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Minnesota Vikings · Jun 21, 2025

Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Is JJ McCarthy Ahead Of The Curve?

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

He has spent a year learning the offense!

I am a firm believer in giving a young QB at least two years of starts (I would do three years if I am running things) before attempting to make a decision on their long term prospects with the team. Young QBs need time and will make mistakes like all QBs do. Patience is the key. The hopes are obviously very high but they cannot overtake common sense.

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I asked google “how many years should an nfl team give a rookie quarterback before moving on” and here is the AI Mode response ...

In the NFL, the question of how long to give a rookie quarterback before moving on is a complex one, as there’s no single “correct” answer. It depends heavily on individual circumstances and the needs of the team.

Factors influencing the decision:

Talent and Development: Some rookies demonstrate the ability to lead a team quickly, while others need more time to learn and adjust to the NFL’s speed and complexity.

Team Situation:

Need at the position: If a team has a pressing need for a starting QB, they may be forced to play a rookie sooner.

Veteran mentorship: A strong veteran QB on the roster can provide invaluable guidance and allow a rookie to develop at a more measured pace.

Overall team strength: A strong supporting cast (offensive line, receivers, etc.) can help a rookie succeed even if they are still developing.

Coaching and Strategy: A capable coaching staff can implement schemes that help a rookie QB succeed and provide the necessary support for their development.

Contract Situation: First-round rookie contracts are typically four years with a fifth-year option, providing a defined window for evaluation.

Patience and Evaluation: Teams need to be patient, especially with highly-drafted rookies, but also realistic about whether a player is demonstrating enough growth to be the long-term solution.

Common approaches and timelines:

Year 1-2: Some teams may start their rookie QB right away, even if it means weathering some growing pains. Others opt to sit them behind a veteran, allowing them to learn without the pressure of being the immediate starter.

Year 3-4: By this point, teams generally have a good idea of a QB’s potential and whether they should be considered the franchise player. It’s crucial to evaluate their progress and decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option or consider other options.

Beyond Year 4: If a QB hasn’t shown the necessary improvement or consistency by the end of their rookie contract, the team may look to move on.

In summary: There’s no set rule for how long a team should give a rookie QB. It’s a strategic decision based on the player’s potential, the team’s needs, and the overall context of the situation. While patience is important, teams also need to be realistic about when to make a change.

Former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper says J.J. McCarthy will be “a master”

Daunte Culpepper recently sat down with WCCO’s Mike Max and gave his thoughts about J.J. McCarthy, the first-round pick set to take the reins in 2025.

“I saw him at practice last week and he looks great,” Culpepper said. “He has that it factor, I always say, he has it. And I can see it in his eyes, he’s ready to go out and tear it up.”

“I think it won’t be a hard transition for him in the NFL,” Culpepper said. “As long as we keep him healthy and keep him off the ground, with those weapons around him, I see great things.”

A year later, Culpepper suffered a brutal knee injury that ultimately derailed his career.

“It definitely changed the trajectory of my career,” Culpepper said. “Didn’t know it then, I thought, you always think you’re gonna overcome everything. I was able to at least come back and play some, but I was never myself.”

McCarthy is recovering from his own injury, though a much less impactful one. Culpepper believes McCarthy is ready to give the Vikings something they haven’t had since his early playing days: a true franchise quarterback.

“I think that he’s gonna surprise a lot of people. Because his ability, I watched him make every throw, he has a lot of zip on his passes and he is very knowledgeable of the offense, he knows where everybody’s at,” Culpepper said. “I think he’s gonna be a master, I think he’s working his way to be a master, and just remember I said it first, he’s gonna tear up the league.”

How many years will you be willing to watch young JJ play before making your decision?

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Ranking 2025 NFL QBs by tiers: Jayden Daniels joins elite crop; Caleb Williams among promising prospects

Tier 3: Promising Prospects (4)

J.J. McCarthy | Age: 22 | Season: 2nd

Everything about the Minnesota Vikings suggests he’s in for a cool debut after missing 2024 due to knee surgeries: head coach Kevin O’Connell, a Justin Jefferson-led skill group and an exotic defense promise elite support. Fans may have inflated expectations after journeyman Sam Darnold won 14 games a year ago.

Five things we know about Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy

NFC North coaching staff rankings: Vikings’ leadership is among the elite

1. Vikings

Head coach: Kevin O’Connell

Coordinators: Wes Phillips (O), Brian Flores (D)

Notable assistants: Keenan McCardell (WRs), Josh McCown (QBs)

The Vikings’ coaching staff can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best. Playoff success hasn’t been there yet, but reigning NFL coach of the year Kevin O’Connell is 34-17 in three regular seasons despite having five different quarterbacks start games during that span. His next task is to develop his long-term guy at the position in J.J. McCarthy. Phillips and McCown will also be a big part of that effort, along with Jordan Traylor, who was hired to replace the departed Grant Udinski.

In addition to one of the game’s top offensive minds, the Vikings also have a madman mastermind on the defensive side of the ball. Flores had led one of the best, most unique defenses in the NFL over the last two seasons, and his personnel for 2025 is better than ever. The Vikings feel lucky to still have him after he interviewed for three head coaching vacancies in the winter. If Flores departs (which could happen as soon as next year), Daronte Jones might be in line to replace him internally. Flores, Phillips, McCown, McCardell, and Udinski could all be future head coaches in the league.

5 undrafted rookies with the best chance to make the Vikings’ roster

Zemaiah Vaughn, CB, Utah

Guaranteed money: $249,000

Vaughn is a long, slender cornerback who stands nearly 6’3” and is an explosive athlete. He ran a 4.45 40 and posted great numbers in the jumps (though his agility testing wasn’t great). A five-year player at Utah, Vaughn had five pass breakups, a forced fumble, a pick-six, two sacks, and five total tackles for loss last season. He hit the ground running with the Vikings during the offseason program, breaking up several passes in 7-on-7 action at practices open to the media. With corner being a question mark in Minnesota, Vaughn certainly has a path to making the roster.

Tyler Batty, OLB, BYU

Guaranteed money: $259,000

Batty, who got more money than any other Vikings UDFA this year, is about as NFL-ready as they come, considering he just turned 26 years old. After a two-year mission in Spain, he played five seasons for the Cougars, recording 16.5 sacks and 34 total TFL. He also had two interceptions last season. Batty is a big, strong edge defender with some burst and a high motor. He’s listed as an outside linebacker, but he could also play with his hand in the dirt on the defensive line. Can he beat out someone like Bo Richter or Gabriel Murphy for a roster spot?

Silas Bolden, WR, Texas

Guaranteed money: $205,000

Ben Yurosek, TE, Georgia

Guaranteed money: $254,000

Logan Brown, OL, Kansas

Guaranteed money: $244,000

Five more to keep in mind:

Austin Keys, LB, Auburn

Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota

Chaz Chambliss, OLB, Georgia

Joe Huber, OL, Wisconsin

Oscar Chapman, P, Auburn

10 Big-Picture Takeaways from Vikings Offseason Program

1. McCarthy’s process is progressing | By Rob Kleifield

The process is the progress. Hmm, actually, progress is the process.

“I’m trying to experiment as much as possible because this is the time to do it,” McCarthy told reporters at the conclusion of Minnesota’s mandatory minicamp. “This is the time to try things. This is the time to talk through different reads with K.O. (O’Connell), and it’s a blessing to be able to have that coaching staff behind me that supports me and encourages that. That’s the quickest way you’re going to learn, the quickest way you’re going to grow. So, I’ve been doing that pretty much every day.”

The offseason program served multiple purposes for McCarthy. It allowed him to gel with teammates and coaches, new and old; it let him toy with a risk tolerance that tested differently paced and placed passes in a no-real-harm-done setting; and it pitted him against a defense that ranks with the best of them.

“It’s been awesome because they’ve really pushed the limits on just what I can handle, and that’s what I asked for,” McCarthy said regarding his workload. “I’d rather sweat in training and limit the bleeding [in games]. But, yeah, they’ve just been doing a tremendous job of preparing us and making sure that we find comfort in uncomfortable positions that we’re inevitably going to be in.”

2. Anchored by Ryan Kelly, revamped o-line under development | By Lindsey Young

The group is anchored and impacted by Ryan Kelly, whom the Vikings signed in March as a free agent. The 10th-year center adds tremendous experience and talent to the line and also is helpful in prepping McCarthy for his first season as Minnesota’s starting QB.

“Besides his playing value, just being an extremely strong and seasoned veteran who’s kind of seen it all, he understands what’s happening and is a really smart football player,” Vikings Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips said. “But there is a level of having a veteran center with a young quarterback, where the communication from him to J.J. — communicating fronts, getting calls out, sometimes even seeing something, saying, ‘Hey, watch this guy over here.’

6. Flores & O’Connell making each other better | By Lindsey Young

O’Connell mentioned that Flores “ran some stuff I didn’t even know was in there” during the final minicamp practice.

“Ryan Kelly turned to me and asked me how to target a run. I said, ‘Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea what they’re doing over there,’ “ O’Connell quipped. “And it was kind of [Kelly’s] first exposure, and they were just trying something out, using a specific grouping that we have not seen before. And that’s just Flo’. I challenge him all the time to do those things, and then we’re doing the same thing on the offensive side, trying to take something that now some of our players are two, three years in on this play, so can we find nuances to it to give the players more ownership on either side of the ball?

“That’s something that I’ve really felt both sides really stressing this year, is we know the systems, we kind of know the baseline of it, but here’s the next layer of it, where we want you guys to have that player ownership of it and maybe even the control of it, which has been really fun,” he continued. “But it’s happening, and it’ll happen in training camp. I’m sure there’ll be one day when I’m mad at him, or he’s mad at me, and then we have a big ol’ hug after practice and move on. But our team is like that. Our offense and defense are like that. So, Flo’ and I, we wouldn’t be our authentic selves unless we were competing and trying to have the best of our team come out for the betterment of our team.”

