News Vikings Team Notes

Can you guess this Vikings OLB/DE in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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Think you can figure out which Vikings player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Vikings fans! We’re back for another day of the Daily Norseman in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​


If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​


Tuesday, March 11
Monday, March 10
Sunday, March 9

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​


NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​


The goal of the game is to guess the correct Vikings player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/12/24382619/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5
 
Vikings, Harrison Smith Agree To Deal for 14th Season

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

The Hitman returns!

The longest-tenured member of the Minnesota Vikings is coming back for one more go-around.

Numerous sources on social media are reporting that the Vikings and safety Harrison Smith have agreed to a new deal for the safety that will bring him back for a fourteenth season in purple. The team needed to get a new deal done before the third day of the new league year on Friday in order to prevent Smith’s entire 2026 salary. . .which would have been well north of $20 million. . .from becoming fully guaranteed.

UPDATE: According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the deal is a one-year deal worth $10.25 million and can be worth up to $14 million with incentives.

Smith has been with the Vikings since he was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, spending his first thirteen seasons in purple. He certainly has a Hall of Fame resume, as this past season he became one of just seven players in the history of the league to register at least 30 career interceptions and at least 20 career quarterback sacks. Five of the other six players who have accomplished that feat are in Canton, and if there’s any justice Harrison Smith will join them one day.

Smith’s return becomes more important with the departure of Camryn Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. He’ll now be part of a safety room that appears to have a bigger role in mind for Theo Jackson and could also start using Joshua Metellus as more of a pure safety with Bynum’s departure.

A lot of Vikings fans are going to be happy tonight, as Harrison Smith is coming back for (at least) one more season with the Minnesota Vikings.
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...vikings-harrison-smith-agree-deal-14th-season
 
Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 4 Open Thread

Georgia v Alabama

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

The heavy lifting is done but some more work is needed

The third day of free agency saw the team extend Harrison Smith which should solidify the safety position for 2025.

The team still needs another QB, RB, WR, TE, LB, and possibly CB & OT.

The salary cap websites (overthecap & Spotrac) do not have the Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Hitman new deals recorded yet.

The team has 48M & 44M left the next two years respectively but those numbers will go down considerably.

I know the talk has been about Aaron Rodgers but I do not think the team has the cap space to pay him what he will want.

It is fun to speculate I suppose but it is kind of like the Sam Darnold franchise tag talk.

I think any other free agents signed will be close to minimum level deals. Maybe a couple around 3-4 mil.


What other free agents will they target or do you want them to target?

Ranking the best available 2025 NFL free agents

Here are some of the players I like ...

Gardner Minshew QB​

Drew Lock QB​

JK Dobbins RB​

Miles Sanders RB​

Cam Akers RB​

Dillon Radunz OT​

Elijah Moore WR​

Devin Duvernay WR​

Jaelon Darden WR​

Clelin Ferrell DL 28​

Jamin Davis LB 26​

Minnesota Vikings News and Links​


Your Minnesota Vikings 2025 Free Agency Tracker

Minnesota Vikings 2025 depth chart: Updated look after free agency spending spree


Who are the Vikings’ veteran quarterback options left in free agency?

Mac Jones

Jones is a former first-round pick who is just 26 years old, giving him some lingering upside if he were to get accepted into O’Connell’s prestigious quarterback academy. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Patriots, then saw his numbers fall off over the next two seasons to the point where he clearly was no longer the answer in New England. The Pats traded Jones to the Jaguars last year and drafted Drake Maye, and Jones wound up making seven starts while Lawrence was hurt. The results were similarly mediocre. Still, Jones has good size and was highly productive when playing with elite receivers at Alabama, so he could be a reasonable solution for the Vikings.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew would be a fun addition for the vibes alone. Known for his mustache and his personality, the former sixth-round pick has had stretches of “Minshew Mania” during a solid career. He threw 37 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions in his first two seasons with the Jaguars, then spent a couple years as a backup with the Eagles before landing with the Colts in 2023, where he started 13 games and actually wound up as a replacement player in the Pro Bowl. Minshew had a career-low 81 passer rating and more picks than touchdowns last year in nine starts with the Raiders, but he’s a high-end backup who turns 29 in May. He was released by Las Vegas, so there would be no risk of him factoring into the comp pick formula even if he gets a decent-sized contract.


Minnesota Vikings slate of 2025 NFL Draft picks made official as the league announces compensatory selection

First round: 24th overall

Third round: 97th overall (compensatory selection)

Fifth round: 139th overall

Fifth round: 160th overall

Second-round pick: to the Houston Texans in the trade up to 23rd overall

Third and fourth-round picks: trade up from 23rd overall to 17th overall in the move-up for edge rusher Dallas Turner

Sixth and seventh-round picks: trade with the Cleveland Browns when the Vikings sent them Za’Darius Smith


Your humor for the day!

Will the 49ers Trade for Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy?

The Vikings and Aaron Rodgers have mutual interest according to reports. Does that mean Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is available, and would the 49ers be interested in trading for him?

The Vikings drafted McCarthy last year before they realized just how good their roster was. Then they won 14 games with Sam Darnold as their quarterback. Now, they probably think they can win a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers, and they might be right.

Which brings us back to McCarthy. He’s an extremely talented young quarterback, but he doesn’t quite fit the Vikings all-in win-now timeline, because he’s essentially a rookie. You can’t expect him to win a Super Bowl in his first season starting.

Meanwhile, the 49ers aren’t all-in anymore. In fact, they’re rebuilding and slashing their spending budget. So McCarthy actually would be a great fit for them.

What’s the point of making Brock Purdy the highest-paid player in franchise history when the front office is in the process of tearing down the team around him? Why spend so much money on a non-elite quarterback when the 49ers are so far away from Super Bowl contention?

If the 49ers want to save money, what better way than to trade Brock Purdy to a team that needs a quarterback (the Steelers?) and then trade for McCarthy, who won’t be eligible for an extension until 2027?

Note: Most will say GTFOH with this nonsense but you really cannot blame 49er fan for drooling about JJ McCarthy right?

Yore Mock​

I am doing a Kwesi “eff them future picks” mock here.​

Trades​

Trade Partner: Seattle Seahawks​

Sent: Garrett Bradbury, Future Round 7 Pick​

Received: Round 5 Pick 37​

...​

Trade Partner: Baltimore Ravens​

Sent: Round 1 Pick 24​

Received: Round 1 Pick 27, Round 4 Pick 34​

...​

Trade Partner: Seattle Seahawks​

Sent: Round 3 Pick 33, Future Round 3 Pick​

Received: Round 3 Pick 18, Future Round 5 Pick​

...​

Trade Partner: Denver Broncos​

Sent: Round 4 Pick 34, Round 5 Pick 37​

Received: Round 4 Pick 20, Round 6 Pick 32​

...​

Trade Partner: Dallas Cowboys​

Sent: Future Round 4 Pick​

Received: Round 5 Pick 33, Round 6 Pick 35​

...​


27: R1 P27 LB Jihaad Campbell - Alabama 6’3” 235


82: R3 P18 RB TreVeyon Henderson - Ohio State 5’10.1” 202


122: R4 P20 DL Ty Robinson - Nebraska 6’5.1” 288


139: R5 P1 S/CB Caleb Ransaw - Tulane 5’11.3 197

Reese’s Senior Bowl 2025 - Practice
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

160: R5 P22 CB Jacob Parrish - Kansas State 5’9.6” 191

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 16 Arizona State at Kansas State
Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

171: R5 P33 G Dylan Fairchild - Georgia 6’5.2” 318

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 02 Allstate Sugar Bowl CFP Quarterfinal - Notre Dame vs Georgia
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

208: R6 P32 QB Riley Leonard - Notre Dame 6’3.6” 216


211: R6 P35 WR Jaylin Lane - Virginia Tech 5’9.6” 191


237: R7 P21 TE Thomas Fidone - Nebraska 6’5.0 243


Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

  • No discussion of politics or religion
  • No feeding of the trolls
  • Leave the gender hatred at the door
  • Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
  • Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
  • No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
  • If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
  • While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...rthy-drew-lock-gardner-minshew-harrison-smith
 
Report: Vikings to Release Garrett Bradbury If They Can’t Find a Trade

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

The starter at center is on the way out

When the Minnesota Vikings signed center Ryan Kelly away from the Indianapolis Colts early in free agency, the writing figured to be on the wall for incumbent starter Garrett Bradbury. Now, it sounds like that news is going to come sooner rather than later.

Reports have surfaced from numerous sources that the Vikings intend to release Bradbury if they can’t find a trade partner in the very near future. The move would free up around $3.6 million in cap space, or $5.25 million if they wanted to designate him a post-1 June cut. In the latter case, they would have to carry his current cap figure until that date.

Bradbury is the last member of the squad from the Vikings’ draft class of 2019. when the Vikings drafted him at #18 overall out of North Carolina State. He’s played in 88 regular season games for the Vikings in his career, all of them starts.

