This offseason has been pretty entertaining. We have had some real doozies in the past and this one is getting up there. The wailing nad gnashing of teeth and angst over the QB position is fantabulous! How can this not be fun?
I do many different plans for a reason and often folks will interpret my position wrongly. That is OK though. I do nto try to predict what will happen. I only write what I would do. What kind of wannabe GM would I be if I was doing what the team would do? Sometimes I get it “right” and we do the same thing but often times I am way way off.
I think it is fair to state my position on our young QB, JJ McCarthy. I post stats from time to time that are interesting and they have not been too complimentary of our young QB which is fair.
Due to his injuries and lack of playing time after two seasons, the team finds itself in a tough spot. The roster is pretty well stacked and all they really need is competent average to above average QB play in order to make some noise. Unfortunately for JJ, injuries have robbed him of critical development time.
I really cannot say if he is going to blossom or not. There simply are not enough games to analyze. He has looked really good at times and really bad at times which is not unusual for a rookie QB. Being available is the biggest worry for me now.
The rookie scale contract theory is winding down and we still not know what we have.
JJ is like a box of chocolates! You never know what you are going to get.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Tyler Lindenbaum, C
Connor McGovern, C
Cade Mays, C
Luke Fortner, C
Rashid Shaheed, WR
Marquise Brown, WR
Coby Bryant, S
Eric Stokes, CB
Asante Samuel, Jr., CB
Greg Dulcich, TE
Daniel Popper of The Athletic projects Nailor to be in line for a base contract of three years and $36 million. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent when the 2026 NFL league year begins March 13, and there are certainly going to be suitors looking for a young wide receiver who quietly burst onto the scene despite an undesirable situation with the Vikings this past season.
The reason Popper thinks Nailor is going to get paid is because of what he showed on tape, saying the film “shows a player who is ready to take a big jump in the right environment.”
“Nailor has the spatial awareness to weave through zones and find soft spots. He was predominantly a slot player in Minnesota but has inside-outside flexibility. He flashes late hands to prevent defensive backs from turning and locating the ball. Nailor is not a burner, but he can push vertically out of the slot on fades, wheels and corners. He is compact ball carrier who is capable after the catch, and he is also a quality run blocker for his size,” Popper wrote.
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Addison is also due for an extension within the next two years, so Minnesota has a big decision coming with him. Do they trade him this offseason? Do they sign him to an extension when his value might be a bit lower after a rough 2025 season and his third arrest within three years?
The “J.J. McCarthy needs a new team” idea just went mainstream.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz tagged the Minnesota Vikings quarterback as their 2026 “change of scenery” candidate, even while acknowledging it’s “likely never going to happen” because moving a young QB with first-round upside is usually franchise malpractice.
But here’s the part that matters for Minnesota: once a national outlet is floating a “fresh start” for your young QB, it’s no longer just message-board noise. It becomes part of the offseason pressure cooker, especially with the NFL’s March roster decision window closing fast.
Schatz’s argument is less “McCarthy stinks” and more “this situation might be broken.”
The premise: McCarthy may be better off getting out of the shadow of Super Bowl-winning Sam Darnold, even though Kevin O’Connell’s system is exactly the type of QB-friendly environment you’d want a young passer to have.
That’s a pretty rare national framing: good coach, good scheme, but the context is still toxic enough that a reboot could help.
Heavy’s own recent Vikings coverage has echoed that urgency in a different way, not by declaring McCarthy a bust, but by pointing out that Minnesota can’t afford a repeat “wasted season” scenario and may need real competition (or even a pivot) at QB.
What a McCarthy trade would actually look like (and why it’s complicated)
If the Vikings even sniff a trade conversation, three mechanics matter immediately:
Timing: March is when the league calendar forces decisions (tags, negotiating window, league year).
Leverage: Minnesota can’t look desperate. The second they do, the offers drop to pennies.
The replacement plan: You don’t move a young QB unless you have a clear “Week 1 plan” — either a veteran bridge, a new starter, or both.
That’s why most realistic proposals come as swaps or “QB-in/QB-out” concepts rather than pure picks.
