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Minnesota Vikings · Mar 22, 2025

Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 13 Open Thread

Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

The veteran Quarterback search continues!

The free agency period is slowing down significantly but there still are some good players available. Obviously, the Vikings need a backup QB of some sort. He who shall not be named is off the radar apparently but there are still those who believe it is not dead yet. With Crab Legs Winston getting signed by the Giants, the available backup QBs are dwindling. The Vikings sure are slow playing this allowing all the nonsense to continue to be debated.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Report: Vikings ‘have had discussions’ with veteran QB Ryan Tannehill

The Minnesota Vikings have held discussions with veteran free agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill about a potential contract, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, though it doesn’t appear a deal is imminent at this time.

Tannehill sat out the 2024 season after his tenure with the Tennessee Titans came to end following 2023. In 11 NFL seasons, Tannehill has thrown for 34,881 yards, 216 touchdowns and 115 picks between the Miami Dolphins and Titans.

Vikings ‘want to give me the ball’: Jordan Mason excited for fresh start in Minnesota

New Vikings running back Jordan Mason is a man of few words. When asked Thursday, during his introductory press conference with Twin Cities media, what appeals to him about the Vikings, Mason simply stated, “I just love that [Kevin O’Connell] wants to give me the ball.”

Why are so many insiders keeping the Aaron Rodgers-to-Vikings door open?

Why are so many insiders saying the Minnesota Vikings are going with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback while at the same time suggesting McCarthy has more to prove in spring practices before the Vikings will close the door on Aaron Rodgers?

“The Minnesota Viking sand Rodgers were in touch over the last week or so. Inside the building, they were having serious conversations about if they even wanted to do this. Rodgers was sitting back, waiting for them to make a decision. In the end, the Minnesota Vikings made a decision to move on from that conversation—for now,” Dianna Russini said on a Scoop City episode that went public late Thursday night.

Russini says Aaron Rodgers is still on Vikings’ radar, guesses he’ll end up in Minnesota

There may come a day in the future where Dianna Russini looks like the smartest person in the football world. Why? Because the respected NFL insider isn’t backing down from the Aaron Rodgers-Minnesota Vikings connection.

After Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that the Vikings are not pursuing Rodgers and instead going into the offseason with J.J. McCarthy as QB1, Russini acknowledged that Minnesota isn’t ready to commit to Rodgers while claiming the Vikings haven’t definitely decided they are ‘in’ or ‘out’ on the 41-year-old four-time MVP.

On Thursday, when Dan Patrick asked her to “guess” where Rodgers ends up, Russini hesitated before guessing Rodgers winds up with Minnesota. She made it very clear that she’s not reporting anything, only throwing out her educated guess. Here’s the back-and-forth moment between her and Patrick.

Patrick: If you had to bet though, just guess.

Russini: You know insiders hate this stuff. I hate guessing. Because you know, bobby the aggregator out there, it’s like headline, ‘Russini says Rodgers to Seattle, Sam Darnold’s getting cut.’”

Patrick: Do you want to do just a guess on any of those topics, so like the Giants or the Browns or the Steelers, with the Vikings, with retirement, with whatever one. Just give me one guess. Not a report. Again, this is not a report by Dianna Russini. This is not a report.

Russini: This is a guess! This is a guess! I feel like we have to just emphasize this.

Patrick: Yes.

Russini: I think Aaron Rodgers is going to be a Minnesota Viking. Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Note: I give her props for sticking to her guns even though she’ll be proven wrong

Ryan Kelly & Will Fries on Bringing Combo to Vikings

Kelly once envisioned playing his entire career with one team, but after 121 regular-season games, three playoff contests and playing out his contract, he entered free agency. An NFL Players Association representative, Kelly was on a flight to a meeting last week during the negotiation process.

“Which is probably the worst place to be, since you can’t answer your phone,” he quipped Thursday. “So, big shoutout to [agent] Jimmy Sexton for [communicating] via text message.

“I think there were a few teams [interested]. And as I started looking at it, Minnesota was the most appealing place,” Kelly said. “I can probably go into super depth in this answer, but even in the AFC South, watching some of the NFC North teams, you watch different offensive lines throughout the year, and I think you can watch a team and how they play, their head coach, who they play for. Obviously, the NFLPA Report Card comes out every single year, and [the Vikings are] always number one or number two. So all those things kind of go into it. And what I saw from afar, more descriptively, was just how well the offensive line played together. You could tell that team really relies on the offensive line and their true ‘band of brothers’ mentality, and that’s what I was looking for.”

About 10 hours after Kelly agreed to terms, he learned his new home would still be alongside Fries. The outcome was a surprise in the best kind of way.

“I could sit here and talk about him for all day, man,” Kelly said when asked about Fries, whom he nicknamed “Spud” in 2021. “I’ve played with a lot of talented players. I’ve played with first-rounders, I’ve played with undrafted guys, and I’ve played everywhere in between, right?

“And I think you look at him, a seventh-round pick, he comes in ‘21, and we were rolling for a while. I mean, we were one of the hottest teams in AFC, and it’s just kind of hard to figure out who he was going to be, right? ‘Is he going to be a guard, is he going to be a tackle?’ But the one thing he had was this mentality of, ‘No one’s going to outwork me.’ And also, he’s the ultimate glue guy. And I say that not because glue guy is a demeaning term.”

Kelly said Fries brings the necessary edge to the offensive line, along with a relentless work ethic that have contributed to him finding his niche.

Fries shared an anecdote about his dad having him flip tires and do push-ups with the added weight of chains when he was in fourth grade to build strength for football and baseball.

“It was just good hard work he had me doing, and I think from a young age, that really instilled a work ethic in me that, ‘I’m not going to be outworked by anyone.’ I would train and do everything I can in my power to be the best guard that I can be,” Fries said. “It was not fun at the time, but it’s great now thinking back on it. It’s kind of funny.”

The Vikings confirmed their belief in Fries’ trajectory with a substantial multiyear contract. He wants to reward that faith in him.

“There’s no expectation when you’re a seventh-rounder. Maybe you make the roster, maybe you don’t, maybe you’re on the practice squad. But I always knew that I belonged in the NFL, and I knew I belonged to be a starter, and I knew I could play at a really high level,” Fries said. “And that’s what I expect to bring here, is to play at a high level and be the best I can for this team.

“I think the only limitations are the ones that you put on yourself. So, you know, as long as you are willing to put in the work, you can accomplish, really, anything that you want,” he added. “It’s not easy. There’s a lot of early mornings, long nights and doing extra and doing stuff that people don’t want to do, but that’s what it takes. And there’s no secret, it’s just doing what others won’t, and being able to kind of push those things that are uncomfortable.”

Fries credited Kelly’s leadership and ability to communicate with helping his own development and merging their games together.

“He’s incredibly intelligent at making ID calls and having a feel for pressures and games, things like that. That’s a lot of stuff that’s rubbed off on me,” Fries said. “The way he sees the game, and he’s able to help me watch film and improve my game, it’s been huge, and for us to see the game through almost the same lens of eyes, that’s a big plus for the both of us.”

So, they are together again, even in an offseason of change, a concept not exactly foreign to Kelly, who noted that he played with 13 different quarterbacks over the course of his nine Colts seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler believes that fluidity will help him adjust to new teammates on the offensive line and another new quarterback.

Kelly shared thoughts of his early interaction with Vikings 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who suffered a torn meniscus last August.

“Just having some brief conversations with J.J. so far, and getting kind of a feel for people — and in the facility, and how they view him as, you know, he’s fiery, man,” Kelly said. “He’s got some stuff to him now, and he’s got that energy that you want as a quarterback, right? And as a young guy who missed his entire rookie season, I think you need that edge where … he wants to prove who he can be in this league. He wants to lead this team to an NFC North title. He wants to go to the NFC Championship, win a Super Bowl.

“And I think he also understands there’s a lot that he hasn’t seen, doesn’t know,” Kelly added. “And so, you know, for the last nine years, for the most part, I’ve been in charge of the run game and the pass game, and all the blitz pickups. So I think that was what I bring to this table, is there’s a young guy who we really believe in, who we know has the fire and the passion to be great. He just might not be able to see everything right away. So it’s helping him, helping the offensive line, and leading the offensive line to run the ball and pass protect the way that we get more points. In this league, that’s how you do it.”

Proposed Vikings trade adds $9 million Titans quarterback as J.J. McCarthy insurance

Moton has the Titans trading Levis and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Regarding this proposal, Moton offered the following:

They may prefer an experienced quarterback who can push J.J. McCarthy for the starting job rather than someone who expects to start over him. If so, a young signal-caller who’s played in a notable number of regular-season games would be an ideal addition.

According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Titans “would like to transition” from Will Levis.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler told The Dan Patrick Show that the Titans would be “pretty comfortable” with taking Cam Ward at No. 1, which would explain why they may want to move on from Levis, who started in 21 games over the last two seasons.

If McCarthy has a setback in his recovery from two meniscus tears or a rough offseason, Levis can provide veteran insurance until the Vikings get their quarterback of the future ready to lead the huddle.

Does any NFL team have a better quartet of pass-catchers than the Vikings?

We’ve identified the top three wide receivers and No. 1 tight end from every team in the NFL and only the Lions, Chiefs and Eagles have an argument to have a better top four pass-catchers than the Vikings. Here’s a team-by-team review.

.

