It seems like there is at least half the people that visit here who want to see KAM and KOC fired based on my rudimentary perusal of the comments in the 12/02 News and Links post. I said in that post that I did not think it is going to happen. I still feel that way but am OK if others want change. I will debate it though.
The latest “nugget” comes from KOC’s presser in which he basically said he just want JJ to focus on playing instead of fundamentals. If you have been watching any former players talk about JJ’s play this year you would have heard them say that fixing fundamentals is very hard to during the season. Some folks are asking why didn’t je do that to start the season?
Aaron Jones was talking about KOC trying to simplify the offense here.
He said “you don’t want it to vanilla” and that they kind of “dumbed it down” (he did not really want to use those words).
Some folks will ask why wasn’t this done before. Who knows really?
I think that KOC had too much confidence in JJ heading into the season is what it comes down to. I mean, the reports from training camp practices and the two practices against the Patriots were stellar. Why wouldn’t he beleve JJ is ready to run the offense?
Some ask why didn’t JJ play more in the preseason. KOC explained it in the preseason. He said he wanted him to play with the starters and if the other starters were going to be out then it he did not want JJ out there. Reasonable IMO.
I do not know what is going on in KOC’s head but I assume he thought JJ was ready for a lot more than he has shown. Is there a disconnect from what JJ shows on the practice field to what he shows in the games? He has had some really good moments where he threw some nice nice passes and led some come backs. How is JJ going to harness that kind of play so that it can be on display more often? That is the key.
It does suck to be out of the playoffs but if JJ turns the corner and becomes more consistent then the future is very bright.
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that JJ will start to be more consistent and ease a lot of fears!
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
McCarthy has been so bad that The Athletic’s Alec Lewis believes that it’s pretty much a certainty that the Michigan product will be competing for his job with a veteran quarterback in 2026.
“At this point, though, it’s doubtful that even the most optimistic outcome of the five-game sample will sway the Vikings from shopping in that all-too-familiar aisle,” he wrote. “With O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah entering their fifth season without a playoff win, and with superstar receiver Justin Jefferson’s frustrations increasing, the Vikings are going to need insurance at quarterback — someone to compete with McCarthy, at the bare minimum.”
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Lewis adds that one NFC scout told him that 2026 won’t be “a good year to be needing a quarterback,” so that’s not great for the Vikings.
“Donovan is not quite there yet from a standpoint of participating in practice, but he’s rapidly recovering and doing everything in his power to be on the field. It’s been awesome to see, and we’ll see how that works towards the end of the week. He’s proven, coming off the wrist surgery earlier this year, he can go out there and play at a pretty high level if he can get to that place where he’s stable and has the power and change of direction. Like I said Monday, the plan for Christian is to have his normal work week and flow and play in the football game.”
Kevin O’Connell
Who is Joaquin Davis?
Listed at 6’4” and 195 pounds, Davis is a rookie out of North Carolina Central with some intriguing tools. He signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent and reportedly generated some buzz during training camp before being cut. Davis apparently ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and recorded a 42-inch vertical leap at the HBCU pro day, which are remarkable numbers. He caught 92 passes for 1,211 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past three seasons at NC Central.
Davis will look to show the Vikings enough in practice to earn a futures deal after the season and make the 90-man offseason roster.
“It’s an obvious question to ask today after a game like that, and today I’m sure that is the way that he feels. Is he going to feel that way this offseason when they go out and add to that quarterback room?” Schefter said.
“They’re going to speak to him, I’m sure, at some point in time, and get some feedback and input as to the player that he would want. It’s hard to imagine that they would trade Justin Jefferson, but then again, a year ago, I would’ve said it’s hard to imagine the Dallas Cowboys would trade Micah Parsons, and they did.”
How realistic is a Jefferson trade? Schefter doesn’t think the odds are high.
“I still don’t think they’re trading Justin Jefferson. I think he’s clearly miffed and disappointed and bewildered by the way this entire season — and offseason losing Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones — has gone. But I don’t think it’s going to change much, and I don’t think they’re going to be moving off Justin Jefferson this offseason,” Schefter reasoned.
The San Francisco 49ers will undoubtedly explore every possible avenue to replace wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who appears to be on his way out of San Francisco.
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With the potential for a lengthy QB search ahead, it doesn’t seem impossible that the Vikings would look to move Jefferson for the right price.