Versatile Playmaker Lands Noteworthy Label After Vikings Doubled Down

“It’s clear that the Vikings see their second tight end as a critical part of the offense,” Barnwell wrote on June 19. “It’s the second time the Vikings have paid Oliver, who joined the team on a three-year, $21 million deal two years ago.

“The numbers back up the idea that Oliver is an elite blocker. He ranked fourth among eligible tight ends in ESPN’s run block win rate a year ago, finishing just behind a former teammate in now-Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt. NFL Next Gen Stats credited Oliver with only two pressures allowed across 55 pass-blocking snaps, producing a pressure rate that was just about half the league average among tight ends.”

When you're the TE in 11 personnel and block at an elite level, all you need to do is catch checkdowns and slip into the flat sometimes, the real receiving can be done by the 3 WRs.

Josh Oliver gives you a touch more than that, which makes him incredibly underrated. pic.twitter.com/z2xIuKT1O5

— Remember The Tight Ends (@RememberTheTE) April 16, 2025

Click to expand...

NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks noted the shift in teams’ personnel usage in recent seasons. They have moved toward two-tight-end looks.

“Instead of trotting out 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB) to spread out defenses stocked with extra defensive backs and hybrid linebackers, shrewd schemers are utilizing old-school formations from 12 personnel packages (2 WRs, 2 TEs, 1 RB) to create and exploit mismatches all over the field,” Brooks wrote in May 2024.

“Last season, teams utilized 12 personnel on 19.3 percent of offensive snaps, ranking behind only 11 personnel (62.1%) for the most common usage. That ranked as the second-highest rate of 12 personnel deployment in a single season during the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).”

Brooks noted that the mark in 2023 (18.4%) was “not a drastic” difference from 2024.

Still, the Vikings ranked third in 12 personnel usage during the 2024 regular season, per Sumer Sports. They remain built for success once and could be even better.

“The Vikings’ ability to succeed in 12 personnel is crucial to their offensive success. Their 81.6 team PFF overall grade when in 12 personnel last season tied for fifth best. They also ranked fourth in yards per play and second in successful play rate in those sets,” Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman wrote on June 2.

“Minnesota’s greatest asset in 12 personnel is its tight ends, T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver. Not only are they talented players, but they complement each other extremely well.”

Wasserman noted that Oliver’s ability to block in-line, particularly in the run game. Oliver ranks second among qualifiers in run-blocking grade from 2022 through 2024. Hockenson is fifth with an 84.3 mark over the last three seasons.

“His blocking prowess and Hockenson’s versatility give the Vikings’ 12-personnel grouping the feel of an 11-personnel unit.

“Oliver is just good enough of a receiver to give teams pause when he’s running routes up the seam and off play-action boot concepts,” Barnwell wrote. “Combine that with great blocking and he’s a very useful player, one who lined up on just about half of the offensive snaps for the Vikings in 2024.”

Vikings Staring Down $50 Million Problem as Training Camp Nears

Vikings May Need to Roll Over Salary Cap Space to Deal With $51 Million Deficit in 2026

Judd Zulgad and Phil Mackey of the Skor NORTH podcast explained the situation on the Friday, June 20 edition of the show.

“You can roll over cap space. I don’t know exactly if you can roll over all of it or some of it, but you can roll over unused cap space, which they are probably going to need because — as of right now — no team is further over the cap in 2026 than the Minnesota Vikings,” Mackey said. “They’re like $50 million over the cap.”

According to Spotrac, Minnesota currently sits more than $51.1 million in the hole for the 2026 season.

“Be prepared next March for a lot of deals to be … reworked, or a lot of guys to just be let go, too,” Zulgad added.

If the Vikings do spend any of their remaining $18 million this summer, it will likely be on a QB2 to replace Sam Howell.

“I think training camp will dictate some things,” Zulgad said. “I’ll go back to Sam Howell. If Sam Howell craps out in training camp, I don’t know that they’re going to just sort of hold their breath and hope that J.J. does not get hurt.”

Minnesota Vikings star’s $30 million deal named among NFL’s worst contracts

NFL Spin Zone’s Lou Scataglia recently labeled the Vikings’ two-year, $30 million deal for veteran free agent Javon Hargrave the worst on Adofo-Mensah’s books entering the 2025 season. Here was his take on the signing:

The two-time Pro Bowler is entering his age-32 season in the NFL and played in just three games with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL Season, so there is already a risk here with the Minnesota Vikings having made this signing, but I get why it was done.

The Vikings front office prioritized the trenches in a big way this offseason, as they also signed DT Jonathan Allen, center Ryan Kelly, and guard Will Fries, but this is a massive overpay for a DT who is getting old and who has had double-digit QB hits in just three seasons across his career.

Is $15 million per year for a 32-year-old player too steep? Scataglia certainly has a case, but Hargrave’s previous contract with the San Francisco 49ers was four years and $84 million, so you could also argue that they’re getting him at a discount. If injuries derail Hargrave’s 2025 season, the Vikings gave themselves an out by paying the majority of his guaranteed money up front. They can get out of this deal in 2026 for just a $10 million dead-cap charge.

Note: The “writer” did not mention that the Vikings could release him next year and save 11M in cap space while eating 10.5M in dead money. A worthwhile gamble.

Every NFL team’s make-or-break player for the 2025 season

Minnesota Vikings: DI Javon Hargrave

Last season, Minnesota’s interior defensive linemen ranked 28th in the NFL in PFF pass-rush grade as a unit. The team signed former 49er Javon Hargrave in free agency with the hope of improving upon that. Hargrave’s 2024 season was cut short due to injury, but if he gives the Vikings an elite pass-rush presence, he could change the outlook of their defense.

From 2021 to 2023, Hargrave ranked among the top four qualified defensive tackles in PFF pass-rush grade, pressure rate and pass-rush win rate.

Minnesota Vikings Get Bad News on Former QB Daniel Jones

“Daniel Jones [is] making his move a little bit minicamp, taking those first-team reps with Anthony Richardson resting his shoulder,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during an evening edition of “SportsCenter” on June 14. “Richardson plans to be back for training camp for that battle. But I was told Jones was a fast processor at the line of scrimmage [and has] good chemistry with his receivers. He was ‘very sharp,’ as it was told to me, in minicamp as the guy. So, it’s going to be fascinating once they hit camp in that battle.”

The news got worse for the Vikings on Thursday, when NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha interpreted Jones’ progression in Indianapolis to this point not only as a harbinger for quality play in 2025, but as the basis for a “bold prediction” that Jones will win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award at the end of the upcoming season.

McCarthy is, in several meaningful senses, repeating his rookie campaign in 2025 after suffering a knee injury in August that knocked him out for the entire regular season. The former No. 10 overall pick struggled early, tossing interceptions on multiple consecutive days. However, Fowler added in his June 14 report that the Vikings are happy with how McCarthy has progressed since his rocky start.

“Coming off that knee issue, they knew [McCarthy] could start a little slowly, but they like the way he’s throwing the ball. They feel very comfortable with where he’s at going into training camp,” Fowler said. “They believe in their three-year plan — a young quarterback they like on a rookie scale. So they’ll be aggressive on the roster [around] him. They believe they can win a Super Bowl in the next three years.”

Note: Jones playing well will only help the Vikings with the compensatory picks next year. He knew what time it was in Minnesota and that he would more than likely be relegated to backup. In Indy, his chances are better since Richardson struggled last year. I would say it is good news but they are trying to portray it as if JJ is going to struggle. Newsflash. JJ will have some struggles as all rookie QBs do. The Vikings are making the smart decision after spending the first round pick on JJ of letting him go through his struggles and giving him real snaps. I would say he needs two years minimum with my preference being three.

Sam Darnold finally admits what we all knew after the unfortunate end to the Minnesota Vikings season

Quarterback Sam Darnold opened up about the end of the season with The Athletic, taking a lot of blame, and how he knows that he still has to prove himself.

“For lack of a better term, we laid an egg as an offense,” Darnold said in an interview with The Athletic following a minicamp practice last week. “And I think, for me personally, that sucks. I felt like we were a really good team, but at the end of the day — and this is gonna sound a little pessimistic — but when you get to the end of it and you don’t win the whole thing, you failed.

“I feel like I could have played way better, to be completely honest with you. I feel I didn’t play up to my standard. I truly feel that way. I feel like if I would have just played better, I would’ve been able to give the team a chance.”

Five teams that won the NFL offseason: Will Bears, Raiders hype translate into wins?

No Vikings from my man Bucky. I think the Vikings did a pretty good job but maybe the lack of draft picks knocked them down Bucky’s list slightly./

Interesting article that might provide a player or two that could be reclamation projects the Vikings sign next offseason. Kwesi does like home some reclamation projects.

Bust alert: Nine NFL players who are running out of time to prove themselves entering 2025 season

Travis Etienne

Season: 5th | Drafted: No. 25 (2021)

As you can see, the Jaguars are on trial in 2025. Etienne arrived 24 picks after Lawrence back in 2021, and his career has been equally volatile. A foot injury wiped out his entire rookie campaign, and while he rebounded excellently with a multipurpose 2022 breakout (1,400-plus total yards), the former Clemson star has averaged just 3.75 yards per carry since then. Counterpart Tank Bigsby was far more efficient the last time both backs saw the field, hence plenty of trade rumors regarding Etienne ahead of a contract year.

Lukas Van Ness

Season: 3rd | Drafted: No. 13 (2023)

Van Ness felt destined for the Green Bay Packers even before he landed in Lambeau, coming out of Iowa with a background in hockey, but he’s been more of an intriguing Midwestern story than a difference-making pass rusher so far. Nicknamed “Hercules” in college, he’s yet to make his first official NFL start, managing seven total sacks since 2023 as part of the club’s edge rotation. Coach Matt LaFleur indicated this summer Van Ness could also be deployed as an interior defender to help spark his impact.

NFL Draft Stuff

2026 NFL Draft: One area every NFL team needs to think about

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: SAFETY ROOM

Franchise legend Harrison Smith is back for another season, but the 36-year-old may not be far from retirement. Josh Metellus will start next to him, but he is entering the final year of his contract before void years. Metellus also earned just a 52.2 PFF coverage grade last season. One or both might need to be replaced for 2026.

