Big games today not featuring our Vikings which really stinks! I guess I like the Bills, Seahawks, Texans, and Rams this weekend. Who do you like?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Kevin O’Connell arrived in Minnesota in February 2022, fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Rams, with a reputation as a Sean McVay-trained offensive guru. A savant, a whiz on that side of the ball. Those aren’t labels he ever gave himself, by any means, but that was the perception, and that remains the perception four years later. The generally-held belief is still that the Vikings have a mastermind leading their offense.
Are we sure he deserves those (very unofficial) labels? Four years is a pretty big sample size, and although the Vikings have won plenty of regular season games during O’Connell’s tenure, their overall offensive metrics are extremely underwhelming. Just look at where they’ve ranked in two prominent all-encompassing metrics over the past four years (hat tip to Nick Olson, who pointed this out).
2022: 18th in EPA* per play, 20th in DVOA*
2023: 18th in EPA per play, 23rd in DVOA
2024: 14th in EPA per play, 15th in DVOA
2025: 28th in EPA per play, 29th in DVOA
*Expected Points Added
*Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average
Only once in four years have the Vikings had an above-average offense, according to those two useful efficiency metrics. And even then, it was barely in the top half. They’ve never cracked the top 13 in either statistic, and the 2025 team — which had another awesome defense under Brian Flores — was doomed by having one of the worst offenses in the NFL.
If you’re curious about who (arguably) deserves more credit for the Vikings’ success, here are their ranks on defense during the O’Connell era.
2022: 16th in EPA per play, 25th in DVOA (Ed Donatell was DC)
2023: 17th in EPA per play, 11th in DVOA (Flores takes over)
2024: 2nd in EPA per play, 2nd in DVOA
2025: 3rd in EPA per play, 3rd in DVOA
A major issue is that O’Connell’s Vikings have never figured out how to build an efficient running game. In 2022, they were 10th in EPA per dropback and 29th in EPA per rush. In 2023, they were 18th (11th before Cousins got hurt) and 22nd. In 2024, they were 12th in EPA per dropback and 25th in EPA per rush. This past year, they were 26th and 30th. They’ve been good (not elite) in the pass game when they’ve gotten capable quarterback play, but not once in the last four years have the Vikings ranked higher than 22nd in EPA per rush, which reflects pretty poorly on O’Connell.
Insider can’t find anyone willing to say Vikings won’t chase a superstar QB
What are the odds that the Vikings trade for a bona fide star quarterback like Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow this offseason? While the chances might be slim, there are at least two Vikings insiders who aren’t ruling out a blockbuster move.
“I could not find anyone and haven’t found anyone to tell me that they definitely don’t want to pursue a Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson or whoever else might shake loose in terms of just a guy that would absolutely, positively come in here as the unquestioned starter,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert said in an interview with Dan Barreiro on KFAN-FM 100.3 on Wednesday.
That said, Seifert thinks it’s more likely that they run it back with J.J. McCarthy, while bringing in a quarterback to serve as a more reliable backup or perhaps push McCarthy for the starting job.
“I mean, as best as I can tell and know at this point, I feel like they’re going to run back the 2025 offseason plan, which is to try to pair the guy they drafted No. 10 overall with somebody who is good enough to start if he’s not,” Seifert said.
Seifert isn’t the only reputable insider thinking the Vikings might shock the world and go after a star. Alec Lewis, in his mailbag column via The Athletic, reiterated that “nothing is off the table with regard to how aggressive the Vikings may be to build what the team’s leadership has described as a ‘deep and talented’ quarterback room.”
Vikings Trade Pitch Nets $230 Million QB to Replace McCarthy After Latest Report
That is according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, who authored his latest report on the Vikings QB room on Friday, January 16.
“As I’ve written in recent weeks, nothing is off the table with regard to how aggressive the Vikings may be to build what the team’s leadership has described as a ‘deep and talented’ quarterback room,” Lewis wrote. “It’s one thing to say that [Kevin] O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah haven’t won a playoff game in their four seasons here. It’s another to note that this ownership group has only gotten past the wild-card round twice in the last 15 years.”
