The “debates” are already on fire and we have not even made it to Christmas. Man, I thought the team would be more successful. The lack of success (i.e., wins) is always the bottom line. Development of players is tough because patience is indeed a virtue. But that is hard to sell and buy. Be patient and thew QB will get better. What if he does’nt? How many 67-10, 6-11, 5-12 seasons are fans expected to absorb?
I have been saying that I do not think the head coach or GM are in danger of losing their jobs because they just were extended. Others have said that does not matter and they could, in fact, be let go. I am getting beat a little into submission about KAM. I do not know the details of his deal and if the Wilfs are OK with giving away millions but I suppose they could do it. They do it on players all the time. Whatever they do, they better do it quickly after the season is over in order for the new GM to get his staff (i.e., scouts) together to prepare for free agency and the draft. The last thing I want to see is the Wilfs let KAM run free agency and the draft and then let him go. Makes no sense to me.
That is a little ways off still. I want to see JJ play more consistently. I am not blaming KOC for anything. This dude should be prepared to handle the offense and to at least not sail passes over dudes heads when he is not pressured. I am hopeful that JJ will be better.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
McCarthy is slated to start against Washington Sunday after being sidelined last weekend while in concussion protocol. He spoke with media members Thursday afternoon and acknowledged the overthinking O’Connell referenced, as well as noting his mentality has changed since playing the Packers in Week 12.
“I was just too focused on doing every rep perfect and making sure every little detail was crossed and checked off,” he said. “Coach O’Connell and Coach [Josh] McCown [talked] to me about, ‘Hey, let’s worry about that stuff in the offseason. Go out there, play your ball. Just, execute the plan at the end of the day.’
“That frees up a lot of space mentally to be instinctual, react and respond to what the defense has given me,” McCarthy added.
“You only have so much brain space and so much intention and attention going into every play,” McCarthy said. “So, it just opens it up a lot more.”
“You know, I really want to please the coaches and do everything right,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it happens so fast. This game moves too quick. You have to … think on the fly and react. The paralysis by analysis shows up sometimes. It’s good to feel those experiences and know how to bounce back from this.”
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McCarthy doesn’t need to just protect the football, though; he also needs to protect himself.
“How can I avoid those situations where something catastrophic could happen, or something … like an ankle sprain that puts you out for six weeks?” McCarthy rhetorically asked.
Self-preservation has been a topic of conversation around the league, specifically regarding young quarterbacks, and Minnesota’s passer is no different. O’Connell said he’s talked to McCarthy about making smart decisions as a runner — even if that means sliding short of the sticks from time to time — to stay healthy.
“I think it’s part of the learning process,” O’Connell said. “Especially with the guys that are so competitive and have played a certain style and made a play to win a national championship by doing so, [or] maybe early on in their career, made a play to win a game by doing so.
“We have a good amount of data that says that he can impact the game athletically, but it can’t come at a cost of not having him in there for either the next snap or, as we’ve learned, the next week — even if we somehow persevere through that day,” O’Connell continued. “The sustainability of it week to week is obviously a factor in quarterback play, and availability is, as Bud Grant talked about, the greatest ability.”
Vikings 24, Commanders 17 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
These two are among the biggest disappointments this season. The Vikings will have J.J. McCarthy back at quarterback. The Vikings have the better defense, which will be the difference here.
Commanders 22, Vikings 19 – Bill Bender, Sporting News
It’s almost an impossible game to pick without clarity on the quarterback situations. Jayden Daniels (elbow) could return, though Marcus Mariota has played well enough in back-to-back overtime losses to the Dolphins and Broncos. Minnesota QBs have averaged 135.8 passing yards through a four-game losing streak. Washington finally breaks a seven-game losing streak.
Commanders 24, Vikings 20 – Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Washington Commanders are expecting to get Jayden Daniels back as they are on the brink of playoff elimination in the NFC East. The Vikings should have J.J. McCarthy back, but that doesn’t do much to improve their passing game or offense as a whole.
1 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, NFL.com
2 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, Bleacher Report
4 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB
0 of 10 experts (1 of 11 total had not submitted) pick the Vikings, ESPN
2 of 5 experts pick the Vikings, The Athletic
0 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, USA Today
“It’s purely about decision-making at this point,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said this week. “I want [McCarthy] to have a clear head and a clear mind to just go play, but play with an understanding of the decisions that I make … have to be of the utmost importance, because we learned our turnover number is where it is. It’s not a winning formula.”
This move to simplify the offense is wise after neither McCarthy nor Max Brosmer seemed capable of operating O’Connell’s offense.
However, the move has been met with mixed reviews in the locker room.
Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson spoke with local media on Thursday, December 5, about the decision to pare down the playbook to help the offense take off ahead of a Week 14 matchup against the Washington Commanders — and he wasn’t too thrilled.
