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Vikings Links: Senior Bowl Is On!

The Senior Bowl is on today. Get to look at some possible future Vikings provided they have draft picks.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

NFL Players Vote Vikings QB Sam Darnold CPOY

There were arguably no more impactful contributors to the Minnesota Vikings strong 2024 season than Sam Darnold and Kevin O’Connell. The former is in line for a significant payday. The latter has already received his, and won’t be going anywhere. Both have been given their flowers with Sporting News end of season awards.

“Darnold is the second Vikings player to win the award since its SN inception in 2008, following Adrian Peterson and his 2,097-yard rushing season in 2012. Quarterbacks have dominated this award of late, winning seven consecutive times.”

Vikings’ Sam Darnold Breaks Silence on Impending Free Agency

After being removed from the spotlight for a couple of weeks, the 27-year-old field general broke the silence about his offseason and potential free agency while at the 2025 Pro Bowl.

“I’ve put a little bit of thought into it. I’m not going to share anything about what I’ve been thinking or the conversations I’ve had behind closed doors,” said Darnold.

“There’s a lot that’s going to happen still, even after the Super Bowl. I’m just going to continue to talk to my agent and figure things out from there.”

Vikings yet to make ‘firm determination’ on projected $100 million QB, per NFL insider

His strong play this season has caused them to pause and take a hard look at their options. Bringing him back feels like a stronger possibility than it was five or six months ago. But the Vikings will have a cap on spending here. Some agents have argued that Darnold shouldn’t take a penny less than Daniel Jones’ four-year, $160 million deal with the Giants from two years ago. Teams have suggested Darnold getting something more in line with Baker Mayfield’s contract (three years, $100 million). In the end, perhaps the transition tag ($35.3 million) makes the most sense.

Pelissero believes ‘most logical’ Sam Darnold outcome is return to Vikings

Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota-based NFL Network insider, thinks the “most logical” outcome is Darnold returning to the Vikings for a second season in 2025.

“I would say on paper the most logical outcome of this is Sam Darnold still in Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season coming off knee surgery. They believe in him. They’re not trading J.J. McCarthy. But there’s no precedent for a guy missing an entire year of reps as a rookie and coming back and playing again like it hasn’t happened,” Pelissero told Sportskeeda.

“All I know is Sam Darnold played the best football of his career under Kevin O’Connell. The last two games notwithstanding it makes sense for Sam Darnold. All things equal to come back it makes sense for the Vikings to bring him back. They won 14 games with him. …. They also have the franchise tag at their disposal if they choose to use it.”

If Minnesota elects to bring back Darnold, they’ll have to either use the franchise tag or sign him to an extension. The franchise tag will cost them an estimated $41 million while ESPN’s Dan Graziano is predicting Darnold’s contract extension to be in the ballpark of three years for $120 million, including $75 million guaranteed.

The other elephant in the room to consider is Daniel Jones. The former New York Giants quarterback signed with the Vikings after being released by the Giants and there remains a chance that he’s brought back on a new contract with Minnesota. If Jones re-signs, it would seem likely that he and J.J. McCarthy would compete for the starting job while Darnold is allowed to explore other options.

How much is too much for the Vikings to bring back Sam Darnold?

Free agency decisions always come down to the price point. Can a team and a player meet in the middle and agree on terms of a deal that both sides believe to be fair?

It’ll be no different with Sam Darnold, the Vikings’ Pro Bowl quarterback who is arguably the most important player set to hit free agency this year. Minnesota may genuinely have interest in keeping him around, but for how much? There’s only a certain contract that will make sense for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings, who have last year’s No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings.

In a new article, ESPN insider Dan Graziano projects Darnold to get a three-year, $120 million contract with $75 million guaranteed. That’s in line with the three-year, $100 million deal Baker Mayfield got from the Buccaneers last year, but adjusted upward “based on inflation and market demand.” Darnold had a better statistical season than Mayfield’s 2023, and there’s more quarterback demand this year due to a lack of obvious options in free agency and the draft.

