(Other Than the Obvious)
We’re finally here: training camp. I’m pumped for the 2025 season and expecting great things. Of course, we’ve all been there before, only to have our hearts ripped out and handed to us in a flimsy takeout bag. But, as I’ve noted, this feels different (well, to me anyway). It’s more than just taking the next step and building on a successful season from the previous year. It comes with the added anticipation of possibly(?)…likely (??!!) …certainly (!!!) realizing the dream of finding our franchise (and championship-winning) QB in J.J. McCarthy. If any NFL team were the football version of Charlie Bucket in need of finding that elusive Golden Ticket, it’s the Minnesota Vikings. Instead of chocolate, this factory will be churning out something even sweeter: Super Bowl-winning memorabilia at a frenetic pace.
Of course, the obvious focus will be on McCarthy. You want to see calm, poise, and good decision making – all mixed with some off-script, viral moments that foreshadow magic when the reps count on Sundays. There will also be hiccups; I harbor no illusions otherwise. Why? Because I’d be shocked if KOC doesn’t encourage Brian Flores to throw everything but the kitchen sink at him. And whatever you see during the open portions of practice, you can bet it will be nothing compared to what happens during closed sessions. Mr. Miyagi said that a man who catches a fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything. He never saw any of Flores’s blitz and coverage packages. Any young QB who can navigate that chaos is ready for whatever any opposing D-coordinator can throw his way. Trial by fire now, reap incredible benefits later.
Yeah, I believe J.J. McCarthy will not only be fine but thrive. I provided further details about it here and here. Feel free to check it out.
Similarly, I made my prediction back in May (12-5), so, yeah, I’m all-in. That doesn’t mean there won’t be competitions and/or concerns to monitor. Let’s dive into some of these, shall we?
Offense
Justin Skule Don’t Fail Us Now. I must admit, I was in denial regarding the prospects of Christian Darrisaw being ready for Week 1. Despite saying all the encouraging things, KAM and KOC being extra cautious is logical. This follows reporting by Alex Lewis of The Athletic, saying that it was indeed a “rosy scenario” for Darrisaw to suit up against the Bears on September 8th. Enter Justin Skule. Protecting McCarthy’s blind side in his first NFL start(s) will be paramount, so I’ll be eager to see how he fares against our talented group of pass rushers in practice. He played admirably last year in Tampa Bay, with a 69.2 Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade (66.4 pass-blocking/68.9 run-blocking), giving up 12 pressures and 4 sacks in 361 snaps. If he does struggle in practice and subsequent preseason reps, then, well, we may have a problem on our hands. Either way, get well, CD.
WR3 Competition. The odds favor Jalen Nailor holding down the spot, but I wouldn’t say it’s a foregone conclusion. Nailor has added muscle mass, but it hasn’t adversely impacted him at OTAs and minicamp, where he looked good. That being said, the Tai Felton (#1 in receptions/yards in the Big Ten/91.6 PFF grade) pick in the 3rd round surprised me…a lot. There were far more pressing needs. Felton’s talent is evident, and Nailor has been inconsistent. While there were definite flashes, particularly when Jordan Addison went down early last season, he did catch 1 or fewer passes in 8 games. He is also in the final season of his rookie contract. If Felton impresses early and explodes in preseason competition, things could get interesting. With the Addison legal case now resolved and a suspension likely, the best case is for both Nailor and Felton to shine as they’d be counted on heavily.
Donovan Jackson Being Donovan Jackson. Listen, a rookie is a rookie. There will be missteps. But if training camp is filled with far more reps that reflect his brilliance at Ohio State than hiccups, we’ll be gold. Jackson’s resume at college was extraordinary: 5 sacks and 42 pressures over 1,293 blocking snaps, primarily at guard. Two sacks came in his debut at left tackle due to Josh Simmons’ injury (against Abdul Carter). After that? One pressure and zero sacks allowed in 126 pass-protection snaps during Ohio State’s College Football Playoff run, with a stellar 86.8 PFF grade. I’ll also be watching Blake Brandel, as a solid camp will boost confidence in his key role as Mr. Versatility.
