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As we motor on during the offseason and debate the QB situation to death, let us not forget about college prospects who might be good future Vikings. The East West Shrine Bowl practices are underway.
Shrine Bowl Preview: Media’s players to watch; full roster
https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/shrine-bowl-primer-interior-offensive-linemen-to-watch/
https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/2025-east-west-shrine-bowl-primer-interior-defensive-linemen-to-watch/
https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/shrine-bowl-primer-running-backs/
2025 East-West Shrine Bowl Tracker
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
‘Dream Scenario’ Trade Pitch Sees Vikings Flip Sam Darnold in Unprecedented Move
“There’s not a lot of precedent for a quarterback of this age, coming off the season he had — especially when there might be mutual agreement between the player and the team that it will be a tag-and-trade situation going in,” Sam Ekstrom said. “I don’t know if that’s ever happened.”
“Now your market feels like a third-rounder, late second at the very best. Like, that’s the dream,” Inman said. “Realistic scenario: two later picks — like a fourth and a 2026 fifth [rounder].”
“Now your market feels like a third-rounder, late second at the very best. Like, that’s the dream,” Inman said. “Realistic scenario: two later picks — like a fourth and a 2026 fifth [rounder].”
That is a bad dream right?
It’s safe to say that Darnold’s future with the Vikings is anything but certain. The team faces a tough choice. Hand him a $100+ million contract. Use the franchise tag. Or the ultimate decision? Let him walk. Rookie JJ McCarthy is waiting for his shot. However, Minnesota is low on 2025 draft picks. Hence, a “tag-and-trade” option could be the middle ground.
Now, add to that Darnold’s latest Instagram post, and it feels somewhat like a parting/gratitude note. On January 24, the 27-year-old shared a trio of pictures from his days in 2024 as a starting quarterback for ‘The Purple and Gold’. While the photos and the caption flaunted celebratory cheer, some also read between the lines—especially given the dicey situation Darnold finds himself in.
“Year 7… So grateful for my teammates, coaches, and the entire organization. We created memories and relationships that will last a lifetime and we got to do it in front of the best fanbase in the world,” he wrote in the heartfelt caption, before also adding the mandatory “#SKOL”—the Minnesota Vikings’ war chant, and rally cry. Now, whether it’s a parting note or not…you decide. But before we let you do that…
Minnesota has salary cap space to make moves. But GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah leans toward building through the draft. Splurging on Darnold might not align with the team’s strategy with rookie JJ McCarthy developing and a loaded QB draft class in 2025. As NFL insider Adam Schefter noted, “If he [Sam] doesn’t get a fair offer from the Vikings, he could say, ‘I’m not gonna sign that.’”
Rams predicted to add former $160 million quarterback as Matthew Stafford replacement
Marissa Myers of TWSN predicts the Rams will add Minnesota Vikings free agent quarterback Daniel Jones this March as Stafford’s eventual replacement. Here was her take on the potential fit with Jones, Sean McVay and the Rams:
After he was waived by the Giants and signed with the Minnesota Vikings, he has had time to sit on the bench and learn from an offensive-minded coach in Kevin O’Connell. This is what truly makes Jones ideal, as he will be able to be a plug-and-play for Sean McVay’s offensive scheme as O’Connell, who came from the Rams, runs a very similar system. If there is any place Jones can rebound, it’s the Rams, and Los Angeles can take the chance on Jones.
Every Vikings free agent and their odds to return to Minnesota in 2025
QB Sam Darnold: 20 percent
Darnold is obviously the most important decision by a good margin. It’s certainly not impossible that he returns on a franchise tag or relatively team-friendly short-term deal, but it also seems significantly more likely that he gets a big contract elsewhere in free agency and the Vikings roll with J.J. McCarthy.
RB Aaron Jones: 45 percent
The Vikings could choose to run it back on another one-year deal with the 30-year-old Jones, who had over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns this season. They could also look to get younger at the position by drafting a back in the first few rounds.
CB Byron Murphy Jr: 60 percent
I expect re-signing Murphy to be a major priority for the Vikings, but Adofo-Mensah and company always have a certain price point they’re not willing to exceed. After six interceptions and a Pro Bowl selection, there’s a chance Murphy could land a deal on the open market the Vikings won’t match.
S Camryn Bynum: 30 percent
The Vikings love Bynum, who they drafted in the fourth round back in 2021. He was a solid deep safety for Brian Flores and brought excellent vibes (and marketing) with his elaborate celebrations. But they may not want to give a big second contract to a good-not-great safety, especially with Theo Jackson on the roster as a potential in-house replacement. Harrison Smith’s retirement decision could be a factor here.