Would the Vikings do that kind of a deal? That largely commits you to having Darnold for the next two years, which means McCarthy would have burned three years of his rookie contract before getting a chance. Unless, of course, the Michigan product earns the job anyways, in which case you’ve committed $75 million guaranteed to someone who ends up as your backup quarterback.

The Vikings could structure a two or three-year deal in a backloaded way that allows them to hold onto much of their cap space this year, but that brings the risk of ending up with a big, Kirk Cousins-like dead money charge at some point. They could also franchise tag Darnold for one year at $41 million, but that cuts into their ability to address other needs this offseason.

“I think Minnesota would love to have him around, but do they want to franchise him for like 40, 41 million dollars and then have to bench him halfway through the season when the kid is ready? Do you franchise him with the intent of trading him, just so you get something for him? I think there’s a lot of different ways that could play out, but I’m still one that I’m gonna be surprised if he’s back on the Vikings.”

BREAKING: Jaguars Set to Interview Top Vikings Assistant For OC Role

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to hold their third interview in their search for a new offensive coordinator under head coach Liam Coen.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the next coach in line to interview with Coen and the Jaguars is Minnesota Vikings assistant quarterback’s coach Grant Udinski, who has been a busy man this offseason.

Udinski has been a popular name during this year’s coaching cycle. He has drawn interest from the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and New England Patriots for offensive coordinator vacancies, which is a rapid rise for the 28-year-old assistant who has been in the NFL since 2020.

Udinski got his break into the NFL as an assistant on Matt Rhule’s staff with the Carolina Panthers in 2020 before joining Kevin O’Connell’s staff with the Vikings in 2022 as assistant to the head coach/special projects.

Vikings Get Bad News on $104 Million Star Ahead of Free Agency

The Minnesota Vikings appear set at left tackle with franchise star Christian Darrisaw, however, his outlook for the 2025 season could be unclear after a recent ESPN report.

However, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Robinson returning to Minnesota isn’t “off the table.”

“Robinson quite possibly played his way above the $20-million-per-year threshold,” Fowler wrote. “The Rams and Chiefs are among teams that could be looking for left tackle help. And a return to Minnesota isn’t totally off the table, after the Vikings traded for Robinson at midseason.”

Robinson’s return to Minnesota would be difficult to justify financially considering the Vikings just signed Darrisaw to a four-year, $104 million deal worth $26 million a year in July.

However, given the organization’s precedent in treating its stars’ injuries, Darrisaw could be in for a lengthy recovery.

After tearing his ACL and MCL in late December 2023, T.J. Hockenson did not return until Week 8. Darrisaw underwent surgery on November 4, and while that is roughly two more months of recovery time before the start of the 2025 season, the recovery timeline for an ACL and MCL tear is between nine to 12 months.

6 Senior Bowl standouts who could be Vikings targets in NFL draft

OL Grey Zabel, NDSU

Zabel played offensive tackle during his five years at North Dakota State, but he practiced on the interior this week and looked great, emerging as perhaps the biggest riser of the entire event. ESPN’s Jordan Reid said Zabel was the “most consistent of any player, regardless of position.” The 6’6” lineman has the potential to play all five spots on the line, though he might project best at guard. He could be a target for the Vikings as high as the 24th overall pick, or perhaps in the late first/early second range after a trade back.

DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Nolen might’ve had too good of a week for the Vikings to have a realistic shot at landing him. After recording 6.5 sacks this past season and shining at the Senior Bowl with his power and quickness, he could wind up as a top-20 pick in a draft with a bunch of intriguing defensive tackles. He’s the kind of player who, if he makes it to 24, should make Minnesota think otherwise about trading down. Texas A&M’s Shemart Stewart is another player who falls into that category.

DT Darius Alexander, Toledo

RB Devin Neal, Kansas

CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State

CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

3 NFL Draft prospects the Minnesota Vikings should target in round 1

Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina

Shavon Revel might be the best cornerback in the second tier of corners behind Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson. Unfortunately, Revel only played in half of East Carolina’s games this season due to a torn ACL, so his draft stock could take a hit, pushing him right into Vikings trade-down territory.

Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss

Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama

Vikings fans are enamored with the idea of signing Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith in free agency this off-season. The interior offensive line was a liability down the stretch this season, and finding upgrades is high on the to-do list for the Vikings front office.

If the team cannot sign Smith or is unwilling to pay his expected high price tag, drafting Tyler Booker from Alabama is not a bad consolation prize.

Vikings predicted to cut $15.75 million starter, upgrade protection for QB J.J. McCarthy

As the Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season crumbled in the final game of Wild-Card Weekend, the most glaring cracks could be found along their interior offensive line.

Los Angeles Rams defenders racked up a stunning 43 pressures in that playoff game, per PFF’s advanced stats, including 15 combined from Jared Verse and Byron Young. Quarterback Sam Darnold was sacked a record nine times, and Minnesota’s usually efficient offense was a shell of itself.

That brutal ending to what was one of the best regular seasons in franchise history could create urgency for change from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Minnesota’s front office. With that top of mind, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell predicts the team will explore cutting former first-round center Garrett Bradbury in an attempt to upgrade the protection for young QB J.J. McCarthy in 2025.

Here was Barnwell’s take for ESPN-plus:

The veterans the Vikings have under contract are generally locked in or playing well enough to alleviate any concerns about being released. The one exception might be Bradbury, who has settled in as a low-end starter at center. At the same time, his $5.3 million compensation for 2025 isn’t outlandish for a veteran in that range. If the Vikings want to upgrade, his unguaranteed contract could be vulnerable, but it’s more likely he’s back as the Week 1 starter.

Bradbury finished the 2024 season with PFF’s lowest pass blocking grade among Vikings O-linemen, so it’s no surprise that his future with the team would be under the microscope. If the team does make the switch to McCarthy at QB to start the 2025 season, it can’t afford to have weak links in the middle of the offensive line — especially at center.

That was a problem in 2024, despite the team’s remarkable 14-3 run in the regular season. Former second-round pick Ed Ingram became a liability at right guard, to the point where he was replaced by veteran Dalton Risner midseason. That switch made a significant difference, but at the other guard spot, Blake Brandel struggled mightily at times while leading the team with 11 penalties and surrendering 46 pressures (second only to Cam Robinson’s 49).

For context, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted center Cam Jurgens in the second round in 2022, and he’s already one of the top centers in the NFL, making the NFC’s initial Pro Bowl roster this season. The Vikings can’t say the same for Bradbury, who they took No. 19 overall in 2019. The team likely projected him as a top-five player at the position at this point in his contract. Instead, he’s struggling to the tune of 38 pressures allowed this season, the most among NFL centers in 2024. Barnwell feels the team will ultimately keep Bradbury and his affordable contract — both Risner and Brandel are cheap as well — but that would be a mistake. It’s time to move on and seek upgrades.

The Vikings own the seventh-most projected cap space in 2025, and they’ll need to start spending on the interior offensive line if they want to get over the hump in the postseason.

NFL Insider Offers Updates on Multiple Vikings Free Agents

The Minnesota Vikings have lots of work to do this offseason. With a plethora of impending free agents, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has his hands full. The good news is that the Vikings also have a ton of cap space, and can go in multiple different directions.

6. Sam Darnold, QB

“Several execs have Darnold in that Baker Mayfield range of contracts, which is around three years and $100 million with strong guarantees. The Raiders and Giants — both picking outside the top two spots in the draft — might need to pay a quarterback.”

Jeremy Fowler on Darnold (ESPN)

14. Cam Robinson, OT

“Robinson quite possibly played his way above the $20-million-per-year threshold, with the recent precedent of Garett Bolles‘ four-year, $82 million deal in Denver as a comp. The Rams and Chiefs are among teams that could be looking for left tackle help. And a return to Minnesota isn’t totally off the table, after the Vikings traded for Robinson at midseason.”