“We’re professionals here. We never like when you have to make things simple for us. That’s not something that we want,” Hockenson said.
“The way our offense has been going, we’ve got to do something. That’s something [O’Connell has] really emphasized. Just trying to make it a little simpler. … You never want that as a competitor. You want to do more, you always want more, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to get this ship moving. We’ve got to improve.”
Aaron Jones Pushes Back on Vikings Offense’s Complexity
Vikings running back Aaron Jones shared a similar sentiment about the team simplifying the offense at this stage of the season.
While he said after practice that the offense isn’t “too vanilla,” he admitted that there is a significant difference.
“Where it gets complex, where everybody may not have the same deeper understanding of each play concept, is where we’ve, I guess, in a way dumbed it down,” Jones said this week. “Kind of took the meat of it off, but you’re still getting a lot of everything.
“To me, it’s not complicated. I’ve been playing football my whole life. But to some people, it’s like learning a new language,” Jones added.
Note: The 5th round pick in 2025 could be around 150 and the 7th the Vikings are getting back is at 231. The 2027 swap of the 4th for their 5th is not known right now but it wont be more than 40 spots. Still not that big of a deal when you think about what they thought Thielen could provide.
Adam Thielen did not make the decision to ask for his release from the Vikings lightly. Before this season, he was fired up to go home and re-join the franchise where he spent the first decade of his career.
Things just didn’t go to plan during his second stint in Minnesota. Thielen’s role in the offense shrank after the first few weeks of the season, and the competitor in him started to think about wanting to pursue an opportunity to play more down the stretch of what might be his final NFL season. Eventually, he made that request, the Vikings granted it, and he was claimed off waivers by the Steelers.
Speaking in his first press conference as a Steeler on Thursday, Thielen said it wasn’t easy at all to leave the Vikings.
“Extremely tough,” he said. “Extremely tough. It really wore on me mentally. Yeah, tough. Very, very, very tough. But again, just excited to have an opportunity.”
Thielen said he had an idea that the Steelers were a potential landing spot. He was subject to waivers, not an outright free agent, but he’s happy with where he ended up. Pittsburgh can take the lead in the AFC North with a win over the Ravens on Sunday.
“The situation that they’re in — that we’re in,” Thielen said about why it’s a good fit. “The opportunity to come and make an impact. There’s so much out of your control at that point, so just trying to talk to my agent, get a grasp for what teams had needs at that position, and then see what happened.”
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In the statement Thielen released after the Vikings waived him, he said this will be his final NFL season. He wasn’t quite as definitive on that front when asked the question by the Pittsburgh media. Thielen said he’s living in the moment right now, but did somewhat leave the door open to the idea that he might not be done after this season.
“I did make a statement and put it in there, which I probably shouldn’t have put that in there,” he said with a smile. “After every season, I’ve really just kind of come together with my family and prayed about it, really thought about bigger picture of what that looks like. I did say that. I mean, obviously things can change. I feel like I’ve given every thing I’ve had for so long that I can feel really good about it if that’s what it looks like, which it feels that way as of right now.”
Vikings Bring in 5 Players for a Workout, Including a 6’4″ Speedster
Consider what NFL insider Aaron Wilson had to say: “#Vikings worked out Quinton Barrow, Elijah Cooks, Joaquin Davis, Jaylon Hutchings, Dohnte Meyers.”
At least a pair of those players have done good work in the CFL. Note, as well, that we’re considering an offensive lineman (Barrow), a defensive lineman (Hutchings), and then a trio of receivers (Davis, Cooks, and Meyers).
Note: Vikings bringing in taller receivers makes sense considering the QBs think they are throwing passes to Victor Wembanyama
Joaquin Davis WR 6’4” 195 (4.36 forty with 42” vertical)
Elijah Cooks WR 6’4 215 (4.51 forty with 37.5” vertical)
Vikings predicted to trade with Eagles, 49ers or Saints for J.J. McCarthy insurance
If things don’t change drastically for J.J. McCarthy down the stretch run of the 2025 season, the Vikings must find an adequate veteran quarterback to compete against him for the starting job in the offseason.
Vikings Top Candidate to Reunite With 18,000-Yard QB Amid JJ McCarthy Concern
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote Thursday that the “best-case scenario” for McCarthy is that he is battling an established veteran for the starting job come next spring. The worst-case outcome is that he’s QB2 and in need of an injury or some other sort of disaster to get back into the top job.
“If McCarthy returns from his concussion and shows signs of growth over the final month of the season, the Vikings should field competition for their starting job in camp next year,” Barnwell wrote. “If he continues to look overmatched upon his return to the lineup, though, the Vikings might move forward with a new plan at quarterback, consigning McCarthy to a backup role after just a handful of pro starts.”