Cincinnati Bengals: Debatable

Ja’Marr Chase, WR

Tee Higgins, WR

Mike Gesicki, TE

Andrei Iosivas, WR

Chase and Higgins might be a better 1-2 punch than Jefferson and Addison (maybe), but the Vikings’ depth is better.

.

Detroit Lions: Debatable

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

Jameson Williams, WR

Sam LaPorta, TE

Tim Patrick, WR

The gap between Minnesota’s top three wide receivers and Detroit’s isn’t very large, and you can argue that LaPorta is a younger version of Hockenson, but we’ll still take Minnesota by a hair.

.

Philadelphia Eagles: Debatable

A.J. Brown, WR

DeVonta Smith, WR

Dallas Goedert, TE

Jahan Dotson, WR

Hockenson and Goedert are comparable and Moore doesn’t have a huge edge, if any, or Dotson. Jefferson and Addison versus Brown and Smith is a good debate.

Every team’s best trade asset ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft

Houston Texans: S Jalen Pitre

The Texans’ foundational stars on both sides of the ball seem secure (although Laremy Tunsil defied that). But the team could look to make a deal for one of its safeties.

Houston traded for C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason, who registered a strong 77.7 PFF overall grade with the Eagles last year. On top of that, the team returns second-year piece Calen Bullock as well as veteran Jimmie Ward. Pitre (73.9 PFF overall grade) still feels like a key cog in Houston’s defense with his well-rounded skill set, but having one more year left on his contract could make a trade possible. After all, nothing can be ruled out with general manager Nick Caserio calling the shots.

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Los Angeles Chargers: G Zion Johnson

The Chargers won’t be ready to part with Quentin Johnston just yet, although the former first-rounder might be on thin ice going into Year 3. That leaves Johnson as a different marquee player who might be close to an exit.

Los Angeles signed guard Mekhi Becton and center Andre James in free agency, while Bradley Bozeman and Trey Pipkins are each back in the fold. Johnson’s 62.5 PFF overall grade leads Chargers guards since 2023, but his fifth-year option will probably get declined — and a trade may ensue.

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New York Jets: G Alijah Vera-Tucker

The Jets are confronting a similar situation to what Seattle stared down this offseason: a slew of impressive players with expiring contracts. New general manager Darren Mougey is in an unenviable position, picking between extending young stars and moving on from others. The stud with the highest chance of being traded would probably be Vera-Tucker.

Vera-Tucker finally stayed healthy last year, and his play paid dividends with a 74.5 PFF grade in both pass blocking and run blocking. The two years before, though, Vera-Tucker didn’t even reach 450 snaps. It might seem unfathomable to move on from such a versatile 25-year-old offensive lineman, but the Jets can’t pay everyone — and Vera-Tucker would net a bigger return than someone like Breece Hall or Joe Tippmann.

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Tennessee Titans: S Amani Hooker

The Titans upgraded a roster devoid of much star power in free agency, but there still aren’t a ton of immediate or realistic trade assets. One player who might qualify as an underrated option is Hooker.

While playing 848 snaps — third on Tennessee — Hooker notched a solid 66.3 PFF coverage grade with just a 68.4 passer rating allowed when targeted. Plus, the Titans will return safety Quandre Diggs and signed Xavier Woods. The 26-year-old Hooker, on the books for just one more year, is a versatile chess piece who teams might go after.

Four NFL prospects to watch at 2025 International Player Pathway program pro day

On March 26, the 13 members of the IPP’s Class of 2025, representing 12 different countries, will take the field for a workout in front of NFL scouts as part of the University of South Florida’s pro day. Last year, all 32 NFL teams and most CFL teams had representation at the event. Five additional IPP specialists showcased their abilities a few weeks ago at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

The IPP program is designed to offer elite athletes from around the world with experience in other sports — like rugby, basketball, track, Gaelic football and Australian football, among others — the opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster. There are several athletes in this year’s class with some — albeit limited — football experience. Since the IPP program’s inception in 2017, 41 international players have signed with NFL teams (23 IPP athletes were on NFL squads last December alone). Six of these players — Jordan Mailata (Australia), Jakob Johnson (Germany), Efe Obada (United Kingdom), Sammis Reyes (Chile), Thomas Odukoya (Netherlands) and David Bada (Germany) — have held active roster spots.

As a reminder, these players can be signed as a free agent or, if eligible, selected during the 2025 NFL Draft. Each NFL team is permitted one roster exemption for a qualifying international player from the start of the club’s offseason program through the roster reduction to 53 players. At that time, qualifying international players are eligible to be signed to a 17th practice squad roster spot reserved for international athletes across any of the 32 teams.

Laki Tasi, defensive lineman: The 21-year-old has played at the highest levels of rugby in Australia, picking up the sport in his early teens and eventually playing in the rugby league and rugby union. At 6-6, 348 pounds with 34-inch arms, Tasi has very good size and the tools to be a big interior defensive lineman, along with the toughness and makeup to play in the trenches. He possesses a strong and intriguing combination of developmental tools, stature and mindset.

Janeiro Wakeham, offensive lineman: Wakeham is a massive human, measuring 6-9 and 320 pounds with 36-inch arms. The 21-year-old Fijian is a rugby union player who spent time with Stade France and most recently Eagling Trailfinders. He has a very high degree of physical and mental toughness, is an intense competitor and possesses incredible tools to develop. This is his first real exposure to the game of football, and Wakeham, who speaks both English and Fijian, has shown much improvement in learning the terminology since his arrival at IMG Academy.

Yore Mock
Trade Recap
Trade Partner: Chiefs
Sent: Round 1, Pick 24, Round 3, Pick 97
Received: Round 1, Pick 31, Round 3, Pick 66, Round 4, Pick 133
..
Trade Partner: Raiders
Sent: Round 1, Pick 31
Received: Round 2, Pick 37, Round 4, Pick 108, Round 6, Pick 215
..
Trade Partner: Raiders
Sent: Round 4, Pick 133
Received: Round 5, Pick 143, Round 6, Pick 213
..
Trade Partner: 49ers
Sent: Round 5, Pick 143
Received: Round 5, Pick 147, Round 7, Pick 252
...

37. Malaki Starks S Georgia 6’0.07” 197

66. Darien Porter CB Iowa State 6’2.7” 195

108. Shemar Turner DL Texas A&M 6’3.1” 290

139. Will Howard QB Ohio State 6’4.2” 236

147. Jaydon Blue RB Texas 5’9.0” 196

187. Logan Brown OT Kansas 6’6.3” 311

213. Oronde Gadsden II TE Syracuse 6’4.5” 243

215. Jaylin Lane WR Virginia Tech 5’9.6” 191

252. Kain Medrano LB UCLA 6’2.7” 222

UDFA
James Burnip P Alabama
Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB
Isaac TeSlaa WR Arkansas
Joshua Simon TE South Carolina
Tyler Cooper OL Minnesota
Bryce Cabeldue OL
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DL
Jared Harrison-Hunte DL
Robert Longerbeam CB
Marques Sigle S
Cody Lindenberg LB

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

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...carthy-aaron-rodgers-will-levis-maliki-starks

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 23, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings defensive back in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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 21, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/22/24391548/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 23, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings linebacker in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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 22, 2025
Friday, March 21, 2025
Thursday, March 20, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/23/24392125/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 24, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings offensive tackle in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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

Sunday, March 23, 2025
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Friday, March 21, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/24/24392729/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 24, 2025

Projecting J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 Potential

J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 Vikings season could be epic! Two Old Bloggers see 3,800+ yards, and 25+ TDs for the rookie QB after his 2024 injury. With top prep and a stacked roster, is he the next big thing? | Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

This episode dives deep into the Minnesota Vikings’ future, focusing on quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s potential impact in the 2025 season. From his development after a meniscus injury sidelined him in 2024 to the team’s offseason moves, Darren and Dave explore what fans can expect from the young signal-caller.

Hosted by Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano, this episode of Two Old Bloggers—recorded on March 23, 2025, as part of Vikings 1st & SKOL and the Fans First Sports Network—offers an in-depth preview of the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 season, spotlighting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. With a focus on his development, roster upgrades, and league-wide shifts, the show blends expert analysis with fan-friendly insights. Optimized for search terms like “J.J. McCarthy Vikings 2025,” “NFL free agency,” and “Vikings playoff chances,” this summary captures the episode’s essence for SEO traction.

Here are the key points:

J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 Outlook: After sitting out 2024 with a meniscus injury, McCarthy’s prep—footwork refinement, VR training, and defensive study—sets him up for success. Darren projects a conservative 3,700-3,800 yards and 25 touchdowns while Dave sees a floor closer to 4,000 yards, comparing him to Dante Culpepper’s 2000 playoff run.

Free Agency Moves: The Vikings added depth with Jeff Okudah and Rondale Moore, parted ways with Garrett Bradbury, and leveraged their No. 2 NFLPA report card ranking to attract stars like Jonathan Allen. These moves bolster McCarthy’s supporting cast.

NFL Rule Proposals: Darren and Dave debate the Packers’ bid to ban the “tush push,” the Lions’ penalty tweak, playoff re-seeding, and Eagles’ overtime reform—changes that could favor the Vikings’ offensive-minded coach Kevin O’Connell.

This episode is a must-listen for Vikings fans and NFL enthusiasts searching for insights on McCarthy’s rise and the team’s trajectory.