Example: Heavy recently cited an analyst-driven proposal that would send McCarthy to San Francisco in a deal centered around Mac Jones coming back the other way.
Whether you love that idea or hate it, it shows the league logic: Minnesota gets a playable floor option; the other team bets on McCarthy’s ceiling.
Minnesota Vikings: Sign QB Malik Willis
Speaking of the Packers’ free agents, it might be tough for them to splurge for Love’s backup, perhaps making Willis available at the start of free agency.
Coach Kevin O’Connell can’t hand McCarthy the starting job again unless he proves it by beating out real competition in training camp. Willis, a 2022 third-round pick, showed vast improvement in the games he appeared last season for Green Bay and his determination to make the most of his latest opportunity after how poorly it went for him in Tennessee could bring out the best in McCarthy in a fierce summer battle.
It was a small sample size, but Willis completed 85.7% of his passes in four games last year. For comparison, McCarthy struggled by completing only 57.6% of his passes in 10 starts.
Willis could have other options and maybe an easier path to a starting job, but not many teams can offer a wide receiver as good as Justin Jefferson. The Vikings have no reason to commit to McCarthy’s first-round status after the team fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
There’s no more time to waste in Minnesota after the disastrous quarterback results in 2025.
“You always listen to people with trade offers,” Shanahan said. “We’re also not into getting rid of good players, so I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year.”
That’s why no one should be shocked that 49ers beat writers are now producing content that hints at a looming trade. For example, Matt Barrows, who covers the Niners for The Athletic, published a story Thursday titled, “49ers say they’ll keep Mac Jones, but stars could be aligning for a trade.”
That’s why Jones is so interesting to the Vikings, as head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it clear that J.J. McCarthy will have competition next season.
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According to reports, the 49ers could drive up the asking price for Jones since the draft isn’t loaded with top-notch quarterbacks and the free agency class isn’t all that strong. Plus, they would be due to receive a compensatory pick in 2027 if they keep Jones in 2026 and lose him as a free agent after next season.
If the Vikings like Jones but don’t want to pay San Francisco’s price, they’re in an advantageous position, so long as it’s true that all of the top quarterbacks want to find a way to play for the Vikings.
“My sense right now, from asking around, is all the top quarterbacks that will be, or could be, available, Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, this is the place they want to go. It is Minnesota,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said last week.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported Wednesday, “rival executives expect the 49ers to put up a fight to keep” Jones. Again, it might be true, but it’s also possible that this is more information being pushed publicly to help drive up the price for Jones.
Bottom line: Expect rumors about Jones and other quarterbacks, including Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, Aaron Rodgers, and others, to keep churning as we inch closer to the NFL’s legal tampering window, which opens on March 11.
All the while, McCarthy works behind the scenes to do everything he possibly can to avoid losing the starting job.
“J.J. McCarthy is a guy that wants to be great,” O’Connell said. “I know he’s going to work tirelessly to do that. I know his teammates have a lot of confidence in what he’s gonna go to work to improve on this offseason and come back, have a great offseason, and be ready to hit the ground running in 2026. I think a deep and talented quarterback room will only enhance his ability to do that, and (I) look forward to being a part of that process.”
Four Players the Vikings Would Thank the Draft Gods for at No. 18
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/news/four-players-the-vikings-would-thank-the-draft-gods-for-at-no-18
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Cap Stuff
2026 Salary Cap Reconciliation
Based on a projected $303.5 million salary cap, here is how your plan eliminates the initial deficit.
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Move : Action : Cap Impact : Running Total
Initial : Projected Deficit : ($48,235,362)
1 : Rollover Cap Space : +$12,889,038 : ($35,346,324)
2 : Extend Brian O’Neill : +$12,249,996 : ($23,096,328)
3 : Extend Andrew Van Ginkel : +$10,140,000 : ($12,956,328)
4 : Extend Blake Cashman : +$3,749,019 : ($9,207,309)
5 : Cut Ryan Kelly : +$11,715,147 : +$2,507,838
6 : Cut Javon Hargrave : +$10,955,882 : +$13,463,720
7 : Cut Aaron Jones : +$7,750,000 : +$21,213,720
8 : Trade T.J. Hockenson : +$8,890,000 : +$30,103,720
Draft : Rookie Reserve (Est.) : ($4,350,000) : +$25,753,720
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The following moves successfully clear the initial deficit and fund a complete roster overhaul.