We’ve seen a lot of the same things from Bradbury throughout the course of his career. He’s always been a pretty solid performer in the run game, but struggled quite a bit in pass protection. He played well enough to get into a second contract with the Vikings, but now the team has decided to move in another direction.

After this announcement, I’d be surprised if a trade were to materialize, given that the Vikings have made their intentions known. Whether it’s by a trade or by a release, Garrett Bradbury’s time in Minnesota appears to be at an end.
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...o-release-garrett-bradbury-if-cant-find-trade
 
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Free Agency Day 5 Open Thread

Tennessee v Ohio State - Playoff First Round

Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

We are going to need another QB right?

The fourth day of free agency saw the team sign a decent backup swing tackle for probably not much. Very nice.

I posted a comment yesterday about Aaron Rodgers not being due any money from the Jets for 2025. Thus, he needs a new contract and it will be important to what the money represents right? I do not see the Vikings spending a ton of money to get him. Russell Wilson would also come at a substantial cost. I mean, even if both would take only 20M to come to Minnesota that would be doable. I guess they could do anything if they wanted but I would hate to see it.

I am only guessing here but considering the Vikings are not making any moves to sign any of the other veteran backup type QBs that are now being signed elsewhere, they might be waiting on Atlanta to cut Kirk Cousins. Cousins will be owed money by Atlanta that will be offset by any money he receives from a new team. Cousins know KOC’s offense too. It makes all kinds of sense to bring him back provided he is willing on a minimum level deal similar to Russell Wilson with the Steelers last year. If that is not the plan and Atlanta may not release him then I have no clue what they are waiting on.

What QB is left? I would just sign Drew Lock and forget about it at this point. I do not think there is a trade out there that makes much sense.

Can the Vikings trade Bradbury to the Patriots for Joe Milton?

I think the team still needs another QB, RB, WR, TE, LB, and CB.

What other free agents will they target or do you want them to target?

Ranking the best available 2025 NFL free agents

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-the-best-available-2025-nfl-free-agents

Minnesota Vikings News and Links​


Grading the Minnesota Vikings’ major free agent signings so far

RB Aaron Jones: B

Contract: 2 years, $20 million ($13M guaranteed)

.

CB Isaiah Rodgers: B+

Contract: 2 years, $11 million ($8M guaranteed, incentives up to $15M)

.

C Ryan Kelly: A

Contract: 2 years, $18 million ($9M guaranteed)

.

CB Byron Murphy Jr: C

Contract: 3 years, $54 million ($34.8M guaranteed, incentives to $66 million)

.

DT Jonathan Allen: A-

Contract: 3 years, $51 million ($31.3M guaranteed, incentives to $60M)

.

G Will Fries: B

Contract: 5 years, $88 million (exact details TBA)

.

Javon Hargrave: A

Contract: 2 years, $30 million ($19M guaranteed)


Vikings Get Concerning News in Search for New Veteran QB

While appearing confident to move forward with J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback, the Vikings still need a veteran buffer if the 22-year-old is not ready for the role.

Option A was Daniel Jones, who spent two months with the team after his release from the New York Giants in November. However, Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts, leaving Minnesota searching free agency for someone to pair with McCarthy.

The Vikings remain idle on the quarterback front four days after the negotiating window opened.

And many options have signed elsewhere.

The latest: Gardner Minshew, who agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

On March 12, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that the Vikings are at least considering what it would look like to bring in Aaron Rodgers.

Since Jones decided to sign with the Colts, the Vikings have watched Marcus Mariota, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, Mac Jones and Minshew sign elsewhere.

Minnesota is doing its diligence in its decision, but the longer the Vikings wait, the more their potential options degrade.

Some veterans who are still available are Russell Wilson, Taylor Heinecke, Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, and Carson Wentz.

According to Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz, the Vikings are looking for a veteran quarterback to sign to go along with their preparation of McCarthy.

“While there have been murmurs about the Vikings and Rodgers, I have not gotten the sense Minnesota wants to go in that direction. After losing backups Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens in free agency, the Vikings will likely add a veteran to their QB room at some point as they prepare 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy,” Schultz wrote.


Latest Minnesota Vikings contract details reveal continued brilliance in proper structure from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

A few days before the legal tampering period began, the Vikings extended one of their own in safety Theo Jackson. The deal was initially reported as a two-year extension worth approximately $12.6 million at its initial reporting.

The contract is essentially a three-year, $9.365 million deal, which is about $25% less than initially reported. It also is similar to the contract they gave offensive lineman Blake Brandel last March and he started at left guard all season.

Note: He got a 3M signing bonus and a first year salary of 1.1M. His second year salry, roster bonus, and workout bonus come to 1.5M. He is getting 5.6M over the first two years. His third year salary is 3.497M and his cap hit is 4.715M. They would save 3.715M if they cut or traded him in year 3.

Yore Mock​

Trades​

Trade Partner: Seahawks​

Sent: Garrett Bradbury​

Received: Round 5 Pick 173​

...​

Trade Partner: Lions​

Sent: Round 1 Pick 24, Round 3 Pick 97​

Received: Round 1 Pick 28, Round 2 Pick 60, Round 6 Pick 197​

...​

Trade Partner: Saints​

Sent: Round 1 Pick 28, Round 5 Pick 140​

Received: Round 2 Pick 40, Round 3 Pick 71, Round 4 Pick 111​

...​

Trade Partner: Raiders​

Sent: Round 5 Pick 161​

Received: Round 6 Pick 181, Round 6 Pick 214​

...​


R2 P40 OG Donovan Jackson - Ohio State 6’3.5” 315


R2 P60 RB Quinshon Judkins - Ohio State 5’10.1” 202


R3 P71 QB Jalen Milroe - Alabama 6’1.7” 217


R4 P111 DT Ty Robinson - Nebraska 6’5.1” 288


R5 P173 LB Cody Simon - Ohio State 6’1.7” 229


R6 P181 CB Caleb Ransaw - Tulane 5’11.3” 197


R6 P197 WR Jaylin Lane - Virginia Tech 5’9.6” 191


R7 P214 S Craig Woodson - Cal 6’5.0 243


Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

  • No discussion of politics or religion
  • No feeding of the trolls
  • Leave the gender hatred at the door
  • Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
  • Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
  • No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
  • If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
  • While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...s-jameis-winston-jj-mccarthy-garrett-bradbury
 
Former Cardinals WR Rondale Moore visiting Vikings

San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images

The Vikings are reportedly hosting former Cardinals WR Rondale Moore, a former second-round pick in 2021.

The Vikings have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, but that isn’t stopping them from doing their homework and seeing if they can’t get even more explosive on offense.

On Friday morning, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that former Cardinals and Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore is visiting with Vikings.


Free-agent WR Rondale Moore is visiting today with the Vikings.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2025​
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Moore is a former second-round pick by the Cardinals in 2021. He played collegiately at Purdue where he was a 2018 consensus All-American and voted the Big Ten WR of the Year that same season. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury cost him eight games during the 2019 season and he played in just three contests during the pandemic-shortened 2020 Big Ten season that spanned just five games.

It’s been a rough journey for Moore since that spectacular 2018 collegiate season. Despite the injuries, his pure talent kept him afloat as an early day-two pick in the draft.

In his rookie season, Moore played in 14 games, his most since 2018, and earned seven starts. He ended that season with a career-high 435 yards and one touchdown to go with 76 rushing yards. In 2022, he missed nine games with another injury but still started all eight games he played in. The following season, his last with the Cardinals, he started eight games while playing in all 17, finishing with 352 yards and one score on 40 receptions.


Rondale Moore visiting the Vikings is a really smart move.

Former 2nd-round pick and only 24. He’s dynamic and explosive with the ball and has great YAC when healthy.

Injuries have been an issue, he perfectly fits Kwesi’s strategy—low risk, high reward. This has real potential pic.twitter.com/l16WDQT0v6

— Matt Anderson (@MattAnderson_8) March 14, 2025​
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Moore was traded to the Falcons prior to the 2024 season in exchange for quarterback Desmond Ridder. His time with Atlanta unfortunately ended before it began as he suffered a season-ending injury in early August during a training camp practice.

Should Moore be healthy, he’d be an ideal gadget player and a potential Brandon Powell replacement in the Vikings offense.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...nals-rondale-moore-visiti-free-agency-falcons
 
Can you guess this Vikings specialist in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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Think you can figure out which Vikings player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Vikings fans! We’re back for another day of the Daily Norseman in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​


If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​


Friday, March 14, 2025
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​


NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​


The goal of the game is to guess the correct Vikings player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/15/24386380/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5
 
What Ryan Kelly Brings to the Table for the Vikings

Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

How the veteran center could impact the Vikings’ offense

One of the Minnesota Vikings’ first moves in free agency was the acquisition of center Ryan Kelly, a nine-year veteran formerly with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal is a 2-year contract for $18 million ($9 million AAV), with $9.25 million guaranteed. That gives him the 7th highest AAV contract among centers in the league. His previous contract made him the highest paid center in the league.