Listen:
Watch:

As the Vikings gear up for a pivotal 2025 season, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano deliver a compelling case for why J.J. McCarthy could be the franchise’s next big thing on Two Old Bloggers. With their deep dives into his potential, savvy roster analysis, and a pulse on NFL rule changes, this episode is a treasure trove of hope and hype. Don’t miss out—tune into Vikings 1st & SKOL on the Fans First Sports Network to hear the full breakdown and join the SKOL Vikings chant. Will McCarthy’s debut year be epic? Darren and Dave think so, and they’ve got the stats and stories to prove it—check it out now!

Fan With Us!

We have your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst the Two Old Bloggers, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave @Luft_Krigare. Join the conversation! Fan with us at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and with our podcast partner Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL where you get sports takes for the fan, from the fan!

What performance milestones do you think McCarthy will make in 2025?

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/24/24391538/projecting-j-j-mccarthys-2025-potential

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 25, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings quarterback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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

Monday, March 24, 2025
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Saturday, March 22, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/25/24393524/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 25, 2025

Why the Vikings’ Will Likely Take Their Time Finding a Backup QB

Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

It’s all about the picks

Hey, folks. I want to start this one off by apologizing for the relative slowness of the site over the past few days. I caught some sort of virus that spent the whole weekend whooping up on me, but now I think I’ve finally seen the worst of it. Fingers crossed.

Well, after what can only be classed as an outstanding free agency period, the Minnesota Vikings don’t have a lot of issues to address at this point. One that stands out a bit is what the team is going to do at backup quarterback. Considering that J.J. McCarthy has been told by Kevin O’Connell that he isn’t yet the starter*, the team is going to have to bring in an option other than Brett Rypien at some point in the proceedings here.

So why haven’t they already done so, you may wonder? It likely has a bit to do with the team playing the Compensatory Pick game with the 2026 NFL Draft.

As he does every year, Nick Korte of Over the Cap is tracking where he’s projecting all of the Compensatory Picks for 2026 to go. As of now, the Vikings are slated to get two extra selections after what’s gone on in free agency. They’re projected to get the highest Comp pick available for the loss of Sam Darnold (much like they did in this year’s Draft for Kirk Cousins leaving town), and they’re also projected to receive a fourth-round selection for Daniel Jones choosing to go to Indianapolis rather than stay in Minnesota.

Now, Korte’s calculations aren’t official, if for no other reason than nobody really knows how the Compensatory Pick system truly works, but he does have a pretty high accuracy rate with his projections. So, if the Vikings are tracking the same thing as he is, they are likely going to be waiting until after the signing of free agents doesn’t affect the Compensatory Pick calculus, which is usually a week or two after the Draft.

There are some potential exceptions to this. We recently mentioned that the Vikings had some discussions with Ryan Tannehill, who would not count against the Compensatory Pick formula because he was not with a team last season. There’s also the scenario where the Vikings could sign someone who was released rather than having their contract naturally expire, a move that would also not count against the formula.

Yes, you know exactly who I’m talking about with the latter example, and no, you will not catch me advocating for that in any way, shape, or form.

So, if you’re waiting for the Vikings to fill their vacancy at the backup quarterback spot, you’re likely going to have to wait until early-to-mid May for them to do so. A lot of the options that are currently available are likely going to be there when that time comes, so there’s certainly no need to panic yet.

* - He’s totally the starter, don’t let anyone fool you.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/25/24393999/minnesota-vikings-take-their-time-finding-backup-qb

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 26, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings tight end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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 25, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025
Sunday, March 23, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/26/24394322/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 26, 2025

Vikings Schedule ‘Top 30’ Visit with Derrick Harmon

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Potential first-round pick getting a closer look from the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings continue their due diligence in preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft now just a month away. The latest effort is setting up ‘Top 30’ prospect visits, which typically happen in the first part of April. These visits are conducted at the Vikings’ facility in Eagan and give the team a more extensive look at a prospect than is available at other events earlier in the year.

A ‘Top 30’ visit may not result in that prospect being drafted by the Vikings, but it often indicates greater interest or unresolved questions about the prospect from the Vikings’ scouting department.

Last year, the Vikings met with J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner, Taki Taimani, and Gabriel Murphy in ‘Top 30’ visits, among others, and ended up drafting or acquiring all four of them.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at a potential first-round prospect the Vikings will be hosting at TCO Performance Center soon.

DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Harmon is the only potential first-round draft pick the Vikings have scheduled a ‘Top 30’ visit with so far. The Vikings made a couple big splashes at defensive tackle in free agency by acquiring Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, but both are over 30 and sustained significant injuries last season so drafting a young defensive tackle to take over in a year or so makes sense. The Vikings acquired Taki Taimani, also a defensive tackle out of Oregon who wore #55, last year as an undrafted free agent.

Harmon played his first three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon for his senior year. He finished with 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss including 5 sacks, 4 batted passes, and 2 forced fumbles last season. He has the size, length, athleticism, and strength to be a force inside at 6’4 1/2”, 313 pounds with 34 3/8” arms and 10 3/8” hands. He says he models his game after Chiefs’ All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones.

PFF Draft Profile

PFF has Harmon as their 30th-ranked prospect.

Harmon committed to Michigan State as a three-star recruit, and after redshirting his first season, he was a rotational starter in 2022 and a full-time starter in 2023 before transferring to Oregon.

Harmon wins with quickness — a quick first step, quick hands into the body and an ability to dictate contact. He can get low and maintain a low pad level in a four-point stance, but his high-waisted build is more obvious in a three-point stance, making it tough for him to get low and not pop up immediately after the snap. He pairs his long arms with upper-tier hand speed to make initial contact or execute a pass-rush move.

He always finishes his gap-shooting and cross-face moves with a rip to get clean. His hand work is where he disrupts; he is difficult to stay in front of and latched onto. He displays a high football IQ and the “why” of defensive line play. Harmon constantly communicates pre-snap and has a good motor and a competitive attitude through the whistle.

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Harmon was the 10th highest graded (83.9) defensive tackle among the 2025 draft class in FBS last season, including 3rd highest (86.3) as a pass rusher. He led the FBS among DTs in quarterback pressures with 55 last season and 3rd highest pass rush win rate (17.6%) in his draft class with at least 100 snaps. He tied for the highest true pass set grade (91.2) and had the second-highest pass rush productivity ranking (9.1).

He ranked 34th in run defense grade at 80.5.

Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) Draft Profile

NFL.com has Harmon as their 28th ranked prospect.

Overview

Position-versatile building block that makes moving the football a much tougher task. Harmon is wide, long and naturally powerful at the point of attack. He can create traffic jams inside as a two-gapper or stunt and power his way into the backfield. He’s unlikely to be a primary sack man, but he can be part of a swarm unit that batters the pocket. He’s high-cut and tight-hipped, which limits his agility and reactive athleticism to finish. Harmon can play up and down the line in both odd and even fronts. He will bring an instant dose of stinginess and toughness to any defense he joins.

Strengths

Exceptional blend of size, length and strength make him tough to move.

Versatility to play up and down the line in odd or even fronts.

Punch is quick, powerful and efficient to stall the block.

Capable as a block collector to keep his linebacker clean.

Twitchy upper body to peek-a-boo the block and shed to runner’s lane choice.

Uses arm-over or rip move to penetrate the gap.

Creates rush momentum to roll downhill once he hits an edge.

Weaknesses

Carries bad weight on top-heavy frame with tightness in his hips.

Gets caught behind lateral blocks when he shouldn’t.

Inconsistent to finish his plays after gaining advantage.

Rush is linear with a lack of upper-body turn to flip edges.

Footwork becomes too static, preventing secondary rush.

Pad level and agility issues create missed tackles in tight quarters.

Sources Tell Us

“He plays like a Raven or a Steeler. Off the tape, he reminds me of a young Cam Heyward but bigger.” — NFC executive

Click to expand...

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Brugler has Harmon as his 19th-ranked prospect.

Harmon is a player who can win in different ways. He forces blockers to attack air because of his lateral explosiveness, but he also uses strong, crafty hands to swat away their reaches as he bursts through gaps to close on the ball carrier.

He must become a more consistent finisher, but there wasn’t a more disruptive interior defensive lineman in college football this season.

Click to expand...

Another good write-up on Harmon can be found here from Steelers Depot.

Derrick Harmon Highlights

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/26/24394812/vikings-schedule-top-30-visit-with-derrick-harmon

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 27, 2025

Vikings’ GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on McCarthy, Rodgers, & More

J.J. McCarthy and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah press conference takes center stage on The Real Forno Show as hosts Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano unpack what was said versus what was reported about his QB1 status, Rodgers, and Vikings offseason buzz on this Vikings 1st & SKOL episode. | Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s status, Aaron Rodgers rumors, and NFL Draft plans spark debate on The Real Forno Show! Hosted by Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano, this episode dives into Minnesota’s offseason chaos, asking if the national media is botching the Vikings’ story again.

In this episode of The Real Forno Show, a Vikings 1st & SKOL production partnered with the Fans First Sports Network delivers a fiery breakdown of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason. Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports’ Vikings reporter, and producer Dave Stefano tackle the latest Kwesi Adofo-Mensah press conference fallout, quarterback controversies, and draft speculation with unfiltered passion. From J.J. McCarthy’s QB1 ambiguity to Aaron Rodgers’ lingering shadow, the hosts call out media missteps while previewing the team’s NFL Draft strategy. With Forness set to appear at the Purple Daily Draft Party and live coverage planned, this episode is a goldmine for Vikings fans craving clarity.