Jones/Mason or Mason/Jones? Aaron Jones had a fantastic season, yet at age 30 and coming off a career high in carries (255), a complement was needed. Enter Jordan Mason, with his impressive YPC (5.2) and league-leading forced missed tackle rate (37.3%). He achieved this while facing the NFL’s 2nd highest stacked-box rate (33.3%), per Next Gen Stats. Yeah, Jordan Mason is really good. While Jones is the starter, I fully expect to see Mason excel in camp and preseason reps. It would shock me otherwise. An impressive late-July/August performance not only cements the idea that it’s a true split-back system but opens the possibility that Mason supplants Jones on the depth chart as the season progresses. Either way, it’s great to have both onboard. I love this backfield.
Defense
CB3 Competition. In my last DN article, I outlined my concerns regarding our secondary in general, and the cornerback position specifically. With Byron Murphy, Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers locked in as the #1 and #2, respectively, all eyes turn to the critical CB3 spot. Listen, I hate to play favorites, but I really would like to see Mekhi Blackmon win the job. Not simply as a feel-good story for him following the serious injury and significant rehab, but for the sake of finally seeing the Vikings draft and develop another, perennial Pro-Bowl-caliber cornerback. Xavier Rhodes was drafted 12 years (!) ago. Damn. It hasn’t been ideal since. At the DN and elsewhere, I’m seeing this will be a true competition, with Jeff Okudah being given every opportunity to win the job. His talent has never been in doubt. Only 7 cornerbacks have been taken with a Top 5 pick in the NFL draft since 2000. One of them is Jeff Okudah. Perhaps this is the ideal situation to finally unlock his enormous potential. And if any coach can make it happen, it’s Brian Flores. I’ll be watching this closely.
Emergence of Theo Jackson. Theo Jackson impressed to the point of being a priority signing ahead of free agency, with the futures of Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum up in the air. He is slated to play a critical role this year, so having a strong camp will help alleviate concerns. Flores uses a ton of hybrid “amoeba” fronts, disguised/mixed coverages, and positionless defense to counter modern spread concepts and heavy personnel packages. The abundance of 3-safety subpackages means Jackson will essentially see starting reps. He’s also been here for the duration of Flores’s tenure, so scheme familiarity will serve him well. Hoping for the best.
Blake Cashman and…? It could be interesting. I knew he wasn’t superb, but until a month or so after the season, I had no idea that Ivan Pace, Jr.’s coverage struggles were that bad. Like 29.8 PFF grade (177th out of 189 LBs), bad. Oof. Of course, he was exceptional against the run (89.1 PFF/3rd overall), but this kind of discrepancy is unacceptable, especially in this pass-driven offensive era. Bringing in Eric Wilson ($2.6 mil/$2 mil guaranteed) and drafting Kobe King out of Penn State cemented that fact. Pace holding on seems the most likely scenario, but it’ll take a combination of a solid camp, defined by coverage improvements, and Wilson not playing lights out to secure it. The King selection was particularly intriguing given that Pace is in a contract year and the 2026 cap situation is an absolute horror show.
Special Teams
Will Reichard, Back to Hero Level. Listen, for Vikings fans, kickers and heartbreak go together like peanut butter and jelly, copy and paste, old guys and park benches, sharks and tornadoes. We need a hero to emerge to break this dreadful cycle and banish the nightmarish memories to the ash heap of history. A well-coiffed meme inspiration to unite Americans during these divided and divisive times. We need the hero Will Reichard. It started so well: He was perfect on the season coming into Week 9, making his first 14 field goals of the season. This included 4 kicks of 50+ yards and utter perfection on extra points (20 for 20). Then the injury. If Superman can succumb to kryptonite, Will Reichard can succumb to a quadriceps injury. Nothing was ever the same. He ended with an 80% success rate on field goals, including a Week 17 implosion against the Green Bay Lex Luthors. I’ll be watching our hero closely in camp to confirm a return to form and his Hall of Fame trajectory. The alternative? I simply cannot bear the thought.
Conclusion
Of course, this list is not exhaustive. There’ll be intriguing depth and roster battles across the board, and I look forward to seeing how those play out (and writing about them) in due course.
We made it, folks. The end of the most tediously long off-season in all professional sports is finally here. Enjoy the ride!
“Let’s rock.” – Al Bundy