LT Cam Robinson: 5 percent
CB Stephon Gilmore: 20 percent
CB Shaq Griffin: 35 percent
OLB Pat Jones: 10 percent
DT Jerry Tillery: 25 percent
DT Jihad Ward: 35 percent
G Dalton Risner: 30 percent
QB Daniel Jones: 40 percent
QB Nick Mullens: 25 percent
DT Jonathan Bullard: 65 percent
TE Johnny Mundt: 60 percent
WR Brandon Powell: 30 percent
WR Trent Sherfield: 70 percent
RB Cam Akers: 50 percent
CB Fabian Moreau: 20 percent
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill: 35 percent
T David Quessenberry: 40 percent
G Dan Feeney: 20 percent
Flores was also interviewed this year for multiple jobs, including the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s important here, as they seemingly circumvented the Rooney Rule. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote about the odd process in which they brought in Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen for a second interview.
The Jaguars had emphasized to Coen’s camp how important it was that the visit stay under wraps, which could explain why the coordinator kept his plans from the Buccaneers. In the wake of firing Baalke, and in addition to a healthy financial offer, the Jags offered Coen a chance to effectively pick his general manager—an opportunity exceedingly rare for a first-time head coach. In fact, one colleague told Coen that Kyle Shanahan’s hire in San Francisco was the only such offer for a first-timer he could remember like the one Coen had in front of him.
The secrecy over the visit did serve two theoretical purposes. One, obviously, it would preserve the Tampa offer for Coen, which, again, was contingent on the OC not visiting Jacksonville. Two, it allowed the Jaguars to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Going into Thursday, the Jags only had one minority candidate in for an in-person interview—Saleh’s first was in-person. They needed two to comply, so Graham was slated to come Thursday for the other. But the Jags didn’t want word of their plans getting out, which could cause Graham to cancel.
This is an important report. Sneaking in Coen so they could satisfy the Rooney Rule with Graham shows again why Flores is fighting this battle. The hiring practices of the NFL are sketchy at best, especially when it comes to the most important job on the coaching staff.
Flores might be a defensive coordinator for one more year, but his lawsuit gained a little more credence on Friday.
Ex-Vikings TE Nick Muse signs with Eagles’ practice squad
Former Vikings tight end Nick Muse signed with the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad this week.
Muse had been on Minnesota’s practice squad this past season. He hadn’t signed a reserve/futures deal with the team, which allowed the Eagles to swoop him up ahead of Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Washington Commanders. Muse obviously won’t play in that game, but he may end up signing a futures deal with Philadelphia to be on their offseason roster heading into 2025.
2024 Vikings Position Recap: Offensive Line
57.8 – The Vikings starting five — Robinson, Brandel, Bradbury, Risner and O’Neill — struggled at Detroit in Week 18, averaging an overall offense grade of 57.8 from PFF. Minnesota needed a regular-season finale victory to clinch the No. 1 seed in the postseason and earn a first-round bye, plus home-field advantage. Darnold was sacked just twice but was pressured 22 times, four more than the previous highest instance in Week 15.
1. How will the Vikings address interior
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell said following the Wild Card loss there’s “no question” the interior pass rush was a problem throughout the 2024 campaign and will need to be addressed.
He also noted, however, there are multiple ways to improve in that area. Minnesota could sign new players, move players around, find options in the draft, promote current players who have been developing, work on QB timing or implement different coaching techniques.
“We’ve got to find a way to be able to give a quarterback, especially with players like Justin, Jordan and T.J. Hockenson, we’ve got to find a way to solidify just the interior of the pocket starting first and foremost. There could be a thousand excuses made, whether it’s losing C.D. (Darrisaw) or even midway through the [playoff] game losing B.O. (O’Neill),” O’Connell said. “For me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at. I thought those guys battled. That’s a good, young, fast athletic front. Really, when you look at it over the course of the entirety of the season, we lost to two football teams, and both of them were able to do some similar things against us via pressure, via some four-down pressure, non-pressure and non-blitz pressure.
“We just weren’t able to ever find that rhythm, find those two or three plays that can kind of take a little bit of the steam out of what they’re doing and sustain a little bit,” he continued. “That’s a lot of different things. That’s a lot of things that we’re going to take a look at and acknowledge the things we did well in those games throughout the year, but there’s no question that to get to where we want to get to and where our fans deserve for us to go to … we’ve got to find a way [to improve].”