Here are the key points:

J.J. McCarthy’s QB1 Status: The Vikings haven’t named McCarthy QB1, but Forness insists he’s the guy unless injured, praising his “earn it” mentality while slamming national media for calling him a diva.

Aaron Rodgers Rumors: Adofo-Mensah’s “for now” comment fuels speculation, but Forness declares “Rogers ain’t coming” unless disaster strikes, predicting a Steelers move instead.

NFL Draft Preview: Forness floats a Round 1 wide receiver like Emeka Egbuka, lists top targets (e.g., Jihaad Campbell), and laments the presser’s free agency neglect.

Free Agency Frustration: The hosts criticize the lack of focus on signings like Jordan Mason, strengthening of the trenches, wanting deeper strategy insights.

Kwesi’s Extension: Adofo-Mensah shrugs off his unsigned contract, mirroring his January stance, with Forness expecting a 2029 deal.

Listen:
Watch:

Are Vikings fans tired of the same old clickbait narratives? The Real Forno Show is your antidote. Forness and Stefano cut through the noise with raw honesty, insider takes, and a love for the purple and gold that shines in every rant. Whether you’re hyped for McCarthy’s rise, skeptical of Rodgers rumors, or itching for draft day, this episode—and the live coverage ahead—promises to keep you in the loop. Hit that subscribe button, join the SKOL faithful in the chat, and catch the full show to see why this duo is earning their stripes the real way!

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.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...m-kwesi-adofo-mensah-on-mccarthy-rodgers-more

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 27, 2025

Takeaways from Kwesi’s Presser with Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune

Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Takeaways from Kwesi’s presser

The Minnesota Vikings might have hit pause after free agency, but the grind is far from over with the NFL Draft now just weeks away. Join us as we break it all down with Star Tribune insider Ben Goessling, who weighs in on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s latest presser and what it reveals about the team’s game plan.

How did the Vikings really fare in free agency? Kwesi had glowing things to say about QB JJ McCarthy, but is he truly ready to step into the QB1 role? And speaking of quarterbacks, we’ll discuss those swirling Aaron Rodgers rumors, what the Vikings might do for QB2, and how the team is positioning itself heading into the draft.

This episode is packed to the brim with analysis, insights, and predictions about every move the Vikings have made and what it means for their future. If you’re a fan looking to stay in the know—or just someone who can’t resist the drama of the offseason—you don’t want to miss this. Strap in, because it’s time to dive deep into what’s next for the Vikings!

Join the fun and stay ahead of the game!

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...arthy-buzz-and-draft-plans-with-ben-goessling

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 28, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/28/24395791/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 29, 2025

ESPN Ranks Vikings’ Free Agency Haul Among NFL’s Most Impressive

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Not a bad job by Kwesi and company

The majority of the NFL’s annual free agent signing frenzy is officially over and done with, and the Minnesota Vikings have gotten high marks for what they’ve done so far this offseason.

Behind the great E$PN paywall, Ben Solak has ranked the free agency classes of all 32 NFL teams, and has put our favorite team at #3 overall for what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company have done since the new league year started. He’s broken things down about what he “loved” about each class and what he didn’t love, so let’s take a look at what he had to say.

I loved: The investment in the offensive line. Fries was one of my top free agent gems — he’s one of the best players nobody knows about, and he should make a big push for a Pro Bowl spot at guard if he fully recovers from his tibia injury. The need at guard was obvious; the need at center was far more subtle. I thought the Vikings would happily play out another year with Garrett Bradbury at the pivot, surrendering his pass protection issues for his running game value. Instead, they did what true contenders do and tried to upgrade not just at the needy positions, but also the average ones. I’m not sure it will work — Kelly (31) is older than Bradbury (29) — but it’s a good risk to take.

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You know, for as long as I’ve been running this site, it seems like the offensive line has been an issue in some way, shape, or form. We’ve been saying for a few years now that the Vikings have the tackle situation figured out with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. . .and we’re counting on a return to form for Darrisaw after his knee injury here. . .but the interior has been a mess for most of the last couple of decades. By signing Kelly and Fries, the Vikings have taken a pretty significant step towards fixing that. Don’t discount the time that those two have spent as teammates, either. Their level of communication won’t be an issue here, and given the issues that the Vikings have had with stunts and other things among their interior offensive lineman in recent years, we should finally be at a point where we see a bit less of that.

I didn’t love: Just how much Jonathan Allen cost. In general, double-dipping at 3-technique opposite Harrison Phillips is a shrewd approach, and both Allen and Javon Hargrave can provide an immediate impact. I did not, however, expect Allen to tip the financial scales at $17 million per year. The entire defensive tackle market came in above my expectation, so perhaps this was just the cost of doing business.

Allen is now the league’s 15th-highest-paid defensive tackle, and Hargrave ($15 million per year) is the 18th. While Allen might have been more expensive than I expected (and Hargrave too, for that matter), the theory behind the approach is sound. I just wish it came at a smaller price tag.

Click to expand...

For as good as Brian Flores’ defense has been during his time in Minnesota, the biggest weakness has been the ability to push the pocket from the interior. The Vikings have had no issue getting pressure from the edges, but quarterbacks have too frequently been able to step up in the pocket to buy themselves time. Sure, Allen and Hargrave both came with premium price tags, but if you’re going to fix a problem, there’s nothing wrong with doing something definitive to get the job done. If Allen and Hargrave can return to form. . .particularly Hargrave, who is coming off of an injury that cost him most of last year. . .it’s going to bring an entirely new dimension to Minnesota’s defense.

The only two teams that wound up ranking higher on Solak’s list were the Buffalo Bills at #1 and the Los Angeles Rams at #2.

What do you think of this Vikings’ free agency ranking, folks? What did you love and not love about the way the Vikings have handled their business so far this offseason?

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...minnesota-vikings-free-agency-most-impressive

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 29, 2025

Can you guess this Vikings running back in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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 28, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Wednesday, March 26, 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!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/29/24396468/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 30, 2025

Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 20 Open Thread

Photo by Sean Arbaut/Getty Images

Will the Vikings do any extensions or make any trades?

The Vikings might be set as far as adding any more free agents until after the draft when it will not affect the compensatory pick calculations. I believe this includes a backup QB unless that player was released (Rodgers) or did not play last year (Tannehill). They could sign some players to minimum level deals that I believe would not affect the comp picks. Maybe a tight end or safety?

If the season started next week the Vikings would have a pretty good team. Which brings us to the draft and what positions might the team prioritize? I think that the salary cap and contracts could provide some insights or not depending on your point of view. Right now the Vikings have 21.9M in cap space for 2025 and are negative 16.6M for 2026 according to overthecap. Brian O’Neill has the largest cap hit for 2025 at 26M. His cap hit in 2026 is 23M which is also the last year of his deal. He turns 30 on Sept 15th. I think an extension should be on the way. Players like Lane Johnson and Rob Havenstein have played well at their age 34 and 32 seasons. The first year of an extension for O’Neill will be at age 32. I think a 2 yr 38M deal sounds good but could be a little high. Jack Conklin just signed a 3 yr 45M deal this year.

I wonder if they will extend Van Ginkel? He deserves some kind of bump no? This is the last year of his deal? Would Kwesi trade Van Ginkel and if he did, what could he get?

Cleveland got a 2025 5th and 2026 6th for Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 7th.

New England got a 2025 3rd for Matt Judon.

Philadelphia got a 2026 3rd for Haason Reddick.

Chicago got a 2023 4th for Robert Quinn.

I think a 3rd or 4th would be fair.

But why? Well, they did trade a lot to go get Dallas Turner last year. Shouldn’t we think of him playing the same way we think of JJ playing? I know, I know. The positions are different and they need more depth at the OLB/EDGE positions. Plus, the current depth after Turner is Bo Richter and Gabriel Murphy both of whom were undrafted free agents. I don’t know but I would not be surprised if Kwesi surprises us with another move this offseason (besides the Rodgers nightmare).

I think it is interesting to consider even if it has a slim chance of happening. What else is there to discuss? I can talk mock drafts all day!

I am still of the belief that the Vikings should not consider the offensive and defensive lines as settled and safe. They should continue to add talented youts to improve the depth. The Eagles look formidable and the Vikings will need all they can get to battle.

What do you think they should do?

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Are The Vikings Scared To Take A Chance On J.J. McCarthy? | Stinkin’ Truth Podcast

At the 11:15 mark Stink starts talking about JJ McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers, and the Vikings. He basically says that it seems like the Vikings are saying they do not know about JJ (nobody really knows but he does have potential). He goes into detail about how things work when QBs get to the line of scrimmage. He talks about a meniscus injury and said it is only a 2 to 4 week injury since he has had a few. He said JJ chose to get it stitched down instead and that the odds of it not getting re-injured are slim. He does say he is not a doctor but knows a lot of doctors. That is probably not that worrisome.

The major point, for me, that “Stink” spoke about was the fact that JJ did not practice last year at all. He spoke about Mahomes and how he was killing the first string defense in practice all year while running the scout team which told KC everything they need to know. He said Mahomes was running the other teams plays too. He said Rodgers was doing the same thing in Green Bay when he was sitting behind Favre. He goes on to say that flirting with Rodgers indicated to him they they did not know and wont know until they do. He said that KOC likely has confidence in his system though which is expected based on past results.