The move was a bit of a surprise, given first-round pick Garrett Bradbury on the roster, but Bradbury has continually struggled as a pass protector since he was drafted and last season led the league in pressures allowed among starting centers.

The Vikings’ interior offensive line has been the weak spot of their offense for many years now and now that they don’t have a big financial commitment at quarterback, they’re able to direct some of that salary cap savings toward bolstering the offensive line. That started with acquiring center Ryan Kelly.

Ryan Kelly’s Background​


Kelly played his college football at Alabama, where his success rate (snaps when he successfully completed his assignment) was over 99% in both his junior and senior years. He was named first-team All-SEC his senior year (2015), won the Rimington trophy for best center, was a consensus All-American, and won the CFP National Championship with Alabama that year as well.

Kelly was drafted 18th overall in 2016 with a 9.54 RAS by the Indianapolis Colts. Over his nine seasons with the Colts:

  • He was named to the Pro Bowl four times (2019-21, 2023)
  • Received second-team All-Pro in 2020
  • Named team captain in 2023 and 2024
  • Coming off his rookie contract in 2020, his new veteran contract made him the highest paid center in the league at the time.
  • Achieved a career 98.2 PFF pass blocking efficiency grade, tied for 7th best among active centers with Frank Ragnow.
  • Has never allowed more than 19 quarterback pressures in a season.
  • Only one season when he allowed more than 2 sacks.
  • In 2024, he had the 4th highest PFF Pass Protection Win Rate among centers, winning 147 of 152 (96.6%) pass blocking snaps, not including RPOs, screens, and spikes.
  • Has been middle-of-the-pack and more varied as a run blocker, both year-to-year and between gap and zone scheme PFF grades but has graded similarly in both schemes over his career. Last season he graded better on gap scheme runs. In terms of run blocking PFF grade, Kelly has generally ranged from the mid 60s to mid 70s, which is average to above average.

Injury History​


Kelly, who turns 32 at the end of May, has missed 24 games over his nine-season pro career due to injury.

  • In 2024, he missed two games due to a neck injury and five following knee surgery.
  • In 2023, he missed three games due to a concussion.
  • In 2022, he played the full season.
  • In 2021, he missed two games- one due to a knee injury and the other, non-injury related following the stillborn death of his baby daughter.
  • In 2020, he missed one game due to a neck injury.
  • In 2019, he played the full season.
  • In 2018, he missed three games due to a knee injury and one due to a neck injury.
  • In 2017, he missed the first four games of the season with a foot injury, then was placed on injured reserve for the last five games of the season with a concussion.
  • In 2016, he played the full season.

Overall, Kelly has had reoccurring knee, neck, and concussion injuries, and has only three complete seasons in his nine with the Colts. And at age 32 when the upcoming season starts, Kelly will carry a higher risk of injury given his age.

This is the biggest risk with Kelly at this point in his career, as he’s been otherwise a consistent performer even after he turned 30. With a decent backup, the Vikings could handle Kelly missing a couple games due to injury, but another stint on IR could be more difficult to overcome without some downside to offensive performance.

What Kelly Brings to the Table for the Vikings​


Comparing Kelly to the Vikings former starter at center, Garrett Bradbury, Kelly is a much better pass protector that has allowed roughly half the quarterback pressures that Bradbury has allowed. This should be the expectation for Kelly as a starter for the Vikings.

I would not expect him to be much better as a run blocker overall, although he may do better in gap scheme runs than Bradbury has in the past. Bradbury’s strong suit was his ability to zone block, and he has proven to be a better zone run blocker than Kelly. Overall, I wouldn’t expect a big difference in run blocking performance between the two.

Kelly’s other strong suit besides being one of the better pass protectors among starting centers in the league, is his ability to decipher defenses pre-snap and make the correct protection call. He has a reputation for being particularly good in that aspect of his position. That’s not to say Bradbury struggled in that area, but Kelly is likely to be at least as good in that regard.

Lastly, Kelly is a stronger leader than Bradbury. Kelly was a team captain for the Colts the past two seasons and received many accolades from his teammates for his leadership ability. Bradbury has never been named a team captain nor really mentioned much as a leader among the offensive linemen- Brian O’Neill has been the leader of that group for several years now.

Bottom Line​


Kelly will be a clear upgrade to Garrett Bradbury provided he can stay healthy, particularly in pass protection. Kelly has better size and arm length than Bradbury, which helps against the bull rushes Bradbury struggled with his entire career. Kelly is also known to be good at making second-level blocks in the run game, which Bradbury occasionally did too.

But overall, the Vikings are likely to benefit from Kelly’s greater presence up front making the protection calls and his sound technique in pass protection. This will be a great benefit to young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and make his job easier as he learns the ropes.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/15/24386599/what-ryan-kelly-brings-to-the-table-for-the-vikings
 
Can you guess this Vikings safety in today’s in-5 trivia game?

dn_social.0.png


Think you can figure out which Vikings player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Vikings fans! We’re back for another day of the Daily Norseman in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​


If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​


Saturday, March 15, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025
Thursday, March 13, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​


NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​


The goal of the game is to guess the correct Vikings player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/16/24386979/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5
 
Vikings Trade with 49ers for RB Jordan Mason

NFL: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

25 year-old back had a breakout season last year

The Minnesota Vikings have made a trade for 49ers running back Jordan Mason.

Terms of the Deal​


In return for Jordan Mason, the Vikings are sending the 2026 sixth-round pick they got for Ed Ingram recently, and are also swapping picks with the 49ers in this year’s draft. The Vikings are sending the 49ers their pick #160 and the 49ers will send their pick #187 to the Vikings.

Additionally, Mason has agreed to a 2-year, $7 million fully guaranteed contract with the Vikings that includes incentives up to $12 million.

About Jordan Mason​


The Vikings got an up close and personal view of Mason’s ability in week two last season, when the normally stout Vikings’ run defense gave up 100 yards on 20 carries (5.0 average) to Mason, including 69 yards after contact.

That turned out to be pretty typical for Mason last season, as he finished the season with a 5.2 average yards per carry and a 5.3 average for his career. Last season, he had the 7th highest average yards after contact per carry, besting backs like Saquon Barkeley, Jahymr Gibbs, and Bijon Robinson.

Mason was the backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, but got his opportunity with McCaffrey injured to start the season and made the most of it. He would later injure his shoulder and miss some time. McCaffrey later returned, reducing Mason’s role. He ended the season on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.

Mason went undrafted in the 2022 draft, but managed to make the 49ers squad as a special teamer. But when he got his opportunities, he made the best of them- culminating in his breakout season last year.

Now Mason has an opportunity for an even bigger role with the Vikings in rotation with Aaron Jones. Both are similar types of runners, although Mason is about 15 pounds heavier than Jones. Mason was primarily a zone scheme runner in San Francisco.

Jordan Mason 2024 Highlights​

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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/15/24386849/vikings-trade-with-49ers-for-rb-jordan-mason
 
Vikes Views: Free Agency Grade

TGL presented by SoFi: JUP v ATL

Photo by Carmen Mandato/TGL/TGL via Getty Images

It’s been a week since the “legal tampering period” opened and we’re 5 days into the league year. So this obviously means we need to react to what happened in the last 7 days. There are still outstanding questions at QB2 (or QB1 depending on the route) and a few other open spots before we start to turn our focus on the draft.

The additions Minnesota Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made to the roster are expected to make a large impact. KAM decided to focus on the line play after watching the Eagles march their way through the playoffs. The Vikings added a new starting C and OG to the offensive line that was struggling on the interior. He also added two big men on defense with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. He also brought back Aaron Jones to help take some pressure off JJ McCarthy. More importantly the defensive backfield brought back two key players in Byron Murphy Jr and Harrison Smith.

The departures list shouldn’t be too surprising to anyone paying attention to the team. The biggest headline will obviously be the entire QB room leaving outside of last year’s 1st round pick and a player on a reserve contract. The Vikings will have to replace Cam Bynum in the secondary and the player 3rd in sacks last year, Pat Jones II. I am still shocked Kwesi was able to get anything for Ed Ingram.

The additions, on paper, seem to outweigh the departures, when you discount Sam Darnold leaving for JJ McCarthy returning from injury. That being said, the Vikings have signed a lot of players that have a long injury history. There is a lot of talent there, but it will be their responsibility to keep them healthy. If they can successfully manage the health of the team, the Vikings are lined up for big things in 2025. The offseason is young and there is a long ways to go before the season. Free Agency was always going to be more important this year with the lack of draft capital. I like what I’ve seen so far and look forward to more big moves coming.