Will Minnesota re-sign any of the OL free agents?
Minnesota has signed Risner the past two seasons to short-term deals, and it will be interesting to see whether they look to bring him back after starting eight games at left guard.
Two other free agents the Vikings will need to consider are interior reserve Dan Feeney and swing tackle David Quessenberry. Feeney signed with Minnesota last spring but dealt with injuries throughout training camp and a portion of the season. He played just 40 special teams snaps and did not see any action on offense. Quessenberry returned for his second season in Purple and played in all 17 games; though he contributed primarily on special teams (90 snaps), he also played 110 offensive snaps as he stepped in for Darrisaw and O’Neill at different points.
An Off Season Plan before the mock
Starting Cap Space
2025: $57,942,543
2026: $101,508,844
Extend/Redo : Andrew Van Ginkel 3 yr 40.5M : saves 3.6M in 2025 cap space
Extend/Redo : Josh Oliver 3 yr 15M : saves 5.28M in 2025 cap space
Smith Retire : costs 2.945M in 2025 cap space
Cut Ed Ingram : saves 3.325M in 2025 cap space
Cut CJ Ham : saves 2.65M in 2025 cap space
Extend Aaron Jones 2 yr 12M
…
Sign LG Teven Jenkins 4 yr 72M
Sign RG Will Fries 4 yr 58M
Sign OC Brady Christensen 3 yr 18M
Sign DT Bobby Brown III 2 yr 14M
Sign DT Levi Onwuzurike 2 yr 20M
Sign CB Paulson Adebo – 1 yr 7M
Sign S Tre’von Moehrig – 3 yr 45M
Starting Cap Space
2025: $28,542,543
2026: $16,832,844
…
I could see a QB signing of Jimmy G, Jacoby Brissett, or Jameis Winston in this plan.
You could keep Ham one more year if you are that desperate.
You could give Hitman a one year deal if he wants to keep playing.
I do not believe the team will be able to “tag and trade” Sam Darnold. Even though he is the “best” free agent there are enough other QBs that will likely be out there for other teams to sign one of them and call the Vikings bluff.
I also think Daniel Jones will have suitors that will want him to start. Backing up JJ is not going to help his career IMHO. But that is where I am at right now and I know others believe differently which is cool.
If Darnold, Jones, Bynum, and Murphy all get big money deals, it would not create comp picks in 2026 due to the huge deals I have in this plan. But that is OK. Remember, you play to win the game. Not to get comp picks a year later.
…
Starting lineup before draft (only some)
QB: JJ McCarthy, Jimmy G, Brett Rypien
RB: Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler
TE: TJ Hockenson, Josh Oliver
WR: Jets, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor
RT: Brian O’Neill
RG: Will Fries
OC: Garrett Bradbury, Brady Christensen, Michael Jurgens
LG: Teven Jenkins
LT: Christian Darrisaw, Walter Rouse
DT: Harrison Phillips, Bobby Brown III, Taki Taimani
DE: Levi Onvuzurike, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez
WLB: Jonathan Greenard, Bo Rithcer
SLB: Andrew Van Ginkel, Gabriel Murphy
LILB: Ivan Pace Jr
RILB: Blake Cashman, Brian Asamoah
LCB: Paulson Adebo
RCB: Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern
NB: Josh Metellus, Najee Thompson
SS: Tre’von Moehrig, Jay Ward
FS: Theo Jackson
Cornerback is looking scary no?
Yore Mock
Trades
Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24
Received: Round 2 Pick 5, Round 3 Pick 4
…
Trade Partner: San Francisco 49ers
Sent: Round 2 Pick 5
Received: Round 2 Pick 11, Round 4 Pick 11
…
Trade Partner: Miami Dolphins
Sent: Garrett Bradbury
Received: Round 5 Pick 17
…
43: R2 P11 CB Trey Amos – Ole Miss 6’1” 190
68: R3 P4 RB TreVeyon Henderson – Ohio State 5’10” 208
97: R3 P33 S Andrew Mukuba – Texas 6’0” 190
112: R4 P11 C Jonah Monheim – USC 6’5” 310
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Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
138: R5 P1 DL Simeon Barrow Jr. – Miami 6’3” 290
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Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
154: R5 P17 G Connor Colby – Iowa 6’6” 310
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Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
159: R5 P22 LB Cody Simon – Ohio State 6’2” 235
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Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
236: R7 P21 CB Nohl Williams – California 6’1” 200
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Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images
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