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Minnesota Vikings News and Links: How Would You Rank The Vikings Offseason?
They have done quite a bit to improve the roster!
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Do you think the Vikings have done enough or would you like to see more moves to strengthen the roster?
What do others think?
Ranking the top 10 NFL offseasons: Bears and Patriots among teams who set themselves up for success
3. Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl odds: +2100 ($10 to win $210)
The offensive line had been an issue against the Rams in the playoffs. Perhaps the Vikings over-corrected with massive contracts for center Ryan Kelly and offensive guard Will Fries — the two played a combined 15 games in 2024 — as well as first-round selection Donovan Jackson. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy should feel protected behind the new-look unit, which also welcomes back injured left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Potentially the biggest boon of the entire operation was the retention of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, whose unit exceeded expectations a year ago. He is now graced with proven veterans Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, which allows last year’s starters to serve in more suitable roles.
Your AI question of the day …
did the minnesota vikings improve in the 2025 offseason?
Based on available information and expert analysis, the Minnesota Vikings appear to have significantly improved during the 2025 offseason.
Key areas of improvement:
Offensive Line: The Vikings prioritized strengthening their offensive line, adding veteran free agents Ryan Kelly (center) and Will Fries (guard). This was a critical need, especially after the team’s struggles in pass protection during the 2024 playoffs. First-round draft pick Donovan Jackson, an offensive lineman, is also expected to contribute to the offensive line’s improvement.
Defensive Line: Minnesota also bolstered its defensive interior by signing free agents Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. These additions aim to increase pressure on opposing quarterbacks, an area where the Vikings struggled in the previous season.
Secondary: While retaining Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. was a key move, the Vikings also added depth to their secondary with free-agent signings like Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah.
Running Back Depth: The Vikings re-signed lead back Aaron Jones and acquired Jordan Mason to create a more effective running back committee, aiming to reduce Jones’s workload and keep him healthy.
Overall sentiment:
Several analysts, including those from ESPN and Vikings Wire, have rated the Vikings’ offseason as one of the best in the league.
The overall sentiment is that the Vikings have made significant improvements in key areas, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines.
The success of the 2025 season may largely hinge on the performance of J.J. McCarthy, who is expected to take over as the starting quarterback.
Areas of potential concern:
Health: Several key free agent additions, including Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Will Fries, are coming off injuries sustained in the previous season. Their ability to stay healthy will be crucial to the team’s success.
J.J. McCarthy’s development: As a first-year starter, McCarthy’s performance will be a major factor in the Vikings’ season.
Cornerback depth: While Byron Murphy Jr. returns, the Vikings are relying on players returning from injury and younger players to step up.
In summary, the Minnesota Vikings made calculated moves to improve their roster during the 2025 offseason. The focus on strengthening the offensive and defensive lines, coupled with key additions in the secondary and a strategic approach to the running game, suggests a deliberate effort to address areas of weakness and become a more competitive team.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
32 Teams in 32 Days: Vikings Present and Future in the Hands of J.J. McCarthy
Minnesota is trying to establish McCarthy as its current and future franchise quarterback If he becomes that, he will become the first homegrown quarterback earning star status since the days of Fran Tarkenton in the 1960s and ’70s.
Sources are saying: McCarthy’s growing pains
“It’s a talented team. They’ve got a rookie quarterback, but they also have a lot of vets on that team that I’m sure will help him out a lot. To me, he’s a rookie quarterback. He’s going to go through his ups and downs.” —an NFC defensive back
Breakout player candidate/X-factor: McCarthy
McCarthy is the easy choice and the only choice. If McCarthy comes in and plays well, Minnesota has more than enough talent to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976.
In his final season at Michigan, McCarthy led the Wolverines to a national championship. He threw for 2,991 yards on 9.0 yards per attempt, with 22 touchdown passes and four interceptions while leading the nation with a 72.3 completion rate.
If McCarthy can manage Minnesota’s offense, the Vikings are incredibly dangerous.
Best bet: Miss the playoffs (-128) via FanDuel
A lot of people felt the Vikings overperformed in 2024, and now they have to place their trust in a quarterback who has yet to take a snap in the NFL. Yes, the Vikings are well-coached, but they have a big mountain to climb if they want to return to the playoffs in ’25. They play in the most competitive division in the NFL, as well as an NFC stacked with potential wild-card teams. Minnesota takes a step back this year as McCarthy adjusts to the NFL, resulting in them failing to return to the postseason. —Iain MacMillan
Winning the NFC North: Reasons the Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings can claim the division crown
Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O’Connell is a master at maximizing talent. And he’d better be, considering the bet they’re making under center. Everything except quarterback spells a surefire playoff run in Minnesota: the all-star weaponry headlined by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the rebuilt front anchored by new big men Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, the exotic Brian Flores-led defense with versatile hitters at every level.
It’s just that J.J. McCarthy, the cool but unproven successor of departed journeyman Sam Darnold, is set to take his first NFL snaps against one of 2025’s toughest schedules. Fortunately, O’Connell is a winning motivator, squeezing 35 touchdowns out of Darnold and an MVP-caliber stretch from Kirk Cousins before that. If he can just keep McCarthy’s head high, helping the youngster control the rock and pace of play, this could be a sneaky contender.
Projected O/U win total: 8.5
Our prediction: 9-8 record, third-place finish
Dallas Turner will have 8+ sacks and 2+ interceptions
Jordan Addison will lead the Vikings in touchdowns
Isaiah Rodgers will outperform his contract
Vikings will win the NFC North
We have started doing NFC North roundtables with the other beat writers here at A to Z Sports, and I picked the Vikings to win.