Signings​


DL Jonathan Allen, OG Will Fries, C Ryan Kelly, DL Javon Hargrave, S Bubba Bolden, CB Isaiah Rodgers, OT Justin Skule and LB Eric Wilson

Re-Signed/Extended​


RB Aaron Jones, CB Byron Murphy, S Harrison Smith, S Theo Jackson and P Ryan Wright

Departures​


QB Sam Darnold, QB Daniel Jones, QB Nick Mullens, S Camyrn Bynum, OLB Pat Jones II, TE Johnny Mundt and WR Trent Sherfield

Trade​


OG Ed Ingram was traded to the Texans.

RB Jordan Mason has been acquired from the San Francisco 49ers.
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/17/24387850/vikes-views-free-agency-grade
 
The Vikings Designated Bradbury as a post-June 1st Cut- Should We Read Something into That?

Minnesota Vikings Mandatory Minicamp


With still over $30 million in cap space this year, why would the Vikings opt for a little more?

When the Minnesota Vikings released Garrett Bradbury, it was reported that he would be designated as a post-June 1st release, which allows the Vikings to shift more of the deadcap hit for releasing Bradbury into next year. That’s typically a move teams make when they don’t have a lot of cap space to work with in the current year- but the Vikings have over $30 million in cap space remaining this year.

That begs the question of why would they feel the need to do that?

More Deals Upcoming?​


One of the most plausible reasons for the Vikings to do so is the most common- the need the extra salary cap space this year. But that would imply the Vikings are not yet done with their free agency shopping spree- despite having spent the most in free agency of any team this year by a significant margin if you add up all the total contract values.

But the Vikings still have some weak links in their roster, and there are still some free agents that could make sense. There really isn’t another reason that makes sense, as unused cap space rolls forward into next season- making the post-June 1st designation for Bradbury unnecessary as it wouldn’t make any difference for the Vikings’ 2026 salary cap one way or another. But if the Vikings are planning to use most of their cap space this year- and that’s what they’ve done just about every season for the last several- then pushing some of Bradbury’s deadcap hit into next season makes sense.

Who Could the Vikings be Looking to Acquire?​


Of course the one big name that would likely be a substantial cap hit for the Vikings would be Aaron Rodgers. Of course if the Vikings’ wanted a high price veteran to play quarterback for them this season, they could’ve signed Sam Darnold to the same contract the Seahawks did, which apparently gives them an easy out after one year. And apart from some usually reliable insiders at The Athletic indicating the Vikings have interest and speculating they might sign him, there hasn’t been much to suggest the Vikings will take the plunge with Rodgers. Be that as it may, I also have a hard time believing Kevin O’Connell would sit J.J. McCarthy another season and take on Aaron Rodgers and all that means for the franchise. Maybe as a backup and mentor to McCarthy on a backup salary, but that seems an unlikely role for Rodgers to embrace.

The Vikings still have a need for a veteran backup quarterback, however, and while the available options aren’t spectacular, they’re also not guys likely to play for the veteran minimum, so some cap space needs to be devoted to backup quarterback.

LG Teven Jenkins​


A more plausible free agent the Vikings might target is Teven Jenkins, who was graded the 15th best guard in the league last season by PFF and is a free agent at 27 after coming off his rookie contract with the Bears. He is a good run blocker and in pass protection and would be an instant upgrade of the weak link on the Vikings offensive line after the Ryan Kelly and Will Fries signings. Like the other linemen the Vikings have signed in free agency, Jenkins has an injury history of note, but other than that would solidify the left guard spot for the Vikings for the next few years.

Jenkins has a $10.3 million AAV according to Spotrac, or at least he did before the Will Fries signing- who is a close comparable that likely raises his market value considerably. Signing Jenkins to a higher-end guard deal would really lift the Vikings’ cap percentage for the OL group to an unprecedented level, but with good offensive linemen becoming increasingly scarce and drafted offensive linemen often needing a few years to develop into good ones, maybe it makes sense for the Vikings to pour their salary cap into the offensive line while McCarthy is on his rookie contract.

CB Jaire Alexander​


The Vikings could look to do more to upgrade their cornerback room, and the Packers are reportedly trying to trade Alexander or will release him most likely before the draft. The Packers and Alexander haven’t been on good terms for a while now, so the Packers parting ways with the oft-injured cornerback isn’t a huge surprise. The Packers recently signed CB Nate Hobbs on a 4-year, $48 million deal. When healthy, Alexander (28) has been one of the better cornerbacks in the league. Alexander last signed a $21 million AAV contract with the Packers in 2022 but has missed nearly half the Packers’ games since then due to injury.

Other Likely Signings​


Beyond one or both of these potential more expensive free agent signings, along with a backup quarterback, the Vikings will also likely need to add another wide receiver and a few other low-end depth players which altogether could cost them close to $30 million depending on how the contracts were structured. The Vikings typically like to keep $5 million or so in cap space available during the season for injury-related signings.

Bottom line, even though the Vikings have already spent a lot in free agency so far, their decision to make Garrett Bradbury a post-June 1st cut could be a signal that they’ve still got one or two other bigger signings they’d like to get done.
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...ne-1st-cut-should-we-read-something-into-that
 
Vikings Agree to Terms with WR Tim Jones

Jacksonville Jaguars v Las Vegas Raiders

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Who? Let’s find out together!

After the signing of Jeff Okudah earlier on Tuesday morning, the Minnesota Vikings decided to add some depth to their wide receiver room as well.

The team has announced that they have reached an agreement with wide receiver Tim Jones, with the terms of that deal not immediately being made available.

Jones initially signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi in 2021 and spent that entire season on the Jacksonville practice squad. Over the past three seasons, he has appeared in all 51 regular season games for the Jaguars with three starts.

He hasn’t put up much in terms of receiving numbers, as he has just 17 receptions for 154 yards and no touchdowns. His biggest value appears to be on special teams, as he played 68% of the Jaguars’ special teams snaps this past season. Jones also had a pair of kick returns this past season for 43 yards.

This is, once again, another depth signing for the Vikings. I’m sure that Jones will get a chance to compete for time in camp and, in all likelihood, will continue to be a special teams contributor for the team if he makes the squad.

Welcome to Minnesota, Tim Jones!
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...im-jones-jacksonville-jaguars-nfl-free-agency
 
Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 9 Open Thread

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 30 Washington at Oregon

Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The team is steadily making moves!

Free agency is now at the stage where small signings will all that we will probably see. The largest one will likely be for another QB whether that be you know who or someone else. The current cap space is still about 32M but that is without Jordan Mason included. The details are not out yet but here is one site that has something ...

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/inside-the-jordan-mason-deal

We do not know if there are any void years included. This probably takes the cap space down to 28.5M.

The Bradbury post June1 cap savings of about 5M could be used to sign the draft picks.

I do not know if they are going to do something with O’Neill’s deal but I think they probably will. They might extend Oliver and Metellus too. That would free up cap space this year but take away cap space in 2026 where they are already in the red.

There will be some modifications for sure.

If they sign you know who then I expect a lot of cap moves.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links​


How have free agency additions impacted Vikings’ NFL draft outlook?

Think about Minnesota’s needs coming into free agency (here’s how I ranked them) and how many of the boxes they’ve checked within the last week alone.

Interior offensive line? Checked off with Will Fries and Ryan Kelly.

Interior defensive line? Welcome, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.

Cornerback? Byron Murphy Jr. is back and Isaiah Rodgers joins the fold.

Running back? Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason could be one of the best duos in football.

Safety? Harrison Smith is running it back for a 14th season.

The Vikings also added depth pieces and special teams contributors in Justin Skule, Tavierre Thomas, and Eric Wilson — and they have the cap space to keep going. They’ll sign a veteran quarterback to pair with J.J. McCarthy at some point. Hosting Rondale Moore and Jeff Okudah on free agent visits indicates that additions at wide receiver and cornerback remain likely. They could potentially add another guard, too.

When April rolls around, the Vikings’ decision-makers will be able to stick to their big board and take the best player available at a wide range of position groups.


Vikings notes: Jefferson’s contract a bargain, Rondale Moore visiting Bears

On Sunday night, Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase agreed to a four-year, $161 million contract extension with $112 million guaranteed. That $40.25 million average annual value makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

It also makes the Vikings’ contract extension for Justin Jefferson last offseason look even better. Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million deal with $110 million guaranteed. At the time, he was the highest-paid non-QB ever, but he’s since been surpassed by Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, and now Chase.

Moore visiting Bears

Free agent wide receiver Rondale Moore, who visited the Vikings on Friday, is now visiting with the Chicago Bears, according to NFL Network. The former second-round pick out of Purdue may have other options as well, but it’s possible he’ll be deciding between a pair of NFC North rivals. If all contract terms were hypothetically equal, would a receiver rather play with Kevin O’Connell and McCarthy or Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams?