Vikings Wire’s Andrew Harbaugh reached out to NFL Wire editors asking what they might be willing to offer for Justin Jefferson.
Here’s what we offered in a hypothetical trade:
49ers get: Justin Jefferson
Vikings get: Brandon Aiyuk, 2026 first-round pick, 2026 third-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
Here’s what Harbaugh had to say about our offer:
The Vikings are not likely to trade away Justin Jefferson, but they may have their hand forced. They have Jordan Addison on the depth chart, so they can sort of afford it. That being said, getting this type of package isn’t ideal, but if they move on from current general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, then the new one may want to get some extra picks to make up for the loss.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell annually asks the locker room to vote for that season’s WPMOY Club Winner; he emphasized the significance of peer selection.
“For C.J. to be nominated two years in a row by his teammates says a lot about the impact he has in our locker room,” O’Connell said. “Every time we introduce our starting fullback at U.S. Bank Stadium, you can feel how much our fans love and appreciate him. My hope is that people fully understand the type of human being and leader he is — someone who is committed to serving others and brings his teammates along with him. C.J. Ham is truly one of one.”
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Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill pointed to his teammate’s blue-collar work ethic as one of the reasons he easily garners so much respect throughout the locker room and beyond.
“I think a lot of people can appreciate that he doesn’t have a glamorous job, but he’s willing to do whatever job it is,” O’Neill said. “There aren’t many 32-year-olds that play all four special teams phases in the NFL. There aren’t many people who, in year 10 in the NFL, are willing to be on the punt protection team every single day of OTAs and training camp.
“That exemplifies his team-first attitude. Wherever he can possibly help, he’s going to,” O’Neill added. “He sets a great example for young guys who might be a starter, but they see a guy who finds different ways to help the team no matter what. I think people can relate to that and appreciate that … and it’s cool when people who do the dirty work are able to be recognized and appreciated.”
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Ham’s teammates may not have known him for the same length of time, but they daily see the same character and care. It’s why for the past two years, his name has risen to the top in Vikings WPMOY voting.
“Because the things he does in the community, people can tell it comes from a genuine place. It’s not for show. Not for credit,” O’Neill said. “We know how much playing here means to him, and the things he does come from truly a place of appreciation for where he came from and wanting to help the community who helped him get to where he is now.”
Cap Space Work
Carry over cap space : $16,211,221
Starting 2026 Cap space : ($35,983,572) note: carry over cap space not included here
Redo/Extend O’Neill with a 2 yr 40M (20M signing bonus an 3 void years) – saves 12.5M in cap space
Restructure 12M of Hockenson’s salary – saves 8M in cap space
Release Jones saves 7.2M in cap space – 31 years old on Dec 2, 2025
Release Hargrave saves 11M in cap space – 33 years old on Feb 7, 2026
Release Kelly saves 12.1M in cap space – 33 years old on May 30, 2026
Smith retires or is cut post June 1 saves 1.3M in cap space – 37 years old on Feb 2, 2026
Exercise ERFA tender on Redomnd costs 1.005M in cap space
After these moves the team should have 30M in cap space (including the current carry over amount) and the only free agent they might consider giving an extension to is Redmond. In 2027, the cap space is only 18.6M after these moves. Cutting allen would get the team to 37.9M in cap space for 2027 but this is before any free agents signed in 2026 and the rookies are signed.
The free agents I like are …
Travis Etienne RB – 8M
Luke Fortner C – 8M
Eric Stokes CB – 9M
Alohi Gilman S – 5M
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: SteelersSent: 2.42Received: 2.45, 4.133…Trade Partner: GiantsSent: 3.97Received: 4.104, 6.196…Trade Partner: CowboysSent: 4.102Received: 4.116, 5.178…Trade Partner: SaintsSent: 5.161, 6.201Received: 5.143…Trade Partner: CommandosSent: 6.196, 7.241Received: 6.185
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Pick 11. Caleb Downs S Ohio State 6’0” 205Pick 45. Chris Brazell WR Tennessee 6’5” 200Pick 73. Deontae Lawson LB Alabama 6’2” 228Pick 116. Kelley Jones CB Mississippi State 6’3” 195Pick 133. Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska 5’11” 200Pick 143. Lee Hunter DL Texas Tech 6’4” 330Pick 178. Logan Jones IOL Iowa 6’3” 303Pick 185. Kenyatta Jackson EDGE Ohio State 6’6” 265Pick 226. Bud Clark S TCU 6’2” 190
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