Primary Cuts & Trades
These moves remove aging veterans with high non-guaranteed salaries.
T.J. Hockenson (TE): Traded. Saves $8.89M ($12.5M dead).
Javon Hargrave (DT): Cut. Saves $11.0M ($10.5M dead).
Ryan Kelly (C): Cut. Saves $11.7M ($0 dead).
Aaron Jones (RB): Cut. Saves $7.8M ($7M dead).
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Core Extensions
Secures the “anchor” veterans while providing immediate cap relief.
Brian O’Neill (RT): 3-yr, $72M extension. $11.6M Savings.
Andrew Van Ginkel (EDGE): 2-yr, $44M extension. $10.0M Savings.
Blake Cashman (LB): 2-yr, $18M extension. $3.75M Savings.
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Strategic Restructures
The final “levers” to fund free agency.
Justin Jefferson (WR): Maximum restructure. $19.6M Savings.
Jonathan Greenard (EDGE): $10M restructure. $7.5M Savings.
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New Free Agent Signings (2026)
These signings replace the departed veterans with younger, athletic talent.
Player : Position : Total Contract : Signing Bonus : Total Guarantees : 2026 Cap Hit
Malik Willis : QB : 2 yr, $52.0M : $28.0M : $29.2M : $8.21M
Isaiah Likely : TE : 3 yr, $28.5M : $12.0M : $17.25M : $4.25M
Logan Hall : DT : 3 yr, $27.0M : $12.0M : $16.0M : $4.25M
Bryan Cook : S : 3 yr, $34.5M : $12.0M : $16.25M : $4.25M
Kader Kohou : CB : 2 yr, $11.0M : $4.5M : $5.75M : $2.75M
Luke Fortner : C : 3 yr, $18.0M : $6.0M : $9.0M : $2.75M
Kenneth Gainwell : RB : 3 yr, $17.25M : $6.0M : $7.25M : $2.75M
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Special Teams & Depth Signings:
Otito Ogbonnia (DT): 2 yr, $7M ($3.5M AAV) | $2.25M Hit
Micah McFadden (LB): 2 yr, $6M ($3M AAV) | $2.00M Hit
Jalen Redmond (DT): 2 yr, $12M ($6M AAV) | $3.50M Hit
Devin Duvernay (WR/KR): 2 yr, $8.5M ($4.25M AAV) | $2.50M Hit
Ryan Wright (P): 2 yr, $6M | $1.8M Hit
Andrew DePaola (LS): 2 yr, $3.5M | $1.1M Hit
Benj. St-Juste (CB): 1 yr, $1.3M | $1.3M Hit
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Final Cap Space Summary
Year : Total Liabilities : Adjusted Cap : Remaining Space
2026 : $283.1M : $303.5M : +$20,453,720
2027 : $306.7M : $318.6M : +$11,859,276
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The 2027 Exit Strategy:
Your plan includes cutting Jonathan Allen and Josh Metellus in 2027.
Jonathan Allen Cut: Saves $18.34M.
Josh Metellus Cut: Saves $8.0M.
Result: By rolling over the $20.45M from 2026 and making these 2027 cuts, your total 2027 available space climbs to approximately $87.6 million.
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: BroncosSent: TJ HockensonReceived: 4.130…Trade Partner: EaglesSent: 2.49Received: 2.54, 4.122…
Pick 18. Makai Lemon WR USC 5’11” 195Pick 54. Christen Miller DL Georgia 6’4” 310Pick 70. D’angelo Ponds CB Indiana 5’8 1/4” 174Pick 97. Emmett Johnson RB Nebraska 6’2” 205Pick 122. Bud Clark S TCU 6’1” 185Pick 161. Beau Stephens IOL Iowa 6’5” 310Pick 195. Ephesians Prysock CB Washington 6’2 7/8” 194Pick 235. Justin Jefferson LB Alabama 6’1” 227Pick 241. Dan Villari TE Syracuse 6’4” 243
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