Fowler on Robinson (ESPN)

20. Byron Murphy Jr., CB

“Sources say Murphy will be looking for a rather large raise from the two-year, $17.5 million deal he just played out in Minnesota. He has played his way into bigger money.”

Fowler on Murphy Jr. (ESPN)

29. Camryn Bynum, S

“The Vikings and Bynum have had discussions about an extension. While nothing has materialized, both sides are open to it, and this could get done before mid-March.”

Fowler on Bynum (ESPN)

33. Aaron Jones, RB

“Expect Denver to look for a versatile back to bolster Sean Payton’s offense. Could Jones fit the mold despite his age? He’s the kind of runner/pass catcher who just might.”

Fowler on Jones (ESPN)

An Off Season Plan before the mock

Starting Cap Space

2025: $58,012,543

2026: $101,508,844

…

Cut Ed Ingram : saves 3.325M in 2025 cap space

Cut CJ Ham : saves 2.65M in 2025 cap space

Franchise tag Sam Darnold and trade him to Raiders for pick #68, #178, and a conditional 2026 3rd or 4th

Extend/Redo : Andrew Van Ginkel 3 yr 45M : saves 4.08M in 2025 cap space

Extend/Redo : Josh Oliver 3 yr 21M : saves 4M in 2025 cap space

Extend Daniel Jones 1 yr 15M

Extend Aaron Jones 2 yr 14M

Extend Dalton Risner 3 yr 12M

…

Sign Charvarius Ward CB 3 yr 48M

Sign Nate Hobbs CB 2 yr 10M

Sign LG Teven Jenkins 3 yr 45M

Sign DT Levi Onwuzurike 3 yr 27M

Sign S Julian Blackmon – 3 yr 24M

…

Ending Cap Space

2025: $31,027,543

2026: $16,362,844

With 31M still remaining, I expect the Vikings to be players in the cut candidate market. Javon Hargrave is rumored to be a cut candidate and he might be a good pickup. There could be some others like Grady Jarrett, DJ Reader, Tony Pollard, Noah Fant, and maybe a safety.

Top NFL Cut Candidates for All 32 Teams: Could Travis Kelce, Von Miller, and Geno Smith Make Way?

The 2026 cap number is very low but if they cut O’Neill, Phillips, and Brandel they would save 30.5M in cap space and have 37.3M to play with before any restructures.

Yore Mock

Trades

Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders

Sent: Sam Darnold

Received: Round 3 Pick 4, Round 6 Pick 4, Future Round 4 Pick

…

Trade Partner: Buffalo Bills

Sent: Round 1 Pick 24, Round 3 Pick 4

Received: Round 1 Pick 30, Round 2 Pick 30, Round 4 Pick 7

…

Trade Partner: Jacksonville Jaguars

Sent: Round 1 Pick 30

Received: Round 2 Pick 4, Round 4 Pick 5

…

Trade Partner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sent: Round 2 Pick 30, Round 4 Pick 7

Received: Round 2 Pick 21, Round 5 Pick 19

…

Trade Partner: LA Rams

Sent: Round 3 Pick 33, Round 5 Pick 22

Received: Round 3 Pick 26, Round 6 Pick 14

…

Trade Partner: Miami Dolphins

Sent: Round 4 Pick 5

Received: Round 4 Pick 14, Round 5 Pick 17

…

36: R2 P4 DL Kenneth Grant – Michigan 6’3.4” 342

53: R2 P21 C Grey Zabel – North Dakota State 6’5.3” 316

90: R3 P26 RB Kaleb Johnson – Iowa 6’0” 225

115: R4 P14 S Lathan Ransom – Ohio State 6’1” 210

138: R5 P1 CB Nohl Williams – California 6’1” 200

154: R5 P17 C Jared Wilson – Georgia 6’3” 310

156: R5 P19 LB Demetrius Knight – South Carolina 6’1.5” 246

179: R6 P4 DL Darius Alexander – Toldeo 6’3.5” 304

189: R6 P14 EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo – UCLA 6’2.6” 261

236: R7 P21 CB Mac McWilliams – UCF 5’10” 181

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