Interesting perspective. I think that even though JJ did not get to practice and if he sat another year it would not be the end of the world, there is a chance that it wont be a setback.

Why Vikings can’t just hand J.J. McCarthy the QB1 role | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

At the 4:30 mark, Chris Simms, yore favorite QB analyst (not all), talks about the Vikings wanting to give JJ all the work and to see how he looks. He talks about bringing in a Flacco or Tannehill to push JJ on the field. They say at the end that bringing in Rodgers will hurt JJ more than help.

‘It could happen’: Russini says Vikings fans ‘have to come to grips’ with Aaron Rodgers possibility

Until Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers or retires, Dianna Russini is going to hammer home what she believes is a realistic possibility where Rodgers signs with the Minnesota Vikings.

Rodgers and Minnesota isn’t going to happen now. Perhaps never. But Vikings general manager Kwesii Adofo-Mensah made it clear that he won’t 100% close the door on the Rodgers. That said, the Vikings like where they’re at with J.J. McCarthy. At least for now — and Russini thinks Vikings fans need to “come to grips” with the Rodgers possibility.

“I do think there’s a world — and I know Vikings fans don’t want to see it. Whether it’s their hate for Aaron Rodgers. Whether it’s they feel J.J.’s not getting a fair shake. Whatever the reason is for why some Vikings fans don’t want to see Aaron Rodgers, they have to come to grips — there is a world that exists, this year, where Aaron Rodgers hangs out and the Minnesota Vikings pick up the phone and they make the call. It could happen,” Russini said Thursday on Scoop City. “

“J.J. McCarthy has not been told he is the starter. He has not been told he is the No. 1 guy. Even before Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold walked away, or at least went to other teams, it was always discussed that it would be a competition this summer,” Russini said. “They’re not telling him anything. That is also telling to me. They don’t know, how could they know? He’s coming off injury, they need to see it.”

...

Note: She is like a dog that wont let go of the bone no?

‘What does that tell you?’ A.J. Hawk on Vikings leaving door open for Aaron Rodgers

Fact: The Vikings had the opportunity to slam the door shut on Aaron Rodgers but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t do it. If you ask Rodgers’ close friend A.J. Hawk what that means, he seems to think it carries some weight.

“Yeah, they didn’t close the door completely. That’s the thing. You had the opportunity to close the door completely, publicly at least, if you were the Vikings and you did not. What does that tell you?” Hawk said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show.

“I don’t know if that means there’s a possibility that the Vikings would want to bring him in or not, but it means there’s gotta be some kind of chance of that, correct?”

It appears to be a three-option situation for Rodgers.

Sign with the Steelers

Retire

Wait in free agency and hope the Vikings call

“That’s the question that I don’t think he knows. I don’t know what he’s waiting on. I really don’t,” Hawk said, noting that he doesn’t think Rodgers will wait until the April 24 NFL draft to make his decision.

Vikings named potential suitor for unsigned $7.2M starter: ‘Best boundary cornerback available’

The Vikings were able to re-sign their top pending free agent in Bryon Murphy Jr. and add a pair of intriguing veterans in Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but from a 30,000-foot view, Minnesota’s cornerback room feels a bit shaky.

Murphy isn’t your typical lockdown, No. 1 boundary corner, as defensive coordinator Brian Flores will move him from the boundary to the slot to help create playmaking opportunities. Rodgers has some upside, especially after signing a two-year deal for just $11 million, but he filled a reserve role for the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Okudah is a former first-round pick, but he’s been a major first-round bust through five injury-plagued seasons. Minnesota has another option on the roster in former third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon, but he’s coming off 2024 ACL surgery.

The Vikings could address their need for a true boundary corner in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is just a month away. They could also look to make a post-draft free agent signing, with an eye on bolstering the lineup without impacting the NFL’s compensatory pick formula.

There are still some good veteran options out there, and Mo Moton of Bleacher Report named the Vikings as potential suitors for former No. 47 overall pick Asante Samuel Jr. Here was his take on the former Los Angeles Chargers starter:

Asante Samuel Jr. is the best boundary cornerback available. When you consider his age, he has the potential to be a long-term starter. The 25-year-old registered at least two interceptions and 11 breakups in each of his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Last year, though, he missed 13 games because of a shoulder injury. Nonetheless, Samuel allowed a passer rating under 90 without giving up a touchdown in four outings. Still in his prime, he has room for growth. At 5’10”, 180 pounds, the Florida State product isn’t a fit for every defensive unit, especially teams that prefer cornerbacks who disrupt receiver routes by jamming them at the line of scrimmage. However, Samuel’s ball production will help him land in a starting spot at a decent pay rate.

...

Note: I do not think the team would pay Samuel Jr. 14M. Maybe they would offer a one year 7M or so prove it type deal. But, after giving Rodgers a pretty good deal, signing Okudah, and getting Blackmon back, it does not make a lot of sense because all of these dudes signed to get snaps. Where are the snaps going to go? You can say let it be a competition which it will, but Samuel Jr. probably will look at the signings and depth chart and wonder where are his snaps? Same thing with a first or second round corner IMHO. At least with the rookie the salary is controlled.

Vikings ‘30 visit’ tracker: Which NFL draft prospects are Minnesota hosting?

2025 Interest List

Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24
Received: Round 2 Pick 5, Round 3 Pick 4
...
Trade Partner: Arizona Cardinals
Sent: Round 2 Pick 5
Received: Round 2 Pick 15, Round 3 Pick 14
...
Trade Partner: Carolina Panthers
Sent: Round 3 Pick 4, Future Round 3 Pick
Received: Round 2 Pick 25, Round 7 Pick 14
...
Trade Partner: Seattle Seahawks
Sent: Round 3 Pick 14
Received: Round 3 Pick 18, Round 5 Pick 37
...
Trade Partner: Dallas Cowboys
Sent: Future Round 5 Pick
Received: Round 6 Pick 28, Round 7 Pick 23
...

47: R2 P15 G Grey Zabel - North Dakota State 6’5.7” 312

57: R2 P25 S Xavier Watts - Notre Dame 5’11.6” 204

82: R3 P18 DL Shemar Turner - Texas A&M 6’3.1” 290

97: R3 P33 TE Elijah Arroyo - Miami 6’5.1” 250

139: R5 P1 DL/FB J.J. Pegues - Ole Miss 6’2.4” 309

175: R5 P37 RB Brashard Smith - SMU 5’9.7” 194

187: R6 P11 QB Riley Leonard - Notre Dame 6’3.6” 216

204: R6 P28 WR Monaray Baldwin - Baylor 5’9” 172

230: R7 P14 CB Korie Black - Oklahoma State 6’0” 190

239: R7 P23 LB Eugene Asante - Auburn 6’0.04” 223

UDFA
QB Taylor Elgersma - Wilfrid Laurier
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Arizona
WR Da’Quan Felton - Virginia Tech
OT Bryce Cabeldue - Kansas
G Tyler Cooper - Minnesota
C Jacob Bayer - Arkansas State
DL Warren Brinson - Georgia
EDGE Ethan Downs - Oklahoma
EDGE Danny Striggow - Minnesota
LB Kain Medrano - UCLA
S Donovan McMillon - Pittsburgh
P Kai Kroeger - South Carolina

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

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...-aaron-rodgers-andrew-van-ginkel-brian-oneill

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 30, 2025

CBS Sports Proposes “Win-Win” Draft Trade Scenario for Vikings

Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

What do you think of this potential deal?

While we did just talk about whether or not the Minnesota Vikings could see a scenario wherein making their 2025 NFL Draft selection at #24 might be the right move, we understand that trading down is what a lot of folks would like to see happen. One major outlet has proposed a scenario that, at least on the surface, appears to be a good one for both sides.

Chad Reuter of CBS Sports has put together a list of six “win-win” trades that he believes teams should make surrounding the NFL Draft, and one involves the Vikings making a deal with the Buffalo Bills.

In this trade, the Bills would move up to Minnesota’s spot at #24 overall. In exchange, the Vikings would get Buffalo’s pick at #30 in addition to two fourth-round selections: #109 overall, a pick that the Bills received from the Chicago Bears, and #132 overall.

This would give the Vikings a total of six picks in the 2025 NFL Draft:

#30 (Round 1, from Buffalo)

#97 (Round 3, Compensatory Pick)

#109 (Round 4, from Chicago through Buffalo)

#132 (Round 4, from Buffalo)

#139 (Round 5, from Cleveland Browns)

#187 (Round 6, from San Francisco 49ers)

Reuter notes that the Bills have been relatively aggressive in the first round in recent years, moving up multiple times to select players they were targeting. In this scenario, the Vikings don’t fall completely out of the first round (which could, potentially, give them the ability to trade back again), and though they wouldn’t add any Day 2 picks, they do get a pair of Day 3 selections to take a swing with.

What do you think of this potential move for the Vikings, folks?

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...rade-scenario-minnesota-vikings-buffalo-bills

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 31, 2025

Who Would You Stay At #24 For?

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Let’s talk about a different scenario

As they’re heading into the 2025 NFL Draft armed with just four selections, the common wisdom surrounding the Minnesota Vikings is that they’ll be doing what they an to trade down and acquire more draft capital over the course of that weekend. All things being equal, that’s what I would like for them to do as well.

However, as we say every year, in order to trade down, you need to have someone willing to trade up. What if that doesn’t happen? Or, alternatively, what if there’s a player who falls to #24 that would be such a shock that the Vikings’ best move would be to stay right where they are?