…
But the home run option is to pursue a trade for a player like Kyler Murray, whom the Arizona Cardinals are prepping to deal this offseason as he heads into his age-29 campaign.
But the home run option is to pursue a trade for a player like Kyler Murray, whom the Arizona Cardinals are prepping to deal this offseason as he heads into his age-29 campaign.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on December 17 floated the Vikings as a potential landing spot for Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler (2020, 2021).
The quarterback trade market is worth watching, particularly with supply failing to meet the demand once again. This leads to a conversation on Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals are subtly — or quite obviously — trying to stash to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason.
Does a safe landing spot exist for Murray? Working with, say, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota would be ideal, but JJ McCarthy has shown improvement over the past two weeks.
…
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on December 17 floated the Vikings as a potential landing spot for Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler (2020, 2021).
‘Realistic’ Trade Destination Emerges for WR Jordan Addison After Latest Arrest
Vikings Trade Proposal Sends WR Jordan Addison to Baltimore Ravens for 3rd Round Pick
Do you have any insight into changes at the college scouting level over the past few years? — Tim F.
There haven’t been many.
Former director of college scouting Jamaal Stephenson remains with the team as a senior personnel executive. Mike Sholiton and Pat Roberts, two longtime scouts who have also been with the Vikings for more than a decade, still head the team’s college scouting staff. Below them, the Vikings have shuffled some of their college-area scouts in the last few years.
Cap Space Work
The Vikings have a lot of decisions to make to get under the cap and have a little room to add some free agents.
2026 Cap : (-$49,183,588) *this changes daily almost
Trade Hockenson and a 2027 6th to Broncos for a 4th
Trade Greenard to Pats for a 2nd
Trade Addison to 49er for Mac Jones and a 2026 4th
.
Cut Hargrave, Jones, & Kelly
.
Extend O’Neill 3 yr 69M
Extend Wright 2 yr 6M
Give Zavier Scott, Taki Taimani, & Bo Richter the ERFA tender
.
Restructure Jefferson (max)
.
Updated 2026 Cap : $19,826,642 (54 players)
2027 Cap : $31,214,523
Possible 2027 moves … Cut Allen & Metellus would take 2027 cap to $57,059,523
What free agents would you target with about 19.8M in cap space?
I like Travis Etienne or Kenneth Gainwell at RB
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: PatriotsSent: Jonathan Greenard DEReceived: PICK: 62 RND: 2…Trade Partner: 49ersSent: Jordan Addison WRReceived: Mac Jones QB, PICK: 133 RND: 4…
Trade Partner: BroncosSent: T.J. Hockenson TE, PICK: 2027 RND: 6Received: PICK: 131 RND: 4…Trade Partner: SteelersSent: 1.18Received: 1.21, 4.121…
PICK: 21 RND: 1 Sonny Styles LB Ohio State 6’5” 243PICK: 49 RND: 2 Dillon Thieneman S Oregon 6’0” 205PICK: 62 RND: 2 Keionte Scott CB Miami 6’0” 194PICK: 82 RND: 3 Zachariah Branch WR Georgia 5’10” 180PICK: 97 RND: 3 Nicholas Singleton RB Penn State 6’0” 224PICK: 121 RND: 4 Michael Trigg TE Baylor 6’4” 240PICK: 131 RND: 4 Nadame Tucker Edge Western Michigan 6’3” 250PICK: 133 RND: 4 Drew Allar QB Penn State 6’5’ 235PICK: 162 RND: 5 Pat Coogan C Indiana 6’5” 311PICK: 195 RND: 6 Bud Clark S TCU 6’2” 190PICK: 234 RND: 7 Nolan Rucci OT Penn State 6’8” 304PICK: 240 RND: 7 Chris McClellan DL Missouri 6’4” 323
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