The Vikings have 2023 draft pick Jay Ward, who showed promise with an 89th-ranked 63.0 PFF overall grade in 2024, but they could look to make a major splash through a very good 2026 safety class.

2026 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-50 prospects to watch this season, with Arch Manning leading the way

7 Offensive Tackles in the top 32. I love O’Neill but it is interesting that the Vikings have not extended him to lower his cap hits this year and next and to give him guaranteed money of which he has none remaining. Perhaps they will be looking to move on or the numbers exchanged do not align with the “time horizon”?

I think that safety could be high on the list next offseason.

2026 NFL Draft: Highlighting positions of strength, weakness using PFF grades

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Three offensive tackles already project to be first-rounders in 2026: Kadyn Proctor, Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano. Fano leads the way with an elite 93.0 PFF overall grade last season, powered by a 93.6 PFF run-blocking grade. He recorded a 21%-plus impact block rate while keeping his negatively graded run-block rate below 10%.

Proctor recorded a 72.4 PFF overall grade in his second season as Alabama’s left tackle, while Mauigoa earned a 71.7 mark as Miami’s right tackle. Both were five-star recruits in the 2023 class and are scheduled to be first-rounders due to their sky-high potential.

Strength or Weakness: Strength

10 offensive linemen to know for the 2026 NFL Draft

Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)

Mauigoa has been starting at right tackle for the Hurricanes since his true freshman season. The former five-star recruit showed marked improvement as a pass blocker during his sophomore campaign, allowing just two combined sacks/hits on 534 pass-blocking snaps. He was the only FBS tackle with two or fewer knockdowns surrendered on 500-plus pass-blocking snaps.

Mauigoa’s 71.4 PFF run-blocking grade since 2023 also ties for fourth among ACC tackles. He still needs to refine his game, but he’s one of the favorites to be OT1 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Spencer Fano, Utah

Fano led all FBS tackles with a 93.0 PFF overall grade this past season, mainly because of his dominance in the run game. The Utah native’s 93.6 PFF run-blocking grade was the best in the country by more than three points. He also finished as the second-most-valuable Power Four tackle, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric, trailing only top-10 draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr.

Fano is no slouch as a pass protector, either, earning a top-30 PFF pass-blocking grade among Power Four tackles (79.5). While some length concerns could make him a guard in the NFL, he’s still an elite athlete with dominant tape as just a true sophomore.

Gennings Dunker, Iowa

While losing superstar running back Kaleb Johnson to the NFL will undoubtedly hurt the Hawkeyes’ run game, they still have a road grader in Dunker to rely on.

Iowa’s right tackle earned a 90.2 PFF run-blocking grade this past season, ranking second only to Utah’s Spencer Fano among FBS tackles. His 90.2 PFF overall grade placed fifth in the nation, as well. Dunker’s seven big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) in 2024 tied with Fano for the third most among Power Four tackles. He’s a powerful player with the leg drive to pancake defenders.

Yore Mock

Trade Recap
Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 21, 2026: Round 4, Pick 121
Denver Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 18
...

21. Dillon Thieneman S Oregon 6’0” 207

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

50. Gennings Dunker OT Iowa 6’5” 316

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

82. Daylen Everette CB Georgia 6’1” 190

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

97. Jonah Coleman RB Washington 5’9” 228

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

118. Tim Keenan III DL Alabama 6’2” 325

Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

121. Germie Bernard WR Alabama 6’1” 202

Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

174. Isaiah Nwokobia S SMU 6’1” 202

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

232. Isaiah Glasker LB BYU 6’5” 235

Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

https://kslsports.com/ncaa/byu-football/2026-nfl-draft-top-prospects/547121

The Big 12’s leader in tackles for loss last season, Isaiah Glasker, considered the NFL this past winter. But he’s running it back at BYU.
Glasker finished with 14.5 tackles for loss last year and led BYU in tackles with 70.
The size and athleticism of Glasker were a revelation last year. There were signs of his ability during spring and fall camps in previous years, but injuries and learning the linebacker position made it a slow launch. Last year, Glasker made everyone a believer.
A former wide receiver in high school, Glasker began his college career at safety before moving down into the box as a linebacker. He hasn’t looked back since.

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/2025/6/21/24453227/jj-mccarthy-daunte-culpepper-kevin-oconnell

Minnesota Vikings · Jun 22, 2025

Understanding Acts of Cowherdism

Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Getting My Head Around the Doomerism

I’m sure everyone is aware that Colin Cowherd is not a fan of J.J. McCarthy. He even went so far as to compare him to…Danny Wuerffel.

Yes, it’s easy to dismiss Cowherd. Bloviators gonna bloviate. The guy collects atrocious takes like my nephew collects Pokémon cards. The opinions of sports talk hosts are a lot like worked shoots in professional wrestling – there’s a genuine, real element at its core, but adding bells and whistles while playing it up for the audience is where the engagement is (and the money made). There may be some of that in Cowherd’s shenanigans. And if it gets traction online? You hit the gas. That’s how the game works. It was also clear he didn’t do his homework, either. He knows McCarthy is doomed to fail because he saw the highlights. Whatever, pal.

I place the views of pundits who played in the NFL on a higher level of credibility, so that’s why I was perplexed when Ross Tucker essentially echoed a lot of Cowherd’s ridiculousness a week or so prior. To be fair, there are others, most notably ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who have been bullish on McCarthy’s prospects.

This comes on the heels of various reporters allowing wishes to father their thoughts regarding Aaron Rodgers in a Vikings uniform. Indeed, it was their white whale since February when the N.Y. Jets made it official that they were moving on. Dianna Russini and Michael Silver at The Athletic may have been the most prominent offenders, but they certainly weren’t alone. Rodgers finally dashed their dreams for good by signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this month.

Then there were the Kirk Cousins reunion rumors. Even with the trade for Sam Howell during the draft, they persisted. ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Seth Walder were still fanning the flames just two weeks ago. It now appears that Cousins himself has essentially closed the door on the possibility.

The collective theme has been, “The Vikings aren’t sold on J.J. McCarthy and are actively keeping their options open.” This is tedious for the simple reason that, you know, it’s BS. Ralph Waldo Emerson quipped that common sense is as rare as genius. He never saw the nonsense coming out of a healthy contingent of the national sports commentariat.

The Minnesota Vikings could have extended Sam Darnold, or in the worst case, slapped the franchise or transition tag on him. They could have kept Daniel Jones in-house for insurance. He left because he knew the prospects of being a long-term starter in Minnesota were between slim and none – and slim just left town. Aaron Rodgers did everything short of showing up outside the TCO Performance Center with a boombox blasting “In Your Eyes.” He signed with the Steelers for a $13 million base salary ($10 million guaranteed). If he hits the performance incentives, it can reach $19 million. The Vikings currently sit at $21 million in available cap space. Unrequited love is a bitch.

Can Someone Lend Me a Hand Here?

I simply can’t get my head around the disproportionate doomerism regarding McCarthy vis-à-vis the other 1st round QBs in the 2024 draft class. Could he be a disappointment? Of course. Could he even be a bust? Theoretically. In the modern era (1980-2024), 83 quarterbacks have been taken in the Top 10. How many of those quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl? Just 11. This includes Jim McMahon and Trent Dilfer. In that time, there were only 3 “can’t miss” quarterback prospects – zero, zilch, nada, 0.00% chance they weren’t going to be lights out, immediate franchise-flipping magicians: John Elway, Peyton Manning, and Andrew Luck. That’s it. A few others, like Trevor Lawrence, flirted with that status but never got there. The jury is still very much out on him. I’d probably put Caleb Williams in this category, too, even though it’s rare for a top prospect to take a step back as he did at USC.

The primary concern about McCarthy was his lack of reps given the run-first offense preferred by Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. This, in turn, led to the talking point that he “wasn’t asked to do as much” as the other top prospects in the class. There is truth to that, regardless of the benefits gained by being in a more pro-style system. At 48.8%, McCarthy’s Usage% trailed the second lowest (Drake Maye – 62.4%) by a considerable margin, and the highest (Caleb Williams – 68.9%) by a great deal more than that. The value of this criticism lies in the presumption that added usage (and the pressure that comes with it) would have had a disproportionately adverse impact on his key performance indicators. Would McCarthy have thrived in the video game offensive system run by Dan Lanning at Oregon? Would Michigan not have experienced its success had McCarthy had more on his plate? I’m skeptical, but dealing with hypotheticals is a waste of time. If high-volume, prolific stats at the college level translated into automatic NFL success, Case Keenum would have been Patrick Mahomes; Timmy Chang would have been Lamar Jackson.

Let’s dig a little deeper to see what McCarthy did with the reps he had, shall we? The survey says: 3rd in QBR. 3rd in EPA/Dropback. 2nd in EPA/Dropback when outside the pocket. What about when it counts? Like 3rd and long conversion rate. That’s where the rubber truly meets the road. Well, McCarthy was 1st in a landslide with an incredible rate of 47.5%. When the opposing defenses knew McCarthy was throwing, he excelled.

But, but, but…Colin Cowherd doesn’t see the “wow” factor in McCarthy:

“Go back and look at the people I trust — I never buy, when you say this about a quarterback, ‘that guy is a winner.’ Everybody under Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier’s a winner. I don’t wanna hear that. If you go back and look, his arm is modest, his escapability is modest, his release wasn’t super quick.”

Click to expand...

The arm strength critique is nonsense. At the NFL combine, McCarthy’s throw velocity was clocked at 61 mph, trailing only Joe Milton III. Scouts confirmed his art talent, particularly for throws in the middle of the field. Is his arm of the Elway, Marino, Favre, Mahomes, and Allen caliber? No. He could also improve by varying the speed and arc on some of his throws. OK, so? That’s what KOC and Josh McCown are there for. Speaking of Josh Allen, there were far greater concerns about his accuracy (56%) and decision-making (21 INTs in 2 years) coming out of Wyoming. Among the greatest red flags? His noticeable drop-off against superior, non-Mountain West competition. Ahhh, nice segue. Even those with the most skeptical eye can’t deny that McCarthy faced as many high-pressure, high-impact situations as possible coming into the NFL (at 21 years of age). 27-1 as a starter. 2-0 against Ohio State. Two College Football Playoff appearances. Took down Saban and Alabama. National Champion. His intangibles are off the damn chart. McCarthy was your run-of-the-mill “winner” in college football the same way Michael Jordan was just another NBA All-Star.