That’s the question I want to pose to everyone on this Sunday morning: Who is a player that you would absolutely stay at #24 and select if they managed to drop to that spot?

For me, the answer is Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Mason Graham got a lot of the ink for the front line for the Wolverines, but for what the Vikings need, Grant would be an absolutely outstanding selection if he somehow fell to Minnesota’s spot.

The Vikings have already done quite a bit to address the lack of an interior pass rush, and it’s true that Grant might not offer that much as a pass rusher, at least not at the moment. However, he’s probably the best run-stopping defensive lineman in this class. He tips the scales at about a cheeseburger short of 340 pounds, and it’s been a long time since the Vikings have had that sort of size on the interior. You might even have to go all the way back to when Pat Williams was crushing opposing running backs in the Twin Cities to find such a thing.

Grant’s run-stopping abilities would fit in quite nicely with this Minnesota defense, and it would allow players like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to stay fresher for obvious passing situations if Grant could find his way into the rotation early. In the long-term, Grant has all of the attributes to be a very good defensive tackle for a very long time in this league and a guy the Vikings could build around for the future.

A lot of drafts have Grant coming off of the board well before Minnesota gets on the clock at #24. But, as we see seemingly every year during the NFL Draft, there will be someone who drops who has no business falling that far, and it could be to the Vikings’ benefit. As much as we’d all probably like to see Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company acquire more ammo for this year’s Draft, grabbing a great value like Grant would almost certainly work out better in the long run.

So. . .who is your guy that you would forget about trading out of #24 for and grabbing for the Vikings in Round 1?

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...ay-at-24-for-minnesota-vikings-2025-nfl-draft

Minnesota Vikings · Mar 31, 2025

Vikes Views: Should the NFL Ban the Tush Push?

Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The NFL Competition Committee looks at tweaking rules every offseason. The most recent example being the new kickoff rules. This offseason the committee is looking at the Tush Push. The Green Bay Packers were the team that suggested the play be banned. There are rumors floating around there might be enough votes to get the rule change passed. It will be the topic of choice until the NFL draft comes up at the end of April.

In theory, there’s nothing wrong with being stronger than the team across from you. From a pure competition standpoint, it’s ridiculous to ban the play. However, just like when a player is deciding where to play, it isn’t always purely about sport. The NFL is a business 1st and the play isn’t fun to watch. The Commanders were threatened with giving up an automatic touchdown after committing so many penalties trying to stop it in the playoffs last year.

Casual football fans outnumber the serious fans considerably. I don’t believe the play should be banned from a sporting perspective, but I believe it will get banned because it’s just not enjoyable to see. 4th and 1 is an exciting play and that’s being taken away by an effective, but boring play.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/31/24397856/vikes-views-should-the-nfl-ban-the-tush-push

Minnesota Vikings · Apr 1, 2025

Vikings’ 2025 Draft Blueprint: McCarthy’s Moment and Kwesi’s Gambles

J.J. McCarthy’s “not QB1 yet” comment to Kay Adams was twisted by media as diva behavior, but hosts defend his humility. They praise his work ethic, noting he’ll earn the Vikings’ starting role in 2025, backed by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s confidence. | Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In this episode of Two Old Bloggers, hosts Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano unpack the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 NFL Draft strategy and J.J. McCarthy’s journey. With the draft less than a month away, they analyze GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s presser and player pre-draft visits, spotlighting prospects like Derrick Harmon and offensive linemen while dissecting McCarthy’s media buzz, NFC North free agency moves, and the unresolved backup QB question.

In the latest episode of Two Old Bloggers, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano explore the Minnesota Vikings’ roadmap to the 2025 NFL Draft and beyond on this Vikings 1st & SKOL production. With the draft less than four weeks away, the hosts analyze GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s pre-draft visits with 31 prospects, debate J.J. McCarthy’s response to media scrutiny, and assess the NFC North’s free agency fallout, all while pondering the team’s backup QB conundrum. Leveraging insights from Grok and their verifying research, Campbell and Stefano deliver a compelling breakdown of Minnesota’s strategy, blending fan passion with expert commentary to keep Vikings supporters ahead of the curve.

Key Points of the Episode:

Draft Insights: The Vikings met 31 prospects, with 35% offensive linemen (e.g., Aidan Williams) and 19% running backs (e.g., Ashton Jeanty), hinting at depth priorities despite free agency moves like signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries.

Derrick Harmon Spotlight: Multiple meetings with Oregon DT Derrick Harmon signal strong interest, potentially as a long-term defensive tackle solution, with mocks ranging from late first to third round.

McCarthy’s Media Moment: J.J. McCarthy’s humble “they haven’t told me I’m QB1” comment to Kay Adams was misconstrued by Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe as diva behavior; the hosts defend his work ethic.

NFC North Rundown: The Vikings and Bears were active in free agency, unlike the continuity-focused Packers and Lions; Vegas gives Minnesota 8.5 wins and the longest division odds, frustrating Campbell and Stefano.

Backup QB Uncertainty: Brett Rypien’s underwhelming stats leave the QB2 spot open; Ryan Tannehill’s bridge QB aspirations dim hopes, pushing the Vikings toward a post-draft veteran or trade like Nick Mullens in 2022.

Listen:
Watch:

Vikings fans, this Two Old Bloggers episode is your must-watch guide to the 2025 season’s stakes! Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano unpack draft gems, McCarthy’s rise, and NFC North drama with wit and wisdom. Will Minnesota defy Vegas and claim the crown? Catch the full scoop on Vikings 1st & SKOL via the Fans First Sports Network—your purple pride demands it!

Fan With Us!

We have your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst the Two Old Bloggers, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave @Luft_Krigare. Join the conversation! Fan with us at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and with our podcast partner Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL where you get sports takes for the fan, from the fan!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...blueprint-mccarthys-moment-and-kwesis-gambles

Minnesota Vikings · Apr 1, 2025

Vikings Links: Free Agency Day 23 Open Thread

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s JJ or Bust!

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

5 QB Takeaways: Kevin O’Connell on Confidence in J.J. McCarthy; Conversation with Aaron Rodgers

O’Connell said McCarthy has heard some of the Vikings play calls “100 times now” and knows the entire protection system.

“He knows why we change certain runs to run it the other way, and he knows a lot of the core principles of our offense now,” O’Connell said. “Now he gets to learn it [again] from the very beginning. Again, that’s why I love the spring so much. We’re not ending where the season ended and teaching from there; we go back to the true grassroots of the offense and start teaching it for everybody all over again, and the detail.

“There’s going to be some areas where we look to improve as a team, as an offense, as a defense, special teams, and J.J. gets to hit the ground running as a big part of that with our whole team, when we get going in the spring,” he added.

1. O’Connell describes conversations with Aaron Rodgers

“Aaron and I have had a relationship for a long time, and when he initially reached out, and we were able to have some conversations, as you know, [we’re] on the hunt to always improve our football team and put our football team in the best possible chance to win,” O’Connell said. “You’re constantly acknowledging all of — and evaluating — all of the opportunities that may be out there, and certainly that was one that I found to be interesting, just because it speaks to what our [organization] has kind of turned into for quarterbacks, which I know Kwesi and I are very proud of, our coaching staff is very proud of.

“But at the same time, we’ve had a quarterback plan in place with J.J. McCarthy, and we really like where he’s at in that journey right now, and looking forward to getting the offseason program going with him, in addition to all the work he’s done leading up to that time coming up here in a few weeks,” O’Connell added. “And that’s kind of where we left things.”

2. McCarthy & others aware of Rodgers discussions

“Because I do see him every day, throughout the week, and I thought it was important, just so that he was hearing it from me, and my perspective, from the very first time I had any communication in regard to Aaron and any of the other free agents that we’ve discussed at kind of all positions,” O’Connell said. “It’s fun to keep players in the loop. I talked to Justin Jefferson, I talked to T.J. Hockenson, Brian O’Neill, Jonathan Greenard, all these guys, as much as I possibly can, just because that’s what we try to build our whole organization around, is that communication.”

3. ‘Two things can be true’

O’Connell thanked reporters for bringing up the question and responded, “I think this comes down to, two things can be true at the same time.”

He elaborated:

“We took [McCarthy] 10th in the draft last year, after a very extensive evaluation process. A lot of things that we hoped to see from him, we saw in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, he got injured. And we tried to maximize as much as we could his ‘redshirt year,’ while still making sure we were getting Sam Darnold and our other quarterbacks ready to play. And I think J.J. was able to take some things out of that and be ready to go for the spring.

“Now, the second part that can be true is, Aaron Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and somebody who, not just myself, but we’ve all had so much respect for competing against him. And he happened to be at a point in time in his career where he was free to have some real dialogue about what his future may look like, and we happened to be one of those teams that he reached out to.”

“I do feel very strongly about where he’s at right now, and based upon the information we have from the evaluation process, the time we had with him, I feel very good about projecting a really positive year for J.J.,” he said. “And now we’ve gotta go to work and do it. Talking about it in March and April doesn’t do a whole lot.”

4. McCarthy ‘putting in work’ on field

“The volume of work that he’s put in, where he’s at from throw count and taking the reps off drops and things like that,” said O’Connell, who added he’s told J.J. not to plan on anything too intense right off the bat.