Updated Vikings depth chart after Minnesota’s near $300M free agent spending spree

You could easily make that argument after one of the most skilled and playmaking teams on both sides of the football got bigger, tougher and more experienced this past week. If the Vikings can get Pro Bowl-level play from McCarthy in what should be his highly-anticipated debut season as QB1, the Vikings will enter 2025 on the NFL’s short list of Super Bowl contenders.


Minnesota Vikings in Contact with Another Veteran QB

We know one thing for sure. Brett Rypien is not going to be QB2 in Minnesota next season. Beyond that, and the Rodgers rumors, reports on which veteran quarterbacks the Vikings value most out of those remaining have been mostly neon-existent.

That was until today, when respected NFL insider Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) reported in his Monday Morning Quarterback column that the MN Vikings have been in contact with the other 40-year-old Super Bowl winner still on the market, Joe Flacco.

“Joe Flacco visited the Giants last week—which was a way, I think, for the team to check him out, and for Flacco to get his name back in circulation. Yes, he’s 40. But as a one-year solution, at a way cheaper rate than Cousins or Rodgers, I think the guy can still play. And the Browns, Steelers and Vikings think enough of him still to have checked on him.”

What does Joe Flacco have left in the tank?

As Breer points out, while Flacco is 40, there would be no questions as to whether or not he could take take over as Minnesota Vikings QB1 in a pinch. In his 8 appearances (6 starts) with the Colts last season, Flacco posted a 65.3% completion rate with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

If the Vikings were to sign Flacco, it shouldn’t cost much. He made just $5 million in Indianapolis last season. That’s half of what Darnold signed for as the Vikings’ bridge option in 2024. Flacco brings 196 games of NFL experience to the table, along with 4,166 career completions for 54,697 yards, 257 touchdowns and 162 interceptions. that’s a lot of QB wisdom for a curious young JJ McCarthy to soak in.


Execs Mixed on Aaron Rodgers: ‘He’s on the Downside’ and ‘the Guy Is Still a Beast’

I talked to one pro scouting director earlier in the month who told me to go back and watch the New York Jets’ Week 15 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He said it was all there. Rodgers’s ability to throw and see and think the game at a high level was on that tape. So I took a look, and he wasn’t lying. There were examples where you could see Rodgers couldn’t escape the way he used to, but a lot more where he showed he can still sling it with anyone.

“He’s on the downside,” said one AFC exec whose team played the Jets late. “He still has the flashes of arm talent and accuracy. There’s a depreciation of the mobility that made him great, when he was that two-way, run/pass option player on every play. It’s relegated him to being more of a pocket-passing veteran. Do I think he can start for a year? I do. … He still sees the field well, has football intelligence, the quick release. His arm’s not quite what it was but with the right surrounding cast? Yes.”

“I think the guy is still a beast,” texted an AFC defensive coach who went against him during that time. “Mentally and arm-talent-wise, he hasn’t dropped off at all. Now, his mobility and athleticism, of course, isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago. [But] if I’m a team and I need a quarterback right now, I don’t hesitate signing him.”

The coach then sent another text, “I would not flinch.”

The AFC exec was a little more measured, in saying, “Know the options are limited, yeah, I would, if I had the right coaches, the OC specifically, the support system. You’d have to consider it.”

Now, there’s certainly a perception out there that last year was indicative of Rodgers’s career careening off the NFL’s freeway and into a ditch. The reality is that, again, while he wasn’t what he had been before, he finished eighth in passing yards (3,897), seventh in touchdown passes (28) and had a middling passer rating (90.5) while enduring a train wreck of circumstances with his head coach and offensive coordinator replaced midseason.

Could it be better in a more stable situation? Since he’s 41 years old, there’s obviously a ceiling on that, but it’s fair to think a motivated Rodgers has one last real run in him.

“There was a time when Aaron was like [Patrick] Mahomes or Josh Allen—when things would break down, he could create with his mobility and athleticism,” the coach continued, via text. “Obviously, at 41, he can’t do that like he used to. But he can still move. He’s not a complete statue back there. And he also might be a little bit more mobile this year, two years removed from the Achilles.”


NFL News: Aaron Rodgers reportedly requests huge salary from Steelers, Vikings or Giants

Aaron Rodgers already has a salary figure in mind for any team that tries to sign him, according to a report by Dianna Russini and Mike Silver. Approximately, a contract that pays him between $30 and $35 million per year to match what Sam Darnold got with the Seahawks. His options would be the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Minnesota Vikings, or the New York Giants.


Note: It is that time of year when it sometimes is necessary to utilize an overactive imagination!

NFL analyst drops another ridiculous Justin Herbert-J.J. McCarthy trade idea

Not that it needs said, but the Los Angeles Chargers aren’t trading quarterback Justin Herbert for anything.

That’s especially the case since Jim Harbaugh’s arrival. To say the coach has taken a liking to Herbert would be an understatement.

Just don’t tell Nick Wright of FS1.

Wright just went on First Things First and decided to drop another outlandish trade idea involving the Chargers and Minnesota Vikings swapping Herbert and J.J. McCarthy.

“If the Vikings are this squeamish about J.J. McCarthy… then they should quietly call the Chargers, be like hey…we’ll give you him and our first-round pick and we’ll take Justin Herbert.”

Yore Mock​

Trade Recap​

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 36, 2025: Round 3, Pick 70, 2025: Round 7, Pick 221​

Jacksonville Receives: 2025: Round 1, Pick 24​

...​

Minnesota Receives: 2025: Round 2, Pick 59, 2025: Round 4, Pick 136​

Baltimore Receives: 2025: Round 3, Pick 70, 2026 Round 3​

...​


36. Derrick Harmon DT Oregon 6’4.4”313


59. Donovan Jackson OG Ohio State 6’4” 315


97. Jacob Parrish CB Kansas State 5’9.6” 191


136. Smael Mondon Jr. LB Georgia 6’2.2” 224


139. Brashard Smith RB TCU 5’9.7” 194


187. Dont’e Thornton WR Tennessee 6’4.5” 205


221. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DL Georgia 6’4.6” 276

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 02 CFP Quarterfinal Allstate Sugar Bowl - Notre Dame vs Georgia
Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

  • No discussion of politics or religion
  • No feeding of the trolls
  • Leave the gender hatred at the door
  • Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
  • Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
  • No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
  • If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
  • While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...adbury-aaron-rodgers-jordan-mason-jeff-okudah
 
Former Vikings OT Cam Robinson signing 1-year, $14.5 million deal with Texans

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

After being traded to the Vikings following Christian Darrisaw’s injury, Cam Robinson is headed to the Texans to replace the recently-traded Laremy Tunsil.

After holding down the blindside for Sam Darnold in his lone year with the Vikings, left tackle Cam Robinson is signing with the Houston Texans, per ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, as the presumed replacement for the recently-traded Laremy Tunsil. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract worth up to $14.5 million.

Robinson was acquired by the Vikings via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars following the season-ending injury suffered by left tackle Christian Darrisaw in Week 8 against the Rams.


Free agent offensive tackle Cam Robinson is signing with the #Texans, per sources.

One of the top players in free agency steps in to start. pic.twitter.com/otSzC8a2Mq

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 19, 2025​
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Along with Robinson, the Vikings received a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick in exchange for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick that could be upgraded to a fourth should Robinson play a certain amount of snaps in Minnesota.

Due to Robinson’s new contract, the Vikings are likely to receive an additional fourth-round compensatory pick in 2026, replacing the one they sent to Jacksonville in the initial trade.

It’s been a heck of an offseason for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and it just got even better.

Hello comp picks!


Look at Cam Robinson (74) get out in space and block two players on this screen to Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/9ApA9RG1jW

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 3, 2024​
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...s-laremy-tunsil-christian-darrisaw-commanders
 
Vikings Agree to Deal with WR Rondale Moore

Minnesota Vikings v Arizona Cardinals

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

This could be an interesting signing

Today marks the end of the first full week of free agency in the National Football League, and the Minnesota Vikings have made yet another move to bolster their roster depth.

The team has just announced that they have agreed to a deal with wide receiver Rondale Moore. Terms of the deal were not readily made available.

Moore has a pretty interesting history. As a freshman at Purdue in 2018, he had one of the great freshman seasons in recent memory, being named a Consensus All-American while also winning the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile college football player) and the Paul Warfield Trophy (best wide receiver) as well as garnering Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Receiver of the Year honors. He then went on to play just four games in 2019 because of a hamstring issue and only played three games in the COVID-marred 2020 season.

The Arizona Cardinals saw enough from Moore to make him a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he had a pretty big coming out party at the Vikings’ expense. In just his second NFL game, he had seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in an Arizona victory. Unfortunately, that’s the only 100-yard receiving game Moore has had in his career.

After playing three seasons with the Cardinals, Moore was traded to the Atlanta Falcons during the 2024 offseason for quarterback Desmond Ridder. He never suited up for the Falcons, as he tore an ACL in August and was placed on injured reserve.