To quote one of those anonymous NFL sources – an “NFC assistant” – that are everywhere in write-ups before each draft: “He’s by far the most pro-readymade QB because of him being with (Jim) Harbaugh, being in a pro-style system, operating under center, communicating the play call. He crushed the combine interview. It was easy. Super smart. Communicates well. Super calm demeanor. Quiet confidence almost. His pro day was probably the best of all the QBs.”

How’s that for a “wow factor”?

Conclusion

Yes, coming off a 14-win season and letting your QB walk in free agency adds to the scrutiny. Will the Vikings achieve that lofty win total again? Highly unlikely. But we don’t have to. Did that gaudy record frighten or intimidate the 10-win L.A. Rams in the playoffs? Nope. I’ll trade 2, 3, 4 regular season wins for a team more battle-tested navigating the NFL’s 5th toughest schedule and primed to do damage in the playoffs.

I also realize the expectations for McCarthy will far exceed anything the other 1st round QBs in his class had to face last year. Baking all of that into the equation, it pales in comparison to the wind at McCarthy’s back and the advantages for him to maximize. None of this happens in a vacuum. He’s playing for the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, who made Sam Darnold look like Dan Marino. KAM addressed the interior offensive line with proven commodities. Brian Flores will limit opposing offenses and make his job easier. The Vikings have one of the most well-rounded rosters in the entire NFL. Talent is everywhere. Far more would need to happen for the Vikings to regress to 6-8 wins than not be in the driver’s seat for a Wild Card spot or better in late December.

It would absolutely shock me if McCarthy doesn’t have a season in the range of the rookie campaigns of Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. Of course, there will be hiccups. The learning curve is real. I’m not arguing otherwise at all. What I’m saying is that absolutely nothing in McCarthy’s record to date, coupled with the ideal situation he finds himself in, portends disappointment. It’s not the usual purple neurons activating to obscure reality either. It’s simply common sense. Don’t take my word for it. The excitement is out there, and it’s massive. Last week, it was announced that McCarthy raked in a staggering $4 million in licensing royalties last year – the highest figure in the entire NFL.

The doomerism just doesn’t add up.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...-minnesota-vikings-j-j-mccarthy-colin-cowherd

Minnesota Vikings · Jun 22, 2025

Josh Oliver Receives High Praise from ESPN

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Maybe the Vikings know something

Tight end Josh Oliver recently got a pretty impressive contract extension from the Minnesota Vikings, and it may have struck a lot of people as unusual given that he wasn’t particularly productive based on the numbers that we can see. However, there’s a reason that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company opened the checkbook for him for a second time.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN has a list of players who are the best at particularly specialized roles around the NFL, and he has Oliver listed as the best blocking tight end in the NFL, which is something that we really don’t have any quantifiable numbers for.

Here is Barnwell’s commentary about Oliver’s abilities:

It’s clear that the Vikings see their second tight end as a critical part of the offense. As I was working on this piece, they signed Oliver to a three-year, $23.3 million extension, which would seem to be a lofty figure for a player with 701 career receiving yards across six NFL seasons with three different teams. It’s the second time the Vikings have paid Oliver, who joined the team on a three-year, $21 million deal two years ago.

The numbers back up the idea that Oliver is an elite blocker. He ranked fourth among eligible tight ends in ESPN’s run block win rate a year ago, finishing just behind a former teammate in now-Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt. NFL Next Gen Stats credited Oliver with only two pressures allowed across 55 pass-blocking snaps, producing a pressure rate that was just about half the league average among tight ends.

Click to expand...

With the commitments they’ve made this offseason in both free agency and the Draft, it’s pretty clear that the Vikings want to make a greater commitment to improving the run game and balancing the offense out a bit. They’ve upgraded the interior of the offensive line and brought in young Jordan Mason to work in tandem with Aaron Jones in the backfield, and having a player like Oliver on the field will allow them to lean more into that. As Barnwell points out, he’s just dangerous enough in the passing game where teams have to pay attention to him, meaning his presence on the field shouldn’t really give anything away to the opposing defense.

Did the Vikings give Oliver too much money for the role he plays? That remains to be seen. However, given his ability to attract and retain talented free agents, I’m willing to give Adofo-Mensah the benefit of the doubt on this one until a reason emerges for me not to do so.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...spn-minnesota-vikings-best-blocking-tight-end

Minnesota Vikings · Jun 23, 2025

Vikings 2025 Roster Locks & QB History Unveiled!

Daunte Culpepper’s 2000 2nd-year breakout (3,937 yds, 33 TDs) led the Vikings to 11-5. With a strong offense but weak defense, he thrived. J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 could mirror this, backed by a better roster and defense, setting him up for success. | Photo by PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images

Join Two Old Bloggers as Darren Campbell & Dave Stefano analyze the Vikings’ 2025 roster, camp battles, and QB history. They predict the final 53-man roster by looking at roster holes, examine key position competitions, and discuss Jordan Addison’s legal situation and Wes Phillips’ contract extension. The hosts also compare second-year Vikings quarterbacks historically to set expectations for J.J. McCarthy’s upcoming season.

As the Minnesota Vikings gear up for the 2025 season, Two Old Bloggers with Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano on Vikings 1st & SKOL, delivers a must-listen episode for SKOL Nation. With mini-camp in the rearview and training camp looming, the hosts unpack the near-finalized 53-man roster, spotlighting minimal positional battles and a Vikings Vault segment revisiting second-year quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater and Daunte Culpepper. From Jordan Addison’s legal drama to J.J. McCarthy’s potential, this episode is packed with insights that every Vikings fan in Minneapolis, Eagan, and beyond needs to hear.

For over two decades, Campbell and Stefano have been the voice of Vikings fandom, blending passion with sharp analysis. This episode, featured on the Daily Norseman, dives into the team’s roster stability, a stark contrast to past years’ uncertainty. The hosts also tackle hot topics like Adrian Peterson’s off-field issues and Brian Flores’ contract status, while offering a historical lens on how second-year QBs have shaped the franchise. Whether you’re dreaming of tailgating at U.S. Bank Stadium or streaming from afar, this episode is your ticket to staying ahead of the 2025 Vikings buzz.

Episode Summary: Key Points

Vikings 53-Man Roster Stability:

The 2025 roster is nearly set, with minimal starting battles, signaling depth and confidence.

Left guard pits rookie Donovan Jackson against Blake Brandel, with Jackson favored unless he falters significantly.

The third/nickel corner spot is contested between Jeff Okudah and Mekhi Blackmon, with Isaiah Rodgers starting opposite Byron Murphy Jr..

Backup battles include fifth wide receiver, fourth linebacker (Brian Asamoah vs. Kobe King), fifth corner (Dwight McGlothern or Zemaiah Vaughn), third tight end (Gavin Bartholomew vs. Ben Yurosek), and fourth/fifth edge rushers (Bo Richter, Gabe Murphy, or Tyler Batty).

Roster certainty allows Kevin O’Connell to focus on system installs, boosting 2025 prospects.

This Week in Vikingsland:

Training camp schedule announced: rookies report July 20, veterans July 22, with 12 public practices starting July 26.

Key questions: Can J.J. McCarthy be a true franchise QB? Are Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave worth their contracts?

Jordan Addison’s DUI trial is set for July 15, 2025; a potential three-game suspension could elevate Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, or Rondale Moore.

Wes Phillips signed a one-year extension through 2026, but Brian Flores’ lack of an extension raises concerns about his future.

Adrian Peterson’s recent fist-fight and past arrests spark debate about his ties to the Vikings brand.

Vikings Vault: Second-Year QBs:

Teddy Bridgewater (2015): 3,231 yards, 14 TDs, led 11-5 team to NFC North title with a run-heavy offense.

Christian Ponder (2012): 2,935 yards, 18 TDs, powered 10-6 playoff team, aided by Adrian Peterson’s 2,000-yard season.

Daunte Culpepper (2000): 3,937 yards, 33 TDs, reached NFC Championship Game with a potent offense.

Tarvaris Jackson (2007): 1,911 yards, 9 TDs, went 8-4 in 12 starts, reliant on running game.

McCarthy, like Culpepper, sat his rookie year, entering 2025 with a stronger roster than his predecessors.

Listen:
Watch:
Why SKOL Nation Should Tune In

SKOL Nation, Two Old Bloggers is your ultimate Vikings fix, blending roster breakdowns, breaking news, and nostalgic dives into franchise history. Darren and Dave’s chemistry and deep knowledge make every episode a touchdown for fans craving insider insights. Subscribe to Vikings 1st & SKOL and join the Fans First Sports Network to fuel your purple pride as training camp heats up. Don’t miss out—catch this episode on the Daily Norseman and stay locked in for the 2025 season! #Vikings

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 where you get sports takes for the fan, from the fan!

Open Question:

Who do you think will win the Vikings’ third cornerback spot—Jeff Okudah or Mekhi Blackmon? Share your take in the comments!

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/6/23/24454260/vikings-2025-roster-locks-qb-history-unveiled

Minnesota Vikings · Wednesday at 11:57 AM

List of Top Ten NFL Coaches Missing Someone Important

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

I bet you can guess who

We’re at the point of the offseason when a lot of sites are putting together lists of all sorts as we gear up for the new NFL season. Lists are fun, or they can be, and they give us something to talk about. One list that we came across recently has what we can only deem as a pretty hilarious omission.

Pro Football Focus has put together their list of the top ten head returning coaches in the NFL as we head into the 2025 season. Here’s the list.

Andy Reid, Kansas City

Sean Payton, Denver

Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

John Harbaugh, Baltimore

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh

Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco

Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia

Dan Campbell, Detroit

Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland

So. . .you notice anybody missing? Because I sure do.