“I’ll probably take up half the time [on the first day of OTAs] with a team meeting, yapping a whole lot. Then there’ll be a lift, and there’ll be a run, and then there might be a couple minutes in the meeting room, and that’ll be the duration of day one,” O’Connell said. “So he’ll get a gradual, nice runway there. From Phase 2, where we get on the field and start getting some good time working fundamentals and technique, into Phase 3, where OTAs can actually start, believe it or not, post Memorial Day this year — it’s very late because we can’t start [the offseason program per NFL rules for teams with returning head coaches] until the third Monday in April.”

5. Will the Vikings add another QB?

“There’s other players that are going to be available, via signing them, or possibly a trade, that — we want to exhaust all those options, because we know people want to come to Minnesota to play quarterback, which is a real positive, but we want to make sure that the fit of the room is right,” he said. “Figuring out what will be the best combination, normally, [benefits] not only the guy playing, but your feelings of the guy that’s a snap away, or potentially two snaps away.”

O’Connell said he’d like to have “as many guys in there as possible,” as he did last season.

“I feel strongly about the year we had with Sam and the time we had with Daniel, knowing that the positivity for the Minnesota Vikings might not be felt as a reward for a year, but it’s still going to come at some point,” O’Connell said.

Kevin O’Connell sends a bold message to Minnesota Vikings fans about J.J. McCarthy

What McCarthy brings to the table is the most important element to this entire discussion. It’s why the Vikings believed he could be their top quarterback. Head coach Kevin O’Connell made an appearance on This Is Football with Kevin Clark and raved about what he does well.

“I think the biggest thing for me is, when we went through that process last year, and a lot of the things that you mentioned. I mean, his ability to throw the ball in windows over the middle of the field, to be accurate in the weighty downs. He was really effective on third downs. I think he had a pretty historical clip (on third and seven), plus his red zone passing. Like everybody can say that percentages of attempts well. He didn’t throw a lot of bubble screens. He didn’t throw a lot of RPOs. He didn’t do a lot of those things. He was in a pro style offense, where they were running the football, they were marrying the run in the pass on early downs. They needed high-quality execution on some of those weighty downs. And that’s really what we’d like to be with our offense.”

O’Connell broke it down perfectly. McCarthy is currently an idea due to his lack of reps across the board. What he does bring is a relatively small but effective sample size of him being an elite player in the biggest high-leverage situations on the field.

The other main reason that fans should be excited is from a redshirt year. There are things outside of throwing the football that he learned a lot about that will help him have a great leg up on other first-year starters.

“And then the other thing I would say is just he’s had, you know, that same player has had a year now of being around a guy like Sam Darnold called through his journey, a one-year journey with the success Sam had. He got to watch it. He got to see what meetings were like. What’s it like when I install third down plays and we talk about the reads and we talk about the detail of how we’re going to play against this opponent who plays like this this week. And I think he’s been around all that. Yeah, he’s not a rookie. He’s been able to have, you know, that pseudo redshirt year, albeit without the reps we have wanted, but, but I’m really confident, really excited to see him hit the ground running.

“I think the big thing to remember is JJ is still such a young guy. And so, from a standpoint of just being around it, you know, being, you know, you know, just totally submerged in a football world where there is no class, there is no, you know, there really are no distractions. Other than for him, we wanted him to focus on getting healthy. Super unfortunate to have that injury happen, and especially coming off of what was a really, really great start for his first preseason game. But really, what I what I would say is, for him, you know, he’s not hearing anything for the first time. He now can hear us call a play, or a concept, or a run play, or, Hey, we can do it for this reason. And he’s heard all of those things before.”

Vikings fans should be really excited about McCarthy, as he has the entire package that O’Connell seems to look for.

Mark Wilf Recaps 2025 Vikings Free Agency, Shares Intent to Sign Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to Extension

Wilf met Monday afternoon with Twin Cities beat reporters and responded to a number of questions, in addition to reflecting on the 2024 campaign and first part of the 2025 offseason. He acknowledged excitement around the 14-3 regular-season run by Minnesota last year and simultaneous disappointment in the Vikings early exit from the postseason.

“But we feel like the football leadership we have, we’re in good stead to really keep competing and driving hard to where we want to go, which is Super Bowl championships and winning divisions,” Wilf said. “And we know the tough task we have there. We’re in a very competitive division, and that was proven last year. But we feel really good about the moves we made, particularly on the [offensive and defensive] lines, and we have great hope for the future in terms of all parts of the team and our leadership.”

“Kwesi’s part of our football leadership,” he said. “We feel great the moves Kwesi’s made, in terms of positioning, along with Coach O’Connell and Rob, in terms of our salary cap position, our draft position and potential, and so we have all the faith in Kwesi, and we’ve had very, very positive conversations, and that’s something we’re going to continue to work toward this offseason, in terms of making sure he’s part of that.

“I think Coach O’Connell and Kwesi and Rob and our entire football leadership, our coordinators, our scouting department work very well together, and we as ownership feel strongly about it, as well,” Wilf later added. “I think this offseason has been a real positive; I hope our fans sense that, as well.”

Since the New League Year opened just over two weeks ago, the Vikings have been able to re-sign key players like Aaron Jones, Sr., and Byron Murphy, Jr., while also bringing in new players like Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and more to bolster their roster. Throughout that process, players have cited multiple reasons for wanting to be in Minnesota — playing for a competitive team, of course, likely is near the top, but several have also referenced the NFLPA Report Card and the Vikings favorable grades in all areas of the organization.

“I think players ultimately want to be in a place where they can compete and win but also want to be in a place where they’re taken care of, that their families feel good about being there, and also that they can hone their craft,” Wilf said, noting a “concerted effort” on the Vikings culture. “As ownership, we provide resources to have what we think are the state-of-the-art facilities in the NFL and in the sports world, and that’s important.

“But buildings are only one part of it; it’s about people,” Wilf continued. “We have the right leaders in the room, and I think players around the league are recognizing that, and that’s important. And I think this free agency showed that it’s a competitive league, as we know, but as we believe, I think it’s starting to become a place where people say, ‘OK, this is a place we can compete, my family can be taken care of, and I can also hone my craft, and I’m going to be taken care of the right way.’ “

Wilf’s enthusiasm surrounding McCarthy dates back to even before last year’s draft, when some of the ownership accompanied the Vikings football leadership on QB visits and workouts.

“The fact that we even had to move up [in the draft] to make sure that we weren’t going to lose J.J. for any reason says a lot about the dynamic we had with him. Of course, a proven winner at every level,” Wilf said. “I know he was injured last year, but how he’s approached his rehab, how he’s approached everything, has given everyone a lot of confidence in the building.

“The amount of time and resources we put into really spending time with those QB prospects was, we knew that was a special draft for QBs, and we know how important that position is, and we know how important Kevin O’Connell [really is in] getting to know the players, getting to understand them, maybe outside their typical environment,” Wilf continued. “It gives us that kind of confidence when we talk about J.J. as a franchise [player].”

As reporters have recently asked Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell their interest level — if any — in bringing four-time All-Pro Aaron Rodgers to Minnesota, Wilf offered “tremendous respect” to the former foe but also reiterated belief in O’Connell, Adofo-Mensah, the whole coaching staff and McCarthy.

“Coach O’Connell has a relationship with [Rodgers], and I leave it to Coach O’Connell and Kwesi and Rob to work through all of that. But a lot of confidence in how J.J. McCarthy is developing,” he said. “So yeah, a lot of respect for Aaron Rodgers, but we feel where Coach O’Connell is and Kwesi, a lot of confidence in how they’re going to bring this team [forward]. And looking forward to seeing what J.J. can do, continuing to see him develop, and we as an ownership and a franchise are going to make sure all the resources are in place to maximize his potential.”

On how you evaluate draft success:

“You know, wins and losses is the ultimate measure. I think you have to look at the whole picture. It’s draft, it’s free agency. I think again, free agency has become a more important part of the team-building dynamic, but drafts seem to be a two- to three-year process before you really see where it falls out. The whole [compensatory] Pick - equation and making sure you have plenty of Pick - s is something I know we’re working constantly on. So, it’s not an immediate answer all the time. Sometimes it is. But again, the ultimate measure is championships, division titles, wins and losses, all of the common metrics all our fans appreciate, and so I feel really good about our future.”

On how the increased salary cap impacts ownership’s perspective:

“It has gone up again, and it has gone up dramatically. I think with Rob Brzezinski and how he has the kind of experience to work through the salary cap and the comp Pick - s and all the entire structure, [and] we feel free agency is also more and more, it’s not just a plug; it can be a real team-building tool. We were very methodical on the process these last few seasons.

“Ideally you want to have both draft and free agency work well, and having the free agency [period], you’ve got to hit on those guys. They’re veterans. And seeing those guys hit was really a big part of why we were able to be successful last year.”

On whether the Vikings will play an international game in 2025:

“I know it’s always a possibility. We do applaud and are eager to invest — as you know, we have our marketing rights in the UK and in Canada, but just as an overall League, growing the game, having two additional countries this year, in Ireland and Spain, and continuing to grow. So I don’t know where we’re going to fall on the schedule this year. We’ll see. It’ll come out in a few weeks.”

Vikings owner confirms ‘very, very positive’ contract talks with GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Wilf said the Vikings have had “very, very optimistic conversations” with Adofo-Mensah, according to reporters who spoke to the owner in Florida. When asked specifically if reaching an extension with Adofo-Mensah is something he wants to get done, Wilf responded, “Yes it is.”

“I don’t think about that very much, I’ll be honest,” Adofo-Mesnah said last week when asked about his contract.