Despite battling injury issues, Moore did have at least 40 catches in each of his three seasons in Arizona. He also presents a threat in the run game and, potentially, in the return game as well. There’s always going to be injury concerns with Moore, but if he can stay healthy for the Vikings he could present the sort of threat the team hasn’t had in a while.

Welcome to Minnesota, Rondale Moore!
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...s-agree-deal-wr-rondale-moore-nfl-free-agency
 
Vikings ranked 7th in new post-free agency NFL power rankings

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

The Vikings have done one of the best jobs of improving their team through the early stages of free agency, but has it done enough to gain ground amongst the NFL’s elite?

The Vikings have done just about everything they needed to in free agency thus far. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wanted to get bigger and better throughout both sides of the trenches and they’ve done just that by acquiring four instant-impact free agents, two on either side of the line: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on defense and Will Fries and Ryan Kelly on offense.

Despite these moves, on top of their other savvy decisions, the Vikings did not make any progress in a new set of power rankings from NFL.com. Author Eric Edholm had the Vikings ranked No. 7 in his previous iteration of these power rankings prior to free agency and nothing seemed to sway him to make a move after the first wave.

In fact, the only movement involving teams ahead of Minnesota were the Ravens moving up two spot from No. 5 to No. 3 while dropping the Bills and Lions one spot each to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Here’s what he had to say about the Vikings and their standing through the first two weeks of free agency:

“You can’t say the Vikings have been passive, that’s for sure. The defensive line was an issue, so they added defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The O-line wasn’t how they wanted it, so they dropped two starters and added Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. They also kept Byron Murphy Jr. and Aaron Jones — paying up to do so — and made a savvy trade with the 49ers for RB Jordan Mason. And, of course, there was the Big One: letting Sam Darnold walk. I wondered how the Vikings would approach the offseason after going 14-3, and as it turns out, they’re being very aggressive. But for now, the aggression has stopped at quarterback, where most signs point to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy taking over as the starter. Sure, there’s risk in that approach, but it’s always felt like their North Star, even with the Aaron Rodgers option available to them. This is a delicate situation, but so far, the Vikings haven’t done anything to upset it, which is commendable.”
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So I want to throw this one on to the community. What do you all think of Edholm’s power rankings at this point in the offseason? What did he get right/wrong? Should the Vikings have move up after their recent moves? Do you agree with their current ranking?

Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below!
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...athan-allen-kevin-oconnell-kwesi-adofo-mensah
 
Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 11 Open Thread

Ohio v Kentucky

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

We are still waiting on the backup QB spot to be filled

The signings continue to trickle in and the pickup of Rondale Moore was a nice addition to the wide receiver group. Moore turns 25 on June 9th and still has a lot of upside IMO. He is averaging 45 catches a year for 400 yards and 1 TD in his short career. He has been banged up and did not play last year due to a knee injury. He ran a 4.28 forty at the combine which is still enticing enough to get a job.

What other position do they need to bring in another body besides the obvious QB position. Another safety perhaps? Another guard to compete with Brandel?

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-nfl-free-agent-rankings

I kind of like Asante Samuel Jr and Tevin Jenkins on one year prove it deals. It is curious that Justin Blackmon has not gotten a new deal yet. Maybe he could be had for cheap (3M or less)? I would probably sign Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, or Drew Lock at this point.

It now seems like the majority are believing the Vikings are out of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes and why not? Good sources are reporting it although they have left the one little caveat “at this time”. I do not know what the team is doing or wants to do for a backup veteran QB. I do not believe Brett Rypien is the answer. The team could remove all doubt by simply signing a veteran QB. But which one? Who is left? Flacco, Wentz, Winston, Lock, Tannehill? Who? None of these players are better than Rodgers (IMO) but would cost a lot less (presumably) and would not expect to start or even compete.

I still am trying to wrap my head around the fact that the Vikings offered Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones a deal and they both declined to come back and spend another season under the tutelage of Kevin O’Connell. Why? Darnold would have had to be the starter right? If the team told him maybe then I can see why he declined. Jones is a bit disappointing but either he felt he had a better chance of beating out Anthony Richardson or felt it was not going to really be a competition with the Vikings. I do not know and suspect both could be true. One thing that is true is that the majority of Vikings fans only want to see JJ McCarthy playing Quarterback.

If the Vikings do not make the playoffs with this current roster with JJ McCarthy starting, would the season be a failure? The answer should be an obvious yes. I would not blame JJ though.

Before the fan bois get themselves all worked up, I have said from the jump that the team needs to give JJ and least two years of starts and probably three before making a well informed decision about his long term potential. I was not high on him during the draft because he did not have to do much at Michigan. They had a great defense, pretty good offensive line, and ran the ball extremely well. He did not play in many of the 4th quarters. When he had to complete a third and long, he knew in the back of his head that his defense could get the ball back if they did not convert unlike Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams whose defense were horrible. It is a different kind of pressure is all. At the same time, I am not saying he is not capable to do more if needed. I just did not see it in college enough. I am cautiously optimistic and am looking forward to seeing it in the NFL.

I suppose the chatter will continue until the Vikings sign someone else or Rodgers sign somewhere else.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links​


Ranking Aaron Rodgers’ remaining options for 2025: Vikings iffy, so who’s left? Exploring pros, cons of others

All indications are Aaron Rodgers is holding out hope the Minnesota Vikings might relive history and, just as they did with Brett Favre years ago, make him the next former Green Bay Packers star to suit up in purple. After discussing the possibility internally, however, the Vikings aren’t interested in granting his wish, with plans to roll with 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy, who sat out his entire rookie season.

The Vikings drew Rodgers’ apparent interest for a reason: They were one of the few clubs with quarterback uncertainty and a genuinely attractive infrastructure, boasting both top-tier coaches and playmakers, including star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Pros: This would pretty much be a dream destination for Rodgers, from the elite coaching to fortified O-line to proven playmakers, including Justin Jefferson. Joining Minnesota also wouldn’t necessarily derail — just delay — the team’s long-term plans for J.J. McCarthy, who’s coming off knee surgeries anyway.

Cons: Unlike a lesser free agent, Rodgers’ profile would make him the new face of the team, effectively postponing any McCarthy growth until 2026. It’d be uncharacteristic for the forward-thinking Vikings, who drafted McCarthy and took a flyer on Sam Darnold in part to offset years of paying big money to an aging quarterback. In other words, Rodgers needs the Vikings more than they need him.

Chances of Rodgers signing: Low


2025 NFL free agency: If Vikings are entirely out of Aaron Rodgers market, there’s one move that will seal it

As the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants continue to sit and stare at a handful of less-than-stellar quarterback options for the 2025 season, the Minnesota Vikings are allegedly moving forward with their chosen starter: 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. That would seem to close the door on an Aaron Rodgers pursuit — except that it doesn’t.

There’s still one significant piece of business that remains unresolved.

Signing an experienced backup to pair with McCarthy next season.


Clashing sources: Paul Allen and Alec Lewis debate Vikings’ interest in Aaron Rodgers

If you’ve ever wanted to be a fly on the wall when NFL insiders are obtaining information that they ultimately share with the public, you’ll want to get a load of the back-and-forth conversation that happened Wednesday morning between Minnesota Vikings insider Alec Lewis and Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen.

Allen, the two-decade-plus radio voice of the Vikings, and Lewis, the Vikings beat reporter for The Athletic, had a friendly-yet-intense conversation about the Aaron Rodgers drama. On one hand, Allen has repeatedly said Rodgers will not be on the Vikings in 2025 and the franchise is handing the QB job to J.J. McCarthy. On the other hand, Lewis has been reporting — alongside colleagues Dianna Russini and Michael Silver — the Vikings were seriously considering Rodgers.

Lewis: Oof, you’re ... yeah. I just want to make it very clear that what we reported was that the Vikings were strongly considering the Aaron Rodgers situation.

Allen: I’d eliminate the word “strongly” but that’s just me.

Lewis: There were many — and I tweeted that in all caps — people inside that building who were in support of the possibility of that.

Allen: I’m not counting the people in the [Vikings Entertainment Network] or the account executives on the third floor.

Lewis: That’s a funny comeback. That’s a good comeback. I have nothing to say about that, but yeah, I don’t source people in the [Vikings Entertainment Network] department, is what I would say.

Allen: Neither do I.

Lewis: There is the truth that the team wants you to hear and wants you to know, and then there’s the actual truth. There are people within the team that do a lot to ensure that a certain perception exists. That is the job of a lot of people within the team. And it is my job to tell the truth, even if that raises some very hard questions. Some very notable questions. Some very curious questions. But that’s the job. You know sometimes, when you report the truth what goes against what people would want you to report, you can find yourself in intense situations with relationships that matter. But the job is to tell the truth above to value those relationships. That’s where I am, that’s where I will always be. If that prevents me from getting to the pinnacle of this business as an insider or what have you, then I’m OK with that because you and I have talked on-air, off-air, I do this job for the people, for the stories. But my role right now, I also do the job to tell the truth. That’s just what I have to say about that.