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports on Wednesday named the Vikings as among the top candidates to ink Jones, along with the Colts, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
“The Colts signaled their intentions to build around this rejuvenated version of Jones when they spent big on other spots at the trade deadline, but how Jones finishes could determine his long-term fate, not so dissimilar to Sam Darnold of last year,” Benjamin wrote.
There’s A Clear Trade Suitor Emerging For Kyler Murray
The Kyler Murray era appears to be over for the Arizona Cardinals.
On Friday, the Cardinals announced that Murray will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to a lingering foot injury that has sidelined him since October 5. In five games this year, the former No. 1 pick had 962 passing yards, 173 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns.
“It wasn’t progressing in a way that we wanted, so we went and got a different opinion, some different people and kind of looked at it, and it’s just not right,” Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said, via ESPN. “I just feel bad for the quarterback. He got hurt, and he wasn’t healthy enough to play. So I mean, that’s first and foremost. That’s where I would leave it right now.”
The Cardinals have Murray under contract through 2027, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano expects the front office to move on from him in the offseason.
“Murray’s contract isn’t easy to escape. He is owed $36.8 million in fully guaranteed salary and bonuses for 2026, and if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of the league year in March, his $19.5 million 2027 salary becomes fully guaranteed,” Graziano wrote. “Those kinds of figures tend to buy job security, but given Murray’s struggles this season even before he was injured and the way Jacoby Brissett has been able to operate the offense in Murray’s absence, the writing feels like it’s on the wall for Murray in Arizona. It wouldn’t shock many in the league if the Cardinals moved on after this season.”
Cap Space Work
Carry over cap space : $15,284,666
Starting 2026 Cap space : ($35,983,572) note: carry over cap space not included here
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Release or Trade O’Neill saves 19.5M in cap space – 31 years old on Sept 15, 2026
2026: ($16,483,572)
2027: $43,638,273
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Release or Trade Hockenson saves 8.93M in cap space – 29 years old on July 3, 2026
2026: ($7,553,572)
2027: $66,993,273
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Release Jones saves 7.2M in cap space – 31 years old on Dec 2, 2025
2026: ($353,572)
2027: $66,993,273
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Release Hargrave saves 11M in cap space – 33 years old on Feb 7, 2026
2026: $10,646,428
2027: $66,993,273
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Release Kelly saves 12.1M in cap space – 33 years old on May 30, 2026
2026: $22,763,928
2027: $66,993,273
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Exercise ERFA tender on Redmond costs 1.005M in cap space
2026: $21,758,928
2027: $66,993,273
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Trade 2026 3rd (73), 2027 2nd to Cardinals for Kyler Murray
Redo Murray’s deal – add two void years and remove roster bonuses. 45M signing bonus, 8.8M 2026 salary, 19.5M 2027 salary, 34M 2028 salary
2026: $1,216,428
2027: $35,843,273
…
Restructure 12M of Greenard’s salary
2025: $15,284,666
2026: $10,216,428
2027: $32,843,273
…
After these moves the team will have 25.5M in cap space because the 2025 cap number carries over
Smith retires or is cut post June 1 – 37 years old on Feb 2, 2026
2025: $15,284,666
2026: $11,516,428
2027: $34,243,273
…
Smith has a 4.3M cap hit according to overthecap. With this move his cap number goes to 3M in 2026 and 1.3M in 2027
The free agents I like are …
Luke Fortner C – 8M
Eric Stokes CB – 9M
Alohi Gilman S – 5M
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: CardinalsSent: 3.73, 2027 2ndReceived: Kyler Murray…Trade Partner: SteelersSent: 1.15Received: 1.15, 3.77…Trade Partner: TexansSent: 1.15Received: 1.17, 5.157…Trade Partner: PanthersSent: 2.42Received: 2.48, 4.116…Trade Partner: SaintsSent: 5.157, 6.201Received: 4.138
…Pick 17. Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (FL) 6’6” 315Pick 48. Dillon Thieneman S Oregon 6’0” 205Pick 77. Deontae Lawson LB Alabama 6’2” 228Pick 97. Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska 5’11” 200Pick 116. Kelley Jones CB Mississippi State 6’3” 195Pick 138. Lee Hunter DL Texas Tech 6’4” 330Pick 161. Kenyatta Jackson EDGE Ohio State 6’6” 265Pick 226. Taylen Green QB Arkansas 6’6” 235Pick 241. Bud Clark S TCU 6’2” 190
The idea here is that Mauigoa steps in on day one as the starting right tackle ad Thieneman steps in as a starting safety. But the Laohi Gilman signing makes that not necessary in year one.
Feel free to blast away! I like Murray and I believe he is really good if he is given the right surroundings.
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