Yes, apparently Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was voted as having done the best coaching job in the NFL last season, is not one of the NFL’s ten best returning head coaches.

All O’Connell has done since taking over as the head coach of the Vikings is win two-thirds of the games he’s coached in, became the first coach in Vikings history to have at least two seasons of thirteen wins or more, turned Sam Darnold into a $30 million+ a year quarterback, and pulled off the “competitive rebuild” that all of the Really Smart Football People™ poo-pooed when GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah suggested that such a thing was possible.

Yes, yes, he hasn’t won a playoff game yet, blah blah, whatever. If you’ll recall it took Dennis Green six seasons before he finally won a playoff game. Turned out he was still a pretty damn good head coach. Given what’s been expected of the team in each of his three years as head coach, you could make a pretty solid argument that nobody has exceeded expectations more than Kevin O’Connell has.

Looking at some of the names on this list, it appears it could be more of a lifetime achievement award than a list of the best coaches in the league right now. Still, I don’t see a coach on that list I’d trade O’Connell straight-up for at this point, and I’ve got a funny feeling that after this coming season lists like these won’t be able to ignore him any longer.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...e-important-kevin-o-connell-minnesota-vikings

Minnesota Vikings · Thursday at 6:01 AM

Vikes Views: Favorite Vikings Defensive Coordinator

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Welcome to the All-Time Favorite Viking Team series. We’re going through and voting by position for your favorite Minnesota Vikings. We’ve completed the on the field portion and we’re on to the coaching staff.

Offensive Coordinator was yesterday and we’re on to our Defensive Coordinator now. I ignored (almost all) of the one and two year DCs.

Neill Armstrong (1971-1977)

Team Record as DC: 72-25-1 Regular Season (74.0%) / 7-6 Playoffs (53.8%)

Armstrong was the defensive coordinator for many of the Vikings’ best seasons in the 1970s. He was the DC on three Super Bowl teams. Armstrong came to the team from the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos and he left for the Chicago Bears’ Head Coaching job in 1978. He is one of only two people to have played and coached in the NFL and CFL, the other is Bud Grant. He won the NFL Championship as a player with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948 & 1949. Armstrong was the DC in 1971 when Alan Page won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

Brian Flores (2023-present)

Team Record as DC: 21-13 Regular Season (61.8%) / 0-1 Playoffs

The Vikings were fortunate to fall into Flores being available because of some disputes with the Miami Dolphins and the league. Flores’ is known for bringing the heat and confusing the quarterback. His defense has been a pleasure to watch the past two seasons. I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves sometime in the near future for his next Head Coaching opportunity.

Bob Hollway (1967-1970, 1978-1983, 1985)

Team Record as DC: 86-71-4 Regular Season (54.7%) / 3-6 (33.3%)

Hollway was the DC for the Vikings’ first Super Bowl appearance. That led to him being hired as the Head Coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. He returned to the DC role 8 years later. Hollway resigned from the Seattle Seahawks to take the position with the Vikings. The Seahwaks claimed the Vikings tampered with Hollway while he was still under contract.

Floyd Peters (1986-1990)

Team Record as DC: 44-35 Regular Season (55.7%) / 3-3 Playoffs (50%)

Peters was Jerry Burns’ DC. Burns brought him in to replace Bob Hollway. He was the DC for Keith Millard’s Defensive Player of the Year season. Peters focused on pressuring the QB and often used shifts to the weak side of the offense to create imbalances.

Tony Dungy (1992-1995)

Team Record as DC: 38-26 Regular Season (59.4%) / 0-3 Playoffs

Dungy is obviously more well known as a Head Coach than he is a coordinator. He was a long time Pittsburgh Steelers assitant under Chuck Knoll, who Dungy also played for. He is known for his devout faith and being an all around good person. He was the first African American Head Coach to win the Super Bowl, when he won in 2006 with the Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings promoted Mike Tice the same offseason Dungy was hired by the Colts.

George Edwards (2014-2019)

Team Record as DC: 57-38-1 Regular Season (59.9%) / 2-3 Playoffs (40%)

Edwards was DC under Mike Zimmer after working with him with the Dallas Cowboys. It seemed like he had a Head Coaching future at one point. He is currently the OLB Coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Foge Fazio (1996-1999)

Team Record as DC: 43-21 Regular Season (67.2%) / 3-4 Playoffs (42.9%)

Fazio was a very good defensive coach in college in the 70s and 80s. He moved to the NFL in 1988 with the Atlanta Falcons. He came to the Vikings from the New York Jets. Fazio resigned after the 1999 season. There was a disagreement over Green’s firing of inside linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti. Green and Fazio agreed to part ways.

Leslie Frazier (2007-2010)

Team Record as DC: 33-25 Regular Season (56.9%) / 1-2 Playoffs (33.3%)

Frazier was hired as DC under Head Coach Brad Childress. He served in that role until he took over as Interim Head Coach during the 2010 season. He is still checking all the tape he promised to during his press conferences.

Mike Tomlin (2006)

Team Record as DC: 6-10 Regular Season (37.5%)

Tomlin was a shooting star coming from the Dungy coaching tree. 2006 was his only year as a coordinator before the Pittsburgh Steelers hired him as their Head Coach. Tomlin was young, but I always think about hiring Brad Childress that year and seeing Tomlin get hired the next.

Offensive Coordinator - Jerry Burns (1968-1985)

Defensive Tackles - Alan Page (1967-1978) & John Randle (1990-2000)

Defensive Ends - Carl Eller (1964-1978) & Jared Allen (2008-2013)

Safety - Harrison Smith (2012-present) & Paul Krause (1968-1979)

Cornerbacks - Antoine Winfield (2004-2012) & Bobby Bryant (1967-1980)

Outside Linebackers - Matt Blair (1974-1985) & Chad Greenway (2006-2016)

Inside Linebacker - Scott Studwell (1977-1990)

Kick Returner - Cordarelle Patterson (2013-2016)

Punter - Greg Coleman (1978-1987)

Kicker - Fred Cox (1963-1977)

Running Back - Adrian Peterson (2007-2016)

Quarterback - Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1972-1978)

Wide Receivers - Randy Moss (1998-2004, 2010) & Cris Carter (1990-2001)

Tight Ends - Steve Jordan (1982-1994) & Jim Kleinsasser (1999-2011)

Offensive Tackles - Ron Yary (1968-1981) & Gary Zimmerman (1986-1992)

Offensive Guards - Randall McDaniel (1988-1999) & Steve Hutchinson (2006-2011)

Center - Mick Tingelhoff (1962-1978)

Follow me on X @GA_Skol

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/6/26/24455021/vikes-views-favorite-vikings-defensive-coordinator

Minnesota Vikings · Friday at 5:16 AM

Vikes Views: Favorite Vikings Head Coach

Photo by James Drake/Getty Images

Welcome to the All-Time Favorite Viking Team series. We’re going through and voting by position for your favorite Minnesota Vikings. We’ve completed the on the field portion and we’re on to the coaching staff. The coordinators are set and I assume the results of today’s Head Coaching poll will be lopsided.

Norm Van Brocklin (1961-1966)

29-51-4 Regular Season (36.9%)

The Dutchman skipped his senior year in High School and joined the US Navy for World War II from 1943-1945. After the war he played QB for the Oregon Ducks. He was a hell of a player winning MVP in 1960 and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1971. He was the QB for the only team to beat Vinve Lombardi’s Packers in a playoff game. Van Brocklin only came to Minnesota after a misunderstanding around an agreement for him to take over for the retiring Buck Shaw. He accepted the Vikings Head Coaching job a month after winning the 1960 NFL Championship. He frequently fought with Fran Tarkenton and was the reason for Tarkenton’s request for a trade. Van Broklin resigned on February 11, 1967 and the Vikings traded Tarkenton soon after. He later coached the Falcons and retired to a pecan farm in Georgia. He came back to coaching for one season as Running Backs Coach for Georgia Tech.

Bud Grant (1967-1983, 1985)

158-96-5 Regular Season (62.0%) / 10 - 12 Postseason (45.5%)

Grant was a tough as they come. He regularly held practice outside in the cold and did not allow heaters on the sidelines. He’s a legend. I can’t do him justice here. Grant’s coaching tree includs Neill Armstrong, Jerry Burns, Pete Carroll, Bob Hollway, Jack Patera, Buddy Ryan, Les Steckel, and Marc Trestman. Grant won Coach of the Year in 1969. He was coach for Alan Page’s MVP/DPOY Season, Chuck Foreman’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Fran Tarkenton’s MVP/OPOY Season and Sammy White’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was coach for all four of the Vikings Super Bowl appearances.

Grant played football, basketball and baseball for the University of Minnesota. He was drafted in the 1st Round of the NFL draft and 4th round of the NBA draft. He won the championship with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950. He played DE for the Eagles in 1951 and led the team in sacks. The next season he switched to WR and led the NFL in receiving yards. He left after he felt the Eagles refused to pay him what he was worth. He went on to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He spent 10 seasons with the Blue Bombers as their Head Coach after his playing days were over. He won 4 Grey Cups as coach. Marv Levy and Bud Grant are the only coaches to coach a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup. A statue of Grant was unveiled in 2014 outside of Winnipeg’s IG Field.

Jerry Burns (1986-1991)

52-43 Regular Season (54.7%) / 3-3 Postseason (50%)

Burns was a Viking from 1968-1991. The longtime OC for the Vikings took over after Grant’s 2nd retirement. He was an assitant for two legends in Vince Lombardi and Bud Grant. Grant was coach for Keith Millard’s Defensive Player of the Year season and Tommy Kramer’s Comeback Player of the Year. Burns had the honor of introducing Paul Krause for Krause’s Hall of Fame speech.