When you look at all four teams in the division, they all have a large amount of talent on them. Taking a look at all four teams in the division, there isn’t a team with a better balance of weapons and trenches, both groups which could easily be argued that the Vikings are best in the division.
When you look at the weapons, the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison is far and away the best, and T.J. Hockenson is the best and most well-rounded tight end in the division. The offensive line woes that have haunted the Vikings for years are finally going to be behind them after completely fixing the unit this offseason with an entirely new interior, and the defensive front is explosive and can generate pressure with the best of them.
The only major question for the Vikings is at quarterback, since J.J. McCarthy is set to play his first regular season snaps. Luckily for him, the roster is relatively QB-proof, so average quarterback play can elevate the Vikings to another level. Pair that with a favorable end of season schedule, with just one game in a cold weather environment after Thanksgiving against the New York Giants in week 16.
The other teams in the division have significantly more questions, including the Detroit Lions. They lost both coordinators and they lost their most valuable player in Frank Ragnow. It’s certainly possible with their infrastructure that they will continue this sucess, but proof of concept is needed before I think they can repeat for a third-consecutive year, especially with Ben Johnson receiving nearly all the credit for the success of the offense.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done a masterful job in taking the defense and elevating it to another level. Despite all the work that has gone into the unit, there are still some questions that remain.
Edge rusher: How does Dallas Turner get utilized?
Turner is going to be the number one topic of conversation among fans and analysts throughout the summer when it comes to the Vikings defense. After general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made two separate trades up in the process of selecting him in the NFL Draft,
Last year, Turner played 310 snaps and 55 of them had him drop back into coverage. With both Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard ahead of him, will they choose to play Turner in more of an off-ball role? Will they use a lot of three edge rusher packages this year? They could do a little bit of everything with him, and the process in which they use him will be a big factor.
The Minnesota Vikings have a great roster, and that will create some difficult decisions
ILB Brian Asamoah II
The Vikings have been more than willing to move on from a draft pick if they don’t take the proper steps forward in development. They cut three of the four third-round picks from the 2021 NFL Draft just a year later because they weren’t playing well.
Asamoah is in danger of being released before the end of his rookie contract. After a promising rookie year, Asamoah struggled to find a spot within Brian Flores’ defense. He’s become a good player on special teams for the Vikings, but the selection of Kobe King could end up costing him a roster spot.
Minnesota Vikings have unique placement in Madden 26 beta team ratings
EA Sports released their beta Madden ratings this weekend. The Vikings received an 83 overall rating, tied for 15th with the Atlanta Falcons. It’s probably a fair rating as we await J.J. McCarthy’s first season as the starting quarterback, although the Vikings should have a strong supporting cast on both sides of the ball.
However, the quarterback is the most important position, so it is what it is.
NFL Draft Stuff
10 cornerbacks to know in the 2026 NFL Draft
https://www.pff.com/news/10-cornerbacks-to-know-in-the-2026-nfl-draft
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
McCoy was a lockdown player for the Volunteers after transferring in from Oregon State. His 89.6 coverage grade in 2024 is second among returning Power Four corners, while his four interceptions were tied for second in that same group.
McCoy has great ball skills with phenomenal movement ability, scoring a near-perfect 99.9 in PFF’s Game Athleticism Score metric. He unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in January during offseason workouts, leaving his status for the 2025 season in jeopardy.
…
A.J. Harris, Penn State
After playing sparingly at Georgia as a true freshman, Harris transferred to Penn State and showed why he was a top-40 recruit coming out of high school. He finished his sophomore year as one of the 10 most valuable cornerbacks in the nation according to PFF’s wins above average metric while only allowing 0.76 yards per coverage snap.
Harris can succeed on the outside or in the slot and has excellent instincts in zone coverage while being overall very technically refined.
…
Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
Kilgore projects as one of the best slot corners in the draft, playing in that role for the Gamecocks this past season. He has an excellent combination of size (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) and speed for the position, hitting over 23 miles per hour according to our player-tracking data in 2024.
Kilgore’s five interceptions this past season were tied for the second-most among Power Four corners while also earning a strong 74.6 run-defense grade.
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Tacario Davis, Washington
Davis was a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft last summer thanks to his elite length (6-foot-4) and fantastic sophomore season (85.9 coverage grade in 2023). That all came crashing down to earth this past season as he posted just a 61.7 coverage grade, looking far less comfortable in man coverage than he did the year prior.
Still, there’s a chance he returns to his sophomore form after transferring to Washington from Arizona, where he’ll be reunited with head coach Jedd Fisch
…
2026 NFL Draft: 10 wild cards who could rise up boards
WR Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
You won’t find a freakier athlete in college football than Harbor. In fact, he’s been the top player on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” in both of his collegiate seasons, the only player who’s accomplished that feat. That’s because he has world-class size and speed for a receiver. He was a second-team All-American sprinter for South Carolina’s track team at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. He ran a 10.1-second 100-meter dash and a 20.2-second 200-meter dash and declined an invite to the U.S. Olympic trials to focus on football.
Harbor is still relatively raw as a receiver, but he did lead the Gamecocks with 376 yards this past season. If he can show some more nuance as a route-runner as a junior, he has the type of freakish tools that rarely escape the first round.
…
DI Zane Durant, Penn State
Durant lived in opposing backfields last year, both as a pass-rusher and as a run defender. He led all FBS interior defenders with 14 tackles for loss/no-gain in 2024, while his 28 pressures were a top-25 mark in the nation.
Durant packs a punch despite being undersized (6-foot-1, 288 pounds) and has excellent quickness to shoot gaps.
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