Allen: I wasn’t really going to go down this road with you, but now I am. By you saying with what you’ve reported, tweeted, whatever you’re telling the truth, which would fly in the face of what I believe to be true. So therefore, what I’ve tweeted or said into the radio, I believe to be true. And I believe the sourcing that I’ve done is unimpeachable. Therefore, when I start last Thursday saying, you know there’s a Rolling Stones song that you can’t always get what you want, that’s the theme song for Aaron Rodgers. Because he was told no. So therefore, when Rodgers, or when people are reporting certain things — and I don’t have this as fact, so I’m riding discernment with this part — I’m believing the majority of the information is coming from his side. And then when I know it’s an absolute no, which I guess would be this morning, but really a few days up to it, the way I handle it is, why, if Rodgers knows he’s not going to come here — and I believe he’s known that for several days.

Lewis: And I don’t.

Allen: OK. It doesn’t behoove the beaten side to go to the plugged-in sources and say, “Eh, that’s it. We got beat. That’s it. Whole thing’s done.”

Lewis: I think the other thing that I would say, again, and I’m not going to question you’re ... that’s not what I’m going to do.

Allen: I’m not offended at all by any opposite you have, by the way. Because I know my source is unimpeachable.

Lewis: Right. *sighs*

Allen: No, it is. It’s the end of the story. That’s why I just don’t do it the way Schefters and Pelisseros. I don’t ever do this, neither do you. I don’t like it, quite honestly.


What the insiders are saying about Minnesota Vikings’ backup QB pursuit

The only way the Rodgers idea could theoretically resurface is if he chooses to wait instead of signing with the Steelers or Giants and McCarthy suffers a setback at some point this offseason. But it feels safe to say there’s a 99 percent chance Rodgers will not end up in Minnesota this year.

So what will the Vikings do instead? With Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens all departing in free agency, they still clearly need to add a veteran quarterback to pair with McCarthy as a backup and insurance plan. They made an offer to Darnold, but it wasn’t on the level of what he got to be the unquestioned starter in Seattle. They had significant interest in bringing back Jones and made him a competitive offer, but he chose to sign with the Colts.

“In both those cases, I think the presence of J.J. McCarthy pushed the players out of there,” SI’s Albert Breer said about Darnold and Jones on the Rich Eisen Show.

According to Pelissero, the Vikings quickly retracted their offer to Jones when they heard he was leaning towards the Colts. If he didn’t clearly want to be in Minnesota, they were moving on.

“When they got the sense that Daniel Jones was not committed and convicted, they pulled the offer,” Pelissero said on KFAN Radio.

The free agent options out there include Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, and Drew Lock. If the Vikings aren’t interested in any of those names, they could potentially look to trade for a quarterback who is currently on another team’s roster. Quite a few backup-caliber QBs have signed elsewhere already this offseason, but Pelissero doesn’t believe any of those were ever potential Vikings targets.

“This idea that hey, the options are drying up and this guy signed here and what are the Vikings going to do, I would just tell you guys again, my words, I don’t believe that any of the players who have signed — outside of Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones — I don’t believe any of those guys were players the Vikings were targeting to be the veteran quarterback in the room,” Pelissero said on KFAN.

“And I don’t necessarily know that any of the current free agents, in terms of the other obvious big names that are on the street, I don’t know that any of them are what the Vikings’ plan is going to be here. There are other avenues that they could pursue.”

As far as potential trade options, it’s difficult to know exactly what those possibilities might look like. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis has mentioned the Raiders’ Aidan O’Connell and the Seahawks’ Sam Howell, who are both on rookie contracts. But would either even be enough of an upgrade over Brett Rypien — who is the Vikings’ only other quarterback under contract at the moment — to warrant parting with a late-round 2026 draft pick?


Vikings QB latest: Could Minnesota be waiting to trade for Kirk Cousins?

When it comes to the Vikings’ quarterback situation, the Aaron Rodgers speculation (at least for now) has joined its predecessor, Sam Darnold speculation, as a thing of the past.

So, because it’s the NFL offseason and rumors rule all, let’s move on to the next buzzy name. What about a reunion with Kirk Cousins?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter fanned those flames on a recent episode of his podcast.

“How about this? Minnesota lost out on Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones,” Schefter said. “There’s not an obvious solution. What if Minnesota just waits around until the after the draft and then somehow figures out a way for Kirk Cousins to get to Minnesota as the backup to J.J. McCarthy? Wouldn’t that make some sense, right?

“And maybe the Vikings can wait it out. The Falcons have been determined not to release him. I think the Falcons want to be able to say we got something back for this guy that we paid so much to get. So maybe Minnesota says you know what, it’s worth it for us, we’ll give you a sixth-round draft pick. They haven’t solved the No. 2, J.J.’s coming off the injury, you still don’t know what you’re gonna have, let’s solidify the position with Kirk Cousins. Doesn’t that make sense?”

Then there’s the matter of Cousins’ contract — the four-year, $180 million deal he got from Atlanta last offseason. The Falcons will have to eat a ton of dead money if they trade Cousins, but there’s still the matter of his $27.5 million 2025 base salary. What the trade compensation looks like on a hypothetical Cousins deal would depend on how much of that salary the Falcons are willing to eat (and thus how much of it the acquiring team takes on).

If a new team takes on all or most of that salary, you’d probably be talking about the Falcons sending that team a draft pick to sweeten the pot. If the Falcons eat most of the $27.5 million, they could probably a get a pick back for Cousins. It’s unclear if either option would make sense for the Vikings, who presumably won’t want to take on a big salary number for a backup quarterback OR part with a pick to land Cousins.

Note: If Kwesi gives up a draft pick and has to pay a good portion of Cousins contract then I would be disappointed because there were other options. I doubt Cousins wants to be a backup though.


Vikings have earned a reputation across the NFL that’s impacting their free agency additions in a very helpful way

Vikings reputation is why Javon Hargrave signed

One of the more intriguing signings for the Vikings was Javon Hargrave, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Vikings. The good part for Minnesota is that his contract doesn’t impact the compensatory formula

A week after signing with the Vikings, Hargrave met with the media for the first time and one of the biggest factors for him in coming here is their reputation.

“You just tell they just want to win. And like you say, just a lot of talent. It’s a lot of talent on offense and defense and special teams. Like I said, I played them the last two years and lost both times. And like, I was on a great team. So, it’s a great team, and, like, they got a reputation and a leader, how they were in their organization. And that was kind of a big thing for me to just, seeing everything, seeing the reports of how good they take care of their players. I think that’s a big thing in the NFL.”

The reputation the Vikings have is astounding. They finished first in the NFLPA survey in 2023 with second-place finishes in the last two seasons. That is an advantage when it comes to acquiring talent, especially when the Vikings are in a potential Super Bowl window.

Note: This is why the Vikings releasing Garrett Bradbury was the right thing to do after failing to secure a trade mainly due to Bradbury’s 4.9M salary.


Javon Hargrave & Jonathan Allen Excited to Help Brian Flores ‘Wreak Havoc’

The Vikings added Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in the first wave of free agency, and the pair of interior defensive linemen will help bolster a front seven that already shined last season.

Flores’ defensive system provides interior linemen opportunities to get to the quarterback — a skill both Hargrave and Allen have demonstrated with previous teams — and the excitement to join forces in Minnesota is mutual between coach and players.

“When you look at a guy like Coach Flores, man, they refer to him as a ‘mad scientist.’ Sometimes we’ll be in a 3-4, bringing pressure off both ends, and some games we’re switching it up,” Allen told Twin Cities media members via videoconference Wednesday. “Every week, being in that playbook’s a big key. But I really like how he’s able to create space on the inside and allow guys to get 1-on-1s. And when you get 1-on-1s in this NFL, you’ve gotta be able to win those. I’m looking forward to just fitting right in and doing what I can to help.”

Today’s NFL has moved away from prioritizing only the tallest and biggest defensive tackles and recognized the impact a smaller inside defender can have (see Aaron Donald). So though the 6-foot-2 Hargrave was criticized coming out of college for being undersized, he’s no longer viewed that way.

The league sees the value of interior defensive linemen who can affect the passer, and Hargrave is leaning into that.

“If you’ve got a defensive tackle who can pass rush and cause havoc, it’s a good thing for the defense,” he said.

“I think it really don’t matter no more [if you’re smaller]; they kind of look at the football player more than just looking at the size of the football player,” Hargrave added. “I think [Flores] creates a lot of 1-on-1s for the inside and the outside guys.”

Allen noted the importance of having players inside who can play the run on early downs and then stay on the field for third down and “get after” the quarterback. And as he pointed out above, that doesn’t mean solely sacks.