Dennis Green (1992-2001)

97-62 Regular Season (61.0%) / 4-8 Postseason (33.3%)

Green was coach for Randy Moss’ Offensive Player of the Year season. Green was popular with his players. He came to Minnesota after having the pleasure of being Jerry Rice’s WR Coach in San Francisco. The team gave him 10 seasons before firing him after the 2001 season. He is untimately judged for not being able to get the Vikings to the Super Bowl with the great offenses in the late 90s. Many non-Viking fans know him for his rant “They are who we thought they were” rant with the Arizona Cardinals. I’ll let him off the hook and blame the Vikings curse for the lack of playoff success. His coaching tree includes Tony Dungy, Brian Billick and Mike Tice.

Kevin O’Connell (2022-present)

34-17 Regular Season (66.7%) / 0-2 Postseason

KOC has started off on fire in the regular season, but he hasn’t been able to find the postseason magic he found in Los Angeles. O’Connell came to Minnesota after winning the Super Bowl as Offensive Coordinator for the Rams. He won the Coach of the Year award this past season.

Mike Zimmer (2014-2021)

72-56-1 Regular Season (56.2%) / 2-3 Postseason (40.0%)

Zimmer spent a long time in the league before getting his Head Coaching opportunity. He was DC for the Washington State Cougards for 5 years before coaching with the Cowboys for 13 seasons as DB Coach and then Defensive Coordinator. He also spent one season in Atlanta and six in Cincinnati as Defensive Coordinator before getting a chance in Minnesota in 2014. It was up and down with Zimmer. The odd years were good and even years were not. The inconsistency and lack of playoff success led to his exit in 2021, the only odd year Zimmer didn’t have a wining record as coach. Zimmer always made sure there were no fat cats on his team. I still have my Zim Reapers t-shirt. His bigget mistake was putting his faith in Blair Walsh for a game winning field goal in sub-zero tempersatures.

Mike Tice (2002-2005)

32-32 Regular Season (50%) / 1-1 Post Season (50%)

The Randy Ratio inventor was not the smartest coach in team history. Tice was an assitant from 1996 to 2001. The team decided to hire Tice as HC in 2002 after firing Brad Childress. Tony Dungy joined the Colts that same offseason. Tice hung around hte league for 13 years after the Vikings, but never had a Head Coaching job again.

Brad Childress (2006-2010)

39-35 Regular Season (52.7%) / 1-2 Postseason (33.3%)

Childress came to Minnesota after coaching with Andy Reid for 7 seasons. He was likely given too much credit in Philadelphia. His biggest accomplishment was putting together a 10-6 season with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson as QB. 12 men on the field, throwing the ball with Favre limping, and the entire debacle of the NFCCG against the New Orleans Saints still haunts many fans. If he’s your favorite, I question you’re a fan of the Vikings. I was a frequent visitor of the Fire Chilly site back in the day.

Leslie Frazier (2011-2013)

18-29-1 Regular Season (38.5%) / 0-1 Postseason

It took a miraculaous season by Adrian Peterson for Frazier to make the playoffs. He watched the tape and never figured out why his team couldn’t muster up any offense outside the run game. He was the coach for Adrian Peterson’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Remember when Adrian Peterson was 8 yards shy of the record with 24 seconds and two timeouts left. Frazier decided it was a good time to sit and trust Blair Walsh with a 29 yard winning FG.

Les Steckel (1984)

3-13 Regular Season (18.8%)

I only Les him because it’s better than ‘Someone Else’ in the poll.

Defensive Coordinator - Brian Flores (2023-present)

Offensive Coordinator - Jerry Burns (1968-1985)

Defensive Tackles - Alan Page (1967-1978) & John Randle (1990-2000)

Defensive Ends - Carl Eller (1964-1978) & Jared Allen (2008-2013)

Safety - Harrison Smith (2012-present) & Paul Krause (1968-1979)

Cornerbacks - Antoine Winfield (2004-2012) & Bobby Bryant (1967-1980)

Outside Linebackers - Matt Blair (1974-1985) & Chad Greenway (2006-2016)

Inside Linebacker - Scott Studwell (1977-1990)

Kick Returner - Cordarelle Patterson (2013-2016)

Punter - Greg Coleman (1978-1987)

Kicker - Fred Cox (1963-1977)

Running Back - Adrian Peterson (2007-2016)

Quarterback - Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1972-1978)

Wide Receivers - Randy Moss (1998-2004, 2010) & Cris Carter (1990-2001)

Tight Ends - Steve Jordan (1982-1994) & Jim Kleinsasser (1999-2011)

Offensive Tackles - Ron Yary (1968-1981) & Gary Zimmerman (1986-1992)

Offensive Guards - Randall McDaniel (1988-1999) & Steve Hutchinson (2006-2011)

Center - Mick Tingelhoff (1962-1978)

Follow me on X @GA_Skol

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/6/27/24455090/vikes-views-favorite-vikings-head-coach

Minnesota Vikings · Saturday at 7:14 PM

Vikings Links: Who Are The Underrated Vikings Players?

Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

There are a lot of candidates!

I would have to go with Brian O’Neill and Blake Cashman as my two most underrated Vikings. Who are yours?

Your AI question of the day ...

who is the minnesota vikings underrated players in 2025
Based on the search results, here are some Minnesota Vikings players considered underrated or poised for a breakout season in 2025:
Dallas Turner (Edge Rusher): Despite a modest rookie season with limited snaps, analysts believe he’s poised for a breakout in 2025. With a clearer path to playing time and the addition of interior linemen like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to demand double teams, Turner’s speed and athleticism off the edge could lead to a significant increase in production. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has publicly predicted a “huge jump” for him.
Theo Jackson (Safety): Jackson is considered a versatile defensive weapon, capable of covering slot receivers, blitzing, and supporting against the run. With a path to more playing time due to veteran Harrison Smith approaching the end of his career, Jackson’s instincts and versatility make him a valuable asset in the Vikings’ defense. He has impressed in limited snaps and is considered ready for a bigger role.
Ivan Pace Jr. (Linebacker): Despite being undersized, Pace has made an immediate impact with his instincts, toughness, and playmaking ability. He has already exceeded expectations as an undrafted free agent and offers unique versatility as a blitzer and in coverage. With the linebacker room in flux, Pace has a significant opportunity to carve out a larger role in 2025.
Jalen Nailor (Wide Receiver): While Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison draw most of the attention, Nailor has proven to be a reliable target, especially on critical third downs. He is considered to be flying under the radar and has an opportunity to secure a long-term deal with his performance in 2025.
Javon Hargrave (Defensive Tackle): Although he’s coming off an injury, Hargrave is seen as a potential “under-the-radar star” for the Vikings in 2025. His past production as a pass rusher suggests he could have a significant bounce-back year if he stays healthy.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Vikings Trade Pitch Sends Browns Former 1st-Round DB to Minnesota

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports thinks the Vikings should contact the Browns about a possible trade.

“Minnesota spent big to address both trenches this offseason, but the one non-quarterback spot that lacks top-end answers is the secondary, now sans veteran starters like Stephon Gilmore and Camryn Bynum,” Benjamin wrote on June 26.

“Forward-thinking general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the Browns’ front office when Cleveland spent a first-rounder on Newsome in 2021, and at just 25, the former Northwestern standout has the upside to become a longer-term option for Brian Flores’ defense. Why would the Browns give up such a young chess piece? Despite his draft reputation, Newsome managed just three starts in Jim Schwartz’s unit in 2024, and he’s headed into a contract year.”

Minnesota Vikings have massive advantage over the rest of the NFL thanks to head coach Kevin O’Connell

On the surface, it doesn’t feel like the Vikings are this elite vertical passing attack. They aren’t super successful in true “deep shots” that go 40+ yards down the field. However, they live in that 15-30 yard range.

When you watch the Vikings, O’Connell loves to attack 20 yards down the field on in breaking routes. Dagger and bow have been favorites for O’Connell over the years, and they pepper in right in front of the safeties.

Vikings predicted to ditch 2 more players from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s disastrous 2022 draft class

Vikings analyst Judd Zulgad recently dropped his early 53-man roster projections for the team on the Purple Daily Podcast, and he predicts two more of Minnesota’s 2022 draft picks — running back Ty Chandler and linebacker Brian Asamoah II — will be on the outside looking in come cut-down day.

Texas Longhorns 160-pound playmaker predicted to make Vikings’ 53-man roster as surprise undrafted rookie

Wide receiver Brandon Powell was Minnesota’s punt returner in 2024, but he’s also not on the team’s current 90-man roster entering training camp.

That should open up a ton of opportunity for Bolden, who after transferring to Texas from Oregon State handled 30 punt returns for the Longhorns in 2024, amassing 315 yards and a touchdown. He also has a punt return TD on his resume from 2023.

Bolden mainly played wide receiver on offense in college. He was well down the depth chart at Texas last year, but he had a productive final season with Oregon State, hauling in 54 catches for 746 yards and five scores. He could be a threat in the run game as a gadget player for Minnesota, as he added five rushing touchdowns over his four collegiate seasons.

Javon Hargrave Mic’d Up at Vikings Minicamp Practice

Where does the Minnesota Vikings linebacker unit rank among the entire NFL?

“Minnesota doesn’t have any household names in its linebacker room, but it’s quietly a very productive group. Blake Cashman has emerged as a legitimate starter, boasting an 80.3 PFF overall grade over the past two years. Ivan Pace Jr. is one of the better undrafted free agent finds in recent memory. He placed among the top 10 linebackers in PFF run-defense and pass-rush grades last season. Eric Wilson is a solid third option who earned a 64.3 PFF overall grade in Green Bay last season. Sixth-round rookie Kobe King could also provide value in run defense if needed.”

NFL Draft Stuff

10 running backs to know for the 2026 NFL Draft

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Love was the second-most-valuable running back in college football this past season, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. His 91.0 PFF overall grade ranked fifth, his 38% forced missed tackle rate placed second and his 6.9 yards per carry slotted him in third among Power Four running backs this past season.

Love’s fantastic athleticism allows him to run through or hurdle defenders and makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Singleton surprised many when he decided to return to Happy Valley for his senior season after he was a projected Day 2 pick for the 2025 NFL Draft. His 1,106 rushing yards in 2024 were the third most among returning Power Four backs, while his 6.4 yards per carry ranked eighth in the Power Four.

Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is the only returning halfback in the nation who was more valuable than Singleton in 2024, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. He has great size for the position at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds and the speed to take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

Jonah Coleman, Washington

Coleman has been one of college football’s most efficient runners since he arrived on the scene three years ago. Across his two seasons at Arizona and one with the Huskies, Coleman has posted a 95.4 career PFF rushing grade — tied for fifth among FBS running backs in that span.

He’s a human bowling ball at 5-foot-9 and 229 pounds, with quicker feet than you’d expect for a back of his size. The rising senior’s average of 4.6 yards after contact per attempt since 2023 ranks third among all FBS running backs, while his 35% forced missed tackle rate in that span is tied for second among Power Four running backs.

Darius Taylor, Minnesota

Taylor has been a do-it-all back for the Golden Gophers across his first two seasons. His 79.9 PFF receiving grade since 2023 leads all Power Four halfbacks, and his 1,317 yards after contact in that span are the second most.

He has good size at 6 feet and 215 pounds with long strides and the mentality to punish any defensive backs who try to tackle him.

Yore Mock

Trade Recap
Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 56, 2026: Round 4, Pick 124, 2026: Round 6, Pick 203
San Francisco Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 50
...
Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 4, Pick 101, 2026: Round 6, Pick 180
New Orleans Receives: 2026: Round 3, Pick 97
...

18. Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (FL) 6’6’ 315

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

56. Nyck Harbor WR South Carolina 6’5” 235

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

82. Domonique Orange DL Iowa State 6’4” 324

Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images

101. Daylen Everette CB Georgia 6’1” 190

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

118. Zeke Berry S Michigan 5’11” 196

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

124. Logan Jones IOL Iowa 6’3” 293

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

174. Rayshaun Benny DL Michigan 6’3” 296

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images

180. Michael Taaffe S Texas 6’0” 190

Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

203. Darius Taylor RB Minnesota 6’0” 215

Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

232. Bryce Boettcher LB Oregon 6’2” 225

Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images

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

No discussion of politics or religion

No feeding of the trolls

Leave the gender hatred at the door

Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)

Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags

No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer

If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away

While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/6/28/24457848/brian-oneill-blake-cashman-josh-oliver

Minnesota Vikings · Sunday at 11:41 AM

Can you guess this Vikings receiver 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 Minnesota 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.

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Saturday, June 28, 2025
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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/2025/6/29/24458245/sb-nation-vikings-daily-trivia-in-5

Minnesota Vikings · 2025-06-30T00:24:19-0400

Sizing Up the NFC North

The NFL’s toughest division is likely to remain so

The Minnesota Vikings are part of the toughest division in pro football - the NFC North- and based on all the coaching changes and roster moves and schedule changes and return from injuries, there is a lot to assess within the division ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Oddsmakers have summed it up with their current odds for each NFC North team to win their division. These odds are representative:

Detroit Lions +150

Green Bay Packers +260

Minnesota Vikings +300

Chicago Bears +450

Draftkings has the Vikings’ odds at +400 (4/1) but just about everywhere else has them at or close to +300. Lions and Packers odds are about the same everywhere, while the Bears’ odds range from +425 to +550.

While I can see where these odds are coming from, and allowing for the fact that Packers’ odds are often more optimistic than others this time of year, (Packers were -170 preseason in 2022, +220 in 2023, and +225 in 2024) perhaps driven by betting handle (odds shorten with greater betting volume) there is a strong case to be made for an even tighter odds grouping than is currently the case- and the NFC North is already the tightest or second-tightest division from top to bottom in the odds markets for division winner.

Let’s take a closer look team by team.

Chicago Bears

The Bears continue to make major changes as they try to change their losing ways.

This off-season there was a coaching regime change as Matt Eberflus was fired mid-season a year ago. The Bears signed leading head coaching candidate Ben Johnson, former offensive coordinator of the Lions, as their new head coach and de facto offensive coordinator and play caller. Defensively they brought in Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator after he was fired mid-season last year as head coach of the Saints.

Johnson began his NFL career in Miami, where he spent six years as an assistant position coach before becoming wide receiver coach in year seven. He then moved to Detroit to take an offensive quality control job, then tight end coach job for two seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator under Dan Campbell. He’s developed a reputation as an innovative offensive play caller that put him atop the list of head coaching candidates the last couple of years. Johnson brought quarterback coach J.T. Barrett with him from Detroit to serve in the same role, and Broncos tight end coach Declan Doyle to be his offensive coordinator.

The Bears also made big investments in their offensive personnel, upgrading their entire interior offensive line, and drafting TE Colston Loveland 10th overall and WR Luther Burden III 39th overall. Burden replaces Keenan Allen.

It All Hinges on Caleb Williams

Both the coaching changes and the offensive roster investments are designed to help last year’s #1 overall pick Caleb Williams overcome a disappointing rookie year and become the Bears’ first real franchise quarterback since the Jazz Age. But it may take more than an upgraded interior line to fix all of Williams’ shortcomings.

Much of the disappointment surrounding Williams’ performance last season was chalked up to organizational incompetence, which was certainly on display, and a weak offensive line. But a good deal of the pressure Williams faced last season was of his own making- holding the ball too long due to slow processing/recognition. Williams had the third-highest allowed pressures last season- pressures blamed on the quarterback rather than the pass protection. That is consistent with his tape at USC, where he also took a lot of sacks while trying to create out of structure. He also led the league in throwaways last season.

Another issue Williams struggled with at times last season was accuracy. His adjusted completion percentage was just 73.4% last season- tied with Will Levis- near the bottom of the league among starting quarterbacks. But perhaps the most worrying thing about Williams’ performance last season was his 70.9 PFF passing grade from a clean pocket- only Will Levis was worse among starting quarterbacks last season. Normally top quarterbacks eat opposing defenses alive from a clean pocket- Jayden Daniels had a 91.7 PFF passing grade from a clean pocket last season- but Williams struggled even when kept clean. He had by far the lowest PFF passing grade (56.4) on deep passes (20+ yards) and second-lowest adjusted completion percentage (28%) of any starting quarterback in the league last season.

Still, Williams showed flashes of what made him a top draft prospect last year and it will be up to Ben Johnson to help him realize his potential and improve what was the 28th ranked offense in points last season, 31st on 3rd down and last in yards. Here is a good assessment of Williams’ rookie season. Some pundits wonder whether Johnson is a good fit for Williams as Johnson is a play designer who with Jared Goff and a stacked offense in Detroit thrived on structure, while Williams’ instincts and play style are to create out of structure. Johnson said he is focused on designing the Bears’ offense around Williams’ strengths, so we’ll see how that unfolds.

Defensively, Dennis Allen is an experienced hand as a defensive coordinator and his experience as a head coach may be helpful to Johnson as he navigates his first season in that role. Allen’s defenses have generally been as good as their talent and while the Bears have a good secondary, they are weaker up front at both interior and edge, especially in run defense.

Below are projections for the 2025 Chicago Bears compiled by Mike Clay at ESPN. They include stat projections for starters, an assessment of schedule, each position group, and projected key stat rankings. Stat projections should come with a heavy variance caveat as the NFL is far from an exact science, but there is value in looking at position group rankings, although those too can vary, as a rough measure of more proven talent.

On that score, the Bears look solid on paper except their defensive front and running back, but really hinge on what Caleb Williams will be at quarterback this season.

Bottom Line

I don’t expect the Bears to win the division this year, but I do expect them to have a better record than the 5-12 mark last season, despite having a tougher schedule, but only a little bit better. I expect the offense to improve, but with growing pains and inconsistency. However, some of that improvement on offense may be offset by a bit of a decline defensively.

But there is an upside case where Caleb Williams improves more dramatically and the Bears’ offense is able to carry them to a few more wins and compete for the division title. There is also a downside case where Williams continues to struggle in Ben Johnson’s offense, losses mount, and this season looks like a continuation of last season.

Overall, +500 odds for the Bears to win the NFC North (16.7% implied probability) seems about right. That’s the chance of things going right and Williams making a dramatic improvement that could get them to ten wins or so. Not a great chance, but that upside scenario remains a possibility.

Detroit Lions

The Lions have also had major changes in their coaching staff- for entirely different reasons than the Bears- having lost both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs. Those are significant losses as head coach Dan Campbell is not a play caller and largely let them run each side of the ball. That’s not to say Campbell isn’t involved in strategy and decision-making- he certainly is- and he sets the tone in terms of team culture, motivation, and style, but the details of game planning and play calling he leaves largely to his coordinators.

The Lions’ new offensive coordinator is John Morton, most recently the passing game coordinator the past two seasons with the Broncos. Prior to that he was a senior offensive assistant with the Lions and Raiders over four years, and prior to that had a one-year gig as offensive coordinator with the Jets in 2017. Prior to that he spent six seasons as a wide receivers coach for the Saints and 49ers. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dan Campbell is not more actively involved early on as Morton gets acclimated into the coordinator role for the first time since 2017. Morton has familiarity with the Lions’ scheme and with Sean Payton’s, which is similar. But there are questions about how well Morton, 56, will replace Ben Johnson with just one season as a coordinator in the NFL in over 20 years of coaching prior to this season.

Defensively, the Lions promoted former Linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard, 37, to be their defensive coordinator. This will be Sheppard’s debut as a coordinator after four years coaching linebackers for the Lions. Sheppard also played linebacker in the league for 8 seasons, the last one with the Lions. Aaron Glenn had mentored Sheppard as a possible future defensive coordinator and the expectation is that schematically Sheppard will provide a lot of continuity in the transition from Glenn.

Sheppard will be helped by getting back several defensive starters that missed time last season for the Lions, most notably DE Aiden Hutchinson, but also DT Alim McNeil. The Lions lost starting CB Carlton Davis in free agency and replaced him with DJ Reed, a smaller but similarly graded corner formerly with the Jets. Reed has been good in man coverage which suggests the Lions will continue to use it predominantly.