“This is probably the busiest time of the year for myself and my staff, and so I wake up every morning trying to make sure the Vikings get to the ultimate goal I want to get us to. Just like we say with player contracts, it’s a process. These things take time. I promise you I don’t wake up thinking about that for one second. I wake up thinking about how do we improve this team, how do we beat the other teams in our division, how do we get to the playoffs and how do we go further?”

Vikings owner Mark Wilf sends strong message why Minnesota will continue to be destination for NFL players

Over their 21 years of ownership, the Wilf family has put in a ton of time and resources when it comes to making things better. They started by getting legislation passed for U.S. Bank Stadium and then built the palace at TCO Performance Center.

Their work in building up the facilities and infrastructure of the organization has not gone unnoticed, as the Vikings have finished first, second, and second over the three years they have had the survey. Wilf was asked about how much pride he has in that, and the answer speaks volumes.

“A lot of pride. I think, as an ownership, and I know our fans, hopefully, can appreciate this. We have the best stadium, the best facilities at training camp for our players, for our fans to enjoy the game, and that’s very important. But it’s not just the buildings. We have amazing people: Coach O’Connell, Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah), Rob Brzezinski, all the guys that kind of run the football operation, and Andrew Miller running our business side. I think we want to make sure our players know that they can come to a place where the buildings and facilities are A-1, that their families can be taken care of, and that they can hone their craft and maximize their potential. And so we have all those things, and we hope to continue to compete on that level.”

Asante Samuel Jr. to the Vikings in 5 weeks? The wildest NFL speculation yet

Imagine a Minnesota Vikings secondary with Asante Samuel Jr. working at cornerback.

The 2021 second-round Pick - is one of the best remaining free agents and the Vikings could still use some help in the cornerback room even though they’ve re-signed pro bowler Byron Murphy Jr., signed Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, and are getting 2023 second-round Pick - Mekhi Blackmon back from a torn ACL.

You’re probably wondering, ‘Why are we even talking about the Vikings and Samuel Jr.?” Well, we’re doing this as a bit of an experiment to see how things play out over the next five weeks based on some of the most unbelievable speculation you’ll come across. It comes from Phil Mackey at SKOR North.

On Friday, Mackey told a story that he heard from an anonymous person who cited a story from his neighbor. Yes, you should be laughing by now. Anyway, let’s continue with Mackey telling the story from the eyes of an anonymous listener who said he received a text message from his daughter, who was on vacation in Fort Lauderdale this past week.

“She’s at SWAY Nightclub with some friends when she noticed a young man in a Vikings cap with an entourage around him,” Mackey explained. “She’s a big football fan and made her way toward him and asked if he played for the Vikings. He kind of smiled and said ‘it won’t be official for about five weeks, but yes.’ She then asked for his name and he introduced himself as Asante.”

Quick fact: Asante Samuel Jr. is originally from Fort Lauderdale and SWAY Nightclub is a real place.

Adding more merit to the possibility that this is real is that in five weeks the NFL draft will have passed, so it would theoretically make sense for the Vikings to wait to sign him until then because it won’t factor into the 2026 compensation Pick - formula.

SKOR North is known for their “reckless speculation” segments, and this one takes the cake. Who knows, maybe Mackey and company are pulling a fast one for engagement and entertainment, or maybe they really received an honest report from someone who wants to remain anonymous.

Former Titans QB Predicted to Sign With NFC Team

The 33rd Team writer and former NFL executive Jeff Diamond is predicting that Tannehill will sign with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.

“Tannehill was Tennessee’s starter for four more seasons but battled injuries his last two years before sitting out last season. His record in Tennessee was 39-24, and his career passer rating is 91.2,” Diamond writes.

“Tannehill has talked with the Vikings about the possibility of signing with them. It sounds like he wants to play again, and he should look at the Vikings as a great potential destination for his career re-launch. I think it will happen as he sees an opportunity to play with a playoff team with an unproven quarterback coming off a major injury in McCarthy.”

“The Vikings have $24.2 million in cap room and probably want to sign Tannehill on a deal similar to Darnold’s last year, which was for one year and $10 million (plus the Vikings would offer lucrative incentives if Tannehill becomes the starter).”

It would take a lot from Tannehill to go from off the street to a starter after sitting out a year, but the fit with the Vikings makes sense.

Vikings GM hints at trading draft picks, vows ‘best available’ approach

“Obviously, the capital is something people talk about, but every draft Pick - has a commensurate value that you can kind of break up into lots of Pick - s,” Adofo-Mensah told Vikings Entertainment Network’s Tatum Everett in an interview at the NFL’s annual league meeting in Palm Beach, FL this week. “If we wanted to Pick - 15 times, we could. There’s a way to do that.”

“We’re just going to be smart, selective, try and find the best players that impact our team,” Adofo-Mensah said. “But also knowing, how do you best move around the board to get the best total collection of players? That’s how we’ll approach it. I think we’ll be a ‘best available’ kind of approach and mindset. I’m excited about that. I challenged our group, we have grand ambition, and maybe it’ll be the coolest story ever that you went into the draft with four Pick - s and you did something great with it.”

NFL Draft analysts send a clear message to Vikings on what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to do in April

That Drafttek “analyst” cant get no love!

https://www.drafttek.com/2025-NFL-Draft-Team-Pages/Vikings-Draft-Page.asp

Vikings ‘30 visit’ tracker: Which NFL draft prospects are Minnesota hosting?

2025 Interest List

Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Rams
Sent: 24
Received: 26, 101
...
Trade Partner: Raiders
Sent: 26, 97
Received: 37, 68, 108
...
Trade Partner: Chargers
Sent: 68, 2026 Round 3
Received: 55, 158
...
Trade Partner: 49ers
Sent: 139
Received: 147, 227
...

Round 2, Pick: 37 Trey Amos CB Ole Miss 6’0.6” 195

Round 2, Pick: 55 Donovan Jackson C/G Ohio State 6’3.5” 315

Round 3, Pick: 101 Shemar Turner DT Texas A&M 6’3.1” 290

Round 4, Pick: 108 Demetrius Knight Jr. LB South Carolina 6’1.5” 235

Round 5, Pick: 147 Billy Bowman Jr. S Oklahoma 5’9.7” 192

Round 5, Pick: 158 Bhayshul Tuten RB Virginia Tech 5’9.2” 206

Round 6, Pick: 187 Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins EDGE Georgia 6’4.6” 276

Round 7, Pick: 227 Thomas Fidone II TE Nebraska 6’5” 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

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...y-kevin-oconnell-kwesi-adofo-mensah-mark-wilf

News Vikings Team Notes

Benchwarmer

Minnesota Vikings News and Links​

Yore Mock​

Trade Recap​

Trade Partner: Chiefs​

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

Received: Round 1, Pick 31, Round 3, Pick 66, Round 4, Pick 133​

..​

Trade Partner: Raiders​

Sent: Round 1, Pick 31​

Received: Round 2, Pick 37, Round 4, Pick 108, Round 6, Pick 215​

..​

Trade Partner: Raiders​

Sent: Round 4, Pick 133​

Received: Round 5, Pick 143, Round 6, Pick 213​

..​

Trade Partner: 49ers​

Sent: Round 5, Pick 143​

Received: Round 5, Pick 147, Round 7, Pick 252​

...​

UDFA​

James Burnip P Alabama​

Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB​

Isaac TeSlaa WR Arkansas​

Joshua Simon TE South Carolina​

Tyler Cooper OL Minnesota​

Bryce Cabeldue OL​

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DL​

Jared Harrison-Hunte DL​

Robert Longerbeam CB​

Marques Sigle S​

Cody Lindenberg LB​

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Benchwarmer

Here are the key points:​

Listen:​

Watch:​

Fan With Us!​

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Benchwarmer

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Benchwarmer

DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon​

PFF Draft Profile​

Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) Draft Profile​

Dane Brugler, The Athletic​

Derrick Harmon Highlights​

Benchwarmer

Here are the key points:​

Listen:​

Watch:​

FAN WITH US!!!​

Benchwarmer

Benchwarmer

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Yore Mock

Trade Recap

Trade Partner: Chiefs

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

Received: Round 1, Pick 31, Round 3, Pick 66, Round 4, Pick 133

..

Trade Partner: Raiders

Sent: Round 1, Pick 31

Received: Round 2, Pick 37, Round 4, Pick 108, Round 6, Pick 215

..

Trade Partner: Raiders

Sent: Round 4, Pick 133

Received: Round 5, Pick 143, Round 6, Pick 213

..

Trade Partner: 49ers

Sent: Round 5, Pick 143

Received: Round 5, Pick 147, Round 7, Pick 252

...

UDFA

James Burnip P Alabama

Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB

Isaac TeSlaa WR Arkansas

Joshua Simon TE South Carolina

Tyler Cooper OL Minnesota

Bryce Cabeldue OL

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DL

Jared Harrison-Hunte DL

Robert Longerbeam CB

Marques Sigle S

Cody Lindenberg LB

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Here are the key points:

Listen:

Watch:

Fan With Us!

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

PFF Draft Profile

Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) Draft Profile

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

Derrick Harmon Highlights

Here are the key points:

Listen:

Watch:

FAN WITH US!!!

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Yore Mock

Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders

Sent: Round 1 Pick 24

Received: Round 2 Pick 5, Round 3 Pick 4

...

Trade Partner: Arizona Cardinals

Sent: Round 2 Pick 5