Allen emphasized “interior pressure,” especially when supported by Vikings pass rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard from the outside.

“That just makes everything easier with getting the quarterback off his spot, forced throws, force him to miss his target,” Allen said. “I think when you can add that element of interior pressure from the inside, that just helps the defense out tremendously.”

This season will mark Allen and Hargrave’s first time sharing an NFL team locker room; but they’ve previously shared a division and an all-star roster. They first met each other — outside of quick interactions — during the Pro Bowl that capped the 2021 season and swapped phone numbers to stay in touch.

Now, they’ll be in the same meeting room.

When Hargrave was with the Eagles, he played against Allen and the Commanders twice a season.

“He causes havoc on the field and makes a lot of plays, and he knows when to take his chances … on those plays,” he said.

Allen mentioned he found himself unofficially competing with Hargrave’s stats each season, simply because he’s viewed him as one of the best at the position.

“So for us to be able to line up and play with each other, I’m super excited about it,” Allen said. “Obviously you know what [Javon] can do — he can rush the passer from the inside, he can take on double teams, he can play the run — and I’m looking to help boost his game, and vice versa.”

In the same way Allen and Hargrave are looking forward to being a part of Flores’ defense, they have a shared desire to be part of the culture Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has established.

Both are well-aware of the annual NFL Players Association report cards and Minnesota’s high-scoring reputation around the league.

Allen mentioned “culture” multiple times during his media session, and he also explained the importance of a positive environment extending beyond just the football team.

“It’s not something you can tangibly touch, but you can feel it. When something bad happens during the game, you look at the sideline for guys’ reactions. I think it becomes pretty evident of a good culture and a bad culture and how different players and different people react during different situations in the game,” Allen said. “I’m a firm believer in, it’s really hard to win games in this football league – I mean, if you look at it, it probably comes down to five plays a game. And I think culture’s a huge part of it; when those certain plays don’t go your way, how do your respond? It’s easy to turn one bad play into two or three bad plays, and that can be the difference in the game.

“The NFL’s tough, it’s hard, and nobody wants to come to work every day in an environment that is just not upbeat, no one’s excited to do their job,” he added. “That was one of the biggest reasons why I chose this place.

“Going into this offseason, I definitely wanted to take my family into consideration,” Allen added. “I mean, when your wife and your family’s able to have a great life and be included and be involved in so many things in the community, it definitely makes that decision a lot easier.”

Now, he and Allen will be on the home team sideline.

“I’m just ready to hear the [SKOL] Drum getting beat and hear the SKOL Chant,” Hargrave said. “And I’m real excited to hear that horn being [sounded] before the game. I think that’s one of the hardest things I’ve seen in the NFL, especially pregame.

“It’s gonna be kind of dope to be on the other side of it and be able to hear it every home game,” he added with a smile.

Hargrave and Allen know they can’t get ahead of themselves; but they also know they’re helping build something special.

“I really think we can go out there and do great things. But again, it’s early. I mean, it’s March. No games are won in March,” Allen said, exhibiting veteran levelheadedness. “Right now, we’re just trying to put the work in, trying to get as acclimated as we can as soon as possible. That way when OTAs start, we can hit the ground running. We’re excited to be here.”


Mock draft tracker: The latest Vikings predictions from the experts

Yore Mock​

Trade Partner: Rams​

Sent: Pick 24​

Received: Pick 26, Pick 127​

...​

Trade Partner: Rams​

Sent: Pick 26​

Received: Pick 42, Pick 73, Pick 162​

...​


42. Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky 5’11.2” 183


73. Deone Walker DT Kentucky 6’7.3” 331


97. Ozzy Trapilo OT Boston College 6’8. 316


127. Ty Robinson DT Nebraska 6’5.1” 288


139. Brashard Smith RB TCU 5’9.7” 194

SMU v Penn State - Playoff First Round
Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

162. Kyle McCord QB Syracuse 6’3.0” 218


187. Kitan Crawford S Nevada 5’10.5 202

UDFA​

Dan Jackson S Georgia 6’0” 194​

Jalin Walker LB Indiana 6’0” 219​

Ethan Downs EDGE Oklahoma 6’3.6” 269​

James Burnip P Alabama 6’6” 243​

Joshua Simon TE South Carolina 6’4.1” 239​

Jonah Monheim OC USC 6’4.1” 302​


Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

  • No discussion of politics or religion
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  • Leave the gender hatred at the door
  • Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
  • Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/20/24390248/aaron-rodgers-jj-mccarthy-ccarson-wentz-drew-lock
 
Forget the Rumors—McCarthy’s the Man

Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams

J.J. McCarthy is hailed as the Vikings’ future QB on The Real Forno Show. With an elite roster and Kevin O’Connell’s coaching, he’s set to shine. Tyler Forness praises his preseason play and leadership, eyeing stardom. | Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Tyler Forness & Dave Stefano on The Real Forno Show debunk Aaron Rodgers rumors, hype J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings future, praise Jordan Mason’s trade, & unpack Kweisi Adofo-Mensah’s strategy. NFL Draft talk included. A Vikings 1st & SKOL pod with Fans First Sports Network.

In this engaging episode of The Real Forno Show, a Vikings 1st & SKOL production partnered with the Fans First Sports Network, Tyler Forness and producer Dave Stefano unpack the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 outlook with expert analysis and fan-friendly banter. Recorded a day late due to Forness’s foster dog Marzipan’s surgery, the show tackles the Aaron Rodgers rumors—firmly debunked unless J.J. McCarthy faces a catastrophic setback—while hyping McCarthy as the franchise’s future behind an elite roster. From Jordan Mason’s trade value to Kweisi Adofo-Mensah’s team-building strategy and NFL Draft chatter, it’s a must-listen for Vikings fans searching for insights on quarterbacks, roster depth, and playoff hopes.

Here are the key points:​

  • Rodgers Rumors Squashed: Forness dismisses Aaron Rodgers speculation, citing media hype over Vikings' intent, with Stefano hoping Rodgers lands in Pittsburgh to end it.
  • McCarthy’s Bright Future: J.J. McCarthy’s dubbed a “souped-up Mustang” with a stellar supporting cast—Jefferson, Hockenson, Jones, and more—poised for success under Kevin O’Connell.
  • Jordan Mason’s Impact: The trade for RB Jordan Mason, initially questioned, wins Forness over with his “phenomenal feet” and vision, complementing Aaron Jones perfectly.
  • Adofo-Mensah’s Strategy: The GM’s approach—big offensive contracts, collective defensive depth—aims for sustained contention, not just a win-now push.
  • Draft & Fan Q&A: Forness eyes Alabama’s Jihad Campbell at pick 24, debates backup QBs like Carson Wentz, and teases a deep running back class.

Listen:​

Watch:​


Vikings fans, this episode of The Real Forno Show is your ticket to the inside scoop on Minnesota’s 2025 journey—from McCarthy’s rise to Rodgers’ fade-out and Adofo-Mensah’s master plan. Forness and Stefano blend hard-hitting analysis with a passion that’ll make you feel like you are part of the Skol family. Don’t miss out—subscribe, ring the bell, and join the ride as the Vikings chase glory. Will McCarthy drive this roster to a Super Bowl? Tune in to find out!

FAN WITH US!!!​


Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and its NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/21/24391010/forget-the-rumors-mccarthys-the-man
 
Report: Vikings Talking to Longtime Veteran About Backup QB Role

Jacksonville Jaguars v Houston Texans

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

What do you think of this option?

Now that Aaron Rodgers has gotten the hint about the Minnesota Vikings not being interested in his services, reports are surfacing that the purple are looking at another longtime veteran to serve as a backup and mentor to young J.J. McCarthy.

Numerous sources are reporting that the Vikings have reached out to Ryan Tannehill about serving as their backup quarterback this season.

Tannehill is a former top ten draft pick, as the Miami Dolphins selected him at #8 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent his first seven seasons with the Dolphins before being traded to the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2019 season. During that 2019 season, he took over for Marcus Mariota after six games following Mariota getting injured and put together a 7-3 record as a starter, helping to lead the Titans to the AFC Championship Game. He wound up winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award for his performance.

Tannehill last suited up in 2023, going 3-5 in his eight starts that season and eventually giving way to rookie Will Levis. He sat out the 2024 season.

Part of the calculus behind the interest in Tannehill might stem from the fact that he did not play last season. Because of that, he would not count against the Compensatory Pick formula if the Vikings were to sign him. As it stands right now, according to Nick Korte of Over the Cap, the Vikings are looking at a pair of Compensatory Picks in 2026, so the front office might not want to put those picks in jeopardy. Otherwise, they could wait to sign a backup until a couple of weeks after the draft when such signings no longer count as part of the Compensatory formula.

What do you think of the prospect of Ryan Tannehill coming in to be J.J. McCarthy’s backup, folks?
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Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...backup-qb-role-ryan-tannehill-nfl-free-agency
 
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