’ve seen one preseason game. He was good in it, by the way, 11-17, 190 yards, couple of touchdowns, passer rating like 100. He was very good. I saw the highlights. Didn’t watch the game live. Saw the highlights. Was very good. Then you get to surgeries. So we don’t know what he is, but it is. There’s so much mystery here. Why does Minnesota keep flirting with other quarterbacks? And there’s too many conflicting reports on JJ McCarthy, so I just find the whole thing. There’s a lot of stuff I just don’t know.”
NFL analyst sends strong message about Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy with a Super Bowl comparison
Not only are analysts undervaluing the potential of McCarthy, the sportsbooks are as well, with a win total of just 8.5. The roster is stacked right now, and that leads to Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna ranking the Vikings starting quarterback at 12th in the league, believing he will have a tremendous season.
You could put just about anyone in the Vikings’ QB slot, and I’d get excited about him. But McCarthy was a top-10 pick in what’s shaping up to be an incredible QB class. This year, McCarthy might look like 2023 Brock Purdy — an athletic point guard with an idyllic supporting cast.
The Vikings beat writers hadn’t gotten to speak with defensive coordinator Brian Flores all offseason, and they took the opportunity to ask about the cornerback position, specifically presumed starter Isaiah Rodgers and it didn’t take him long to gush about his ability.
“He’s been on my radar since he was at UMass, a fast playmaker. I think he’s one of these kind of late-round guys who found his way in the league in the kicking game. And got in some games and made some plays. I’ve always thought he was a good player and was ascending. And the opportunity presented itself that we could maybe acquire him. I was all in, and I’m happy we got him. He’s been a great addition. He’s got a great kind of football IQ and acumen. That’s something that we stressed, really, throughout the group, at all levels, secondary, second level, and obviously D line. And I think it’s just a great addition we talk about, you know, bringing guys in who as far as building a synergy within the group. How does this guy mesh with Murph (Byron Murphy Jr.) and Harry (Harrison Smith) and Telly (Josh Metellus), and he’s just come in and done a great job from that standpoint.”
Report: Vikings haven’t contacted Jaire Alexander following Packers release
Hours into former Packers corner Jaire Alexander’s first taste of free agency, he still reportedly hasn’t heard from the Vikings. According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, the Vikings “are not” one of the teams that has reached out to Alexander’s representatives in the hours following his release from Green Bay.
“I can’t necessarily quantify how many teams have touched base, it might be two, it might be four, plural, more than one, but the Vikings are not one of the teams in these first handful of hours that Jaire has hit the market,” Wolfson reported on Tuesday’s Mackey & Judd Show.
While Minnesota’s front office may have not registered immediate interest following his release, Wolfson believes the Vikings did express some interest in the past.
“I was told last night that at some point going back months, I don’t know the exact date, the Vikings registered some level of interest,” Wolfson said. “But this may have been before Byron Murphy Jr. was re-signed. You make the move on Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, having a better sense of Mekhi Blackmon (post injury), so I can’t necessarily tell you the exact date that the Vikings registered interest.”
Note: I suppose we need to take this with a grain of salt since it is Doogie
Brian Flores has new weapons on Vikings defense, but don’t forget the old ones
The Vikings’ defensive coordinator spoke to the press from minicamp on Tuesday, and unsurprisingly, the first question was about the two new faces on the defensive line: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Flores offered praise, but quickly pivoted to the developing players on the roster.
“Those are two great additions, excited to have both guys,” Flores said. “But also excited about guys like Jalen Redmond who came on, really, the entire year. He just got better and better day after day and week after week. Levi [Drake Rodriguez] who has, I would say, grown significantly from year one to year two. Bigger, stronger, faster, more confident.”
“We got a lot of guys who have played, there’s a good amount of depth in that room,” Flores added. “We’re excited about all the pieces, and as coaches, it’s about who fits where and how do we get the most out of each individual player and the collective unit.”
Flores also gave a shoutout to Theo Jackson, a safety who has been buried on the depth chart but earned a new contract and will see his role increased this season after Cam Bynum’s departure in free agency.
“Theo’s been great, and that’s something we’ve been saying for two years,” Flores said. “I think he’s steadily built his communication skills, his techniques, his fundamentals, his disguises, his playmaking ability. He’s one of the hardest workers we have.”
Of all the rookies that were on the field, one player has been mentioned multiple times: undrafted free agent cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn.
Not going to make too much out of OTAs/minicamp, but one guy who keeps flashing to me is Utah undrafted corner Zemaiah Vaughn. Just always around the ball, never seems out of place.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) June 11, 2025
Vikings predicted to sign former Raiders starting cornerback with electric NFL record
What the Vikings could use is another veteran as an insurance policy and possible starter. With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicts the Vikings will sign former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones.
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t re-signed Shaquill Griffin or Stephon Gilmore. They added Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but over the last two years, Jones has started more games than both of those players combined.
Jones could be a veteran upgrade and spot starter in case cornerback Mekhi Blackmon needs extended time to bounce back from a torn ACL.
Simply put by offensive coordinator Wes Phillips on Wednesday? He’s the best blocking tight end with pass game value.
“Yeah, I think, no disrespect to anyone else, but I think Josh Oliver’s is the best blocking Y with pass game value in the NFL, you know? And again, I’ve liked a lot of over the years, but what he brings to us from a physicality standpoint in the run game, from being able to block defensive ends some good, really good players as a single blocker. A lot of times, those guys say, ‘You never let a tight end block. You never let a tight end, pass protect on you.’ Josh is kind of a different, different human when it comes to that. We try to get him to walk off the bus first anytime we’re traveling. But no, he’s a great worker. He’s extremely tough. He had a lot going on last year with hands and wrists and, you know, never said a word about it. Just went out and did his job every single day, and just got a lot of respect for him, love for him.”
The difference between Oliver and a tackle is his ability as a receiver. He’s not an elite player as a receiver, despite having been drafted as one back in the 2019 NFL Draft. Having the ability to do both is why you give Oliver that kind of money, as 12 personnel becomes even more lethal.
“I mean, that’s what you love. Oliver’s a big Y who has pass game value, and then TJ is the F that’s a great receiver, but can run block. So they have to make a decision, you know, they want to play smaller people, try to defend against the pass. And you got all kinds of athletes on the field that can make them pay there and with the run game, you can always get a match-up somewhere where the nickel has got to be. He’s a linebacker now, he’s got to be a part of that run fit in one way or the other. And you can try to scheme up where you want him to be, but it just gives you some advantages. Base defense. All right, maybe we want to throw the football, but we still have the opportunity to run it, just kind of opens up everything for you when you have two guys like that who both have that skill set.”
Vikings promote Ryan Grigson, Demitrius Washington to assistant G.M.
The Vikings signed General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to a contract extension this offseason and they announced that he’ll be working with a pair of assistant General Managers on Wednesday.
The team has promoted Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington to that position. Grigson, who served as the G.M. of the Colts earlier in his career, was the senior vice president of player personnel. Washington’s previous title was vice president of football operations.
“We’re proud of the continued growth and evolution of our entire football staff as we enter 2025,” Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “Our success is built on the dedication of our talented individuals who bring unique strengths to the table as we push forward to our ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Minnesota.”
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