It Hinges on the Offensive Line for the Lions

On the offensive side, John Morton is not so fortunate. The Lions lost Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow to retirement, while Pro Bowl right guard Kevin Zeitler was lost in free agency. The expectation is that former left guard Graham Glasgow- who was the weak link on the Lions’ offensive line last season- will move to center, and last year’s sixth-round pick Christian Mahagony will take over at left guard while this year’s second-round pick Tate Ratledge will start at right guard.

Glasgow has started and filled-in at center many times in his career- he has over 2,600 snaps at center- but he turns 33 in July and is on the downslide of his career. Mahagony graded well in a game’s worth of snaps last season, most coming in one game against the Bears, but how he’ll fare over a whole season remains a question. The same is true of rookie Tate Ratledge as well, who is slated to start at right guard.

The Lions had arguably the second-best offensive line after the Eagles last season, but the loss of Ragnow and Zeitler are big ones and the Lions could find themselves in a situation similar to the Vikings last season- solid at both tackle spots but weak along the interior line. That, in turn, could put a monkeywrench in the gears of their prolific offense of a season ago, despite being solid at all the skill positions. Paul Noonan over at Acme Packing Co makes a good argument about why the Lions’ losses along their offensive line could have a larger impact on their offensive production. His argument is similar to the point Jim Harbaugh made last year at the NFL owners meeting: the offensive line doesn’t depend on any other position group to be good, but every other position group depends on the offensive line to be good. That includes defensive position groups as well, as how good the offensive line is determines how long the defense is on the field.

So, for new offensive play caller John Morton and the Lions team generally, it all hinges on the offensive line. Will they be as good? What happens if they get mediocre performance from the new starters and Glasgow? That wouldn’t be surprising given Glasgow’s age and the inexperience of the two new guards.

The Lions are projected to have the second-best roster overall this season by Mike Clay of ESPN in his projections for the Lions above. But the Lions’ offensive line is ranked the lowest and it remains to be seen what effect that may have on other position groups compared to a season ago.

Bottom Line

The Lions could certainly repeat as division winners this season. They have a solid roster and the question marks on their offensive line could prove to be solid and perform similar to players from last season. But +150 odds is a poor reward for that bet.

In addition to what is likely to be a weaker offensive line- even otherwise solid left tackle Taylor Decker- soon to be 31- has a history of nagging injuries that could impact his performance, the Lions have two new coordinators this season. One has a single season of experience and the other is a rookie. That suggests the clear potential that neither will be as good as their predecessors and overall performance could decline as a result.

And the Lions are projected have the toughest schedule in the division as well- toughest in the league for that matter.

All that suggests that the Lions could take a step or two back from where they were a year ago at this time. They could still win the division, but +300 to +400 odds better account for the changes that have happened over the off-season.

Green Bay Packers

Unlike the Bears and Lions, the Packers didn’t make many changes this off-season. Same coordinators and head coach, and largely the same roster. The most noteworthy additions were first-round draft pick wide receiver Matthew Golden and veteran left guard Aaron Banks, who the Packers acquired in free agency. The Packers also lost their best cornerback in Jaire Alexander, who was let go after some internal strife and only playing six games last season, while wide receiver Christian Watson is likely to miss nearly half the season as he recovers from an ACL injury suffered in week 18 last season.

The Packers are also shuffling their interior offensive line- similar to the Lions. They are moving OL Elgton Jenkins to center, while Aaron Banks takes over left guard and presumably one of the Packers top draft picks- 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan or 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton wins the starting right guard spot. Morgan had about three games worth of snaps last season with mediocre performance, while Belton would be moving from left tackle in college to right guard. He is listed at 6’6” and 336 pounds. Banks is a better run blocker than pass blocker and tips the scales at over 320 pounds. Overall, the Packers look to be adding more bulk to their interior line, while moving Jenkins- arguably their best offensive lineman- to center. The idea seems to be to get more movement up front for running back Josh Jacobs to carry the load for the Packers offense. The Packers were one of the few teams to run more than they passed last season.

Did the Packers Really Do Anything to Move the Needle?

The Packers went 1-5 in the division last season and while you could say that all but one of those games were close, the Vikings were ahead by three scores heading into the fourth quarter in both games against the Packers last season. The Lions beat the Packers convincingly in one contest, while the Packers nearly went 0-6 in the division if not for a last second blocked field goal to preserve their one-point lead over the Bears in their only division win last season.

Beyond the win over the Bears, the Packers won all eight games against the NFC West and AFC South, being fortunate to play both the Rams and 49ers at their nadir in terms of key starters out due to injuries. They also beat a struggling Miami team in a cold weather Thursday night game at the end of November and a hapless Saints team led by the estimable Spencer Rattler at quarterback.

This season the NFC North including the Packers face the NFC East and AFC North, both of which figure to be tougher divisions than were faced last season. Indeed, the Packers face the fourth-toughest schedule in the league this season according to Mike Clay’s projection below.

The point I’m making here is the Packers don’t seem to have moved the needle much during the off-season, may have lost ground relative to the Bears and Vikings, and face a tougher schedule. That doesn’t seem like a recipe for a winning division record or winning the division outright, but it’s not out of the question.

What About Jordan Love?

A fair assessment of Love, now entering his fifth season and third as a starter, is that he’s an above average quarterback, but perhaps closer to average than top tier. I don’t get the impression that the team rallies around him as a leader, and last season he fell into that mid-tier quarterback trend of playing well against poor teams but struggling against good ones. Most of his key metrics like adjusted completion percentage (accuracy) and grade under pressure, passer rating, and so forth were middle of the pack.

If the Packers had more star power around Love, perhaps that would elevate Love’s game- and the Packers are trying to rebuild their receiver group and bolster their offensive line- but it still seems like the Packers have more to do before they develop an Eagles-like offensive built around a strong running game and offensive line but with a quarterback and receiver group that can beat you deep occasionally too.

And the Packers Defense?

The Packers are really lacking star power defensively. All of the Packers’ defensive position groups are looking decidedly mediocre except their safety group, which is one of the better tandems in the league. But a starting cornerback group of Keisan Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Javon Bullard isn’t exactly intimidating. The Packers’ defensive front looks another year older, rather than better. It’s been a while now since Kenny Clark was dominant inside, and Rashan Gary as the only decent edge rusher isn’t keeping offensive coordinators up at night. Devonte Wyatt is a good, not great, interior pass rusher but not a good run defender. Give credit to Packers’ defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for getting a top ten performance out of largely the same group last season- his first as a defensive coordinator in the league. Turnovers were key for them last season- they generated the fourth-most including recovering the third-most fumbles- but will that continue?

Bottom Line

The Packers are projected to have the weakest roster in the division according to Mike Clay in his projections above, and by a significant margin at 15th overall given everyone else in the division is ranked seventh or better.

There is a scenario where the Lions take a step back, the Vikings and Bears struggle with young quarterbacks, and the Packers continuity proves to be a strength that gets them over the finish line first, but that seems a pretty optimistic scenario for the Packers. A more likely base case scenario is the Packers largely keeping stride with the division leaders while never really becoming a serious threat to win the division and ending 2-3 games back.

There is also a more pessimistic scenario for the Packers in which the Packers’ offense struggles due to changes on the offensive line and receiver group and the defense takes a significant step backward, leading to a last place finish and a top ten draft pick. I give this scenario a greater likelihood than the Packers winning the division. Overall, I give the optimistic scenario for the Packers a 20% chance, base case a 45% chance, and the pessimistic case a 35% chance.

In terms of odds to win the division, the Packers at +260 is roughly the same as it’s been the past two years. The Packers finished 3 games out in 2023 and 4 games out last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers finished 3-4 games out this year too, and potentially worse in the pessimistic scenario. Things could go really well for the Packers too and they manage to win the division, but I see that as less likely. A more accurate appraisal of the Packers chances is closer to +500 from an odds perspective.

This could be a make-or-break year for the Packers’ regime. The Packers have a new president and CEO in Ed Policy, and at a recent press conference he said neither GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur would be extended before the season, despite the fact that both are in their second-to-last year under contract and Policy preferring to extend key people before their last year under contract. Policy went on to say that his evaluation will not just include wins and losses, but player development and locker room culture as well. The upshot of Policy’s comments was that Gutekunst and LaFleur will either be fired or extended after this season, putting them both on the hot seat this season.

Policy was with the Packers prior to both LaFleur and Gutekunst, helped negotiate both of their contracts, and knows them well personally, so his having some doubt about where the relationship is going may be an ominous sign for the Packers. Or it may simply be Policy being prudent in not rushing to extend them after a third-place finish in the division last season.

But while LaFleur and Gutekunst have done well since their hiring when it comes to wins and losses, it’s been more of a mixed bag since Devonte Adams left after the 2021 season and Aaron Rodgers a year later. They haven’t been close to winning a division title since 2021, nor have they won a playoff game apart from the Cowboys’ meltdown a couple years ago. It’s also been a mixed bag when it comes to player development and locker room culture in Green Bay.

There’s a lot that goes into that, from Jordan Love and Rashan Gary’s development to the Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander departures (for different reasons), but on balance there have been more positives than negatives in the LaFleur/Gutekunst era. But the positives are more in the past after 3rd place, 2nd place, and 3rd place finishes within the division after winning 13 games and a division title in each of LaFleur’s first three seasons as head coach. Should the Packers not make the playoffs this season, it could mean the Packers are in for a significant overhaul next season.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have continuity in their coaching staff and regime this off-season, having extended Kevin O’Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and Wes Phillips. Brian Flores remains under contract but hasn’t been extended, although the Vikings are reportedly interested in extending him. Flores himself recently expressed happiness with being in Minnesota but may also want to explore the head coaching market again after this season before committing to a contract extension as defensive coordinator.

The Vikings also did the most to bolster their trenches among NFC North teams this off-season. The Bears improved their offensive line, and the Packers may have too, but the Vikings were the only team to make major investments in both offensive and defensive lines. I’m not sure the Vikings regressed in any position group compared to this time a year ago, but I could see where a Stephon Gilmore last year may sound more reassuring than an Isaiah Rodgers does this year. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but it’s easier to project Gilmore’s performance than Rodgers’.

It’s also easy to forget that there were at least as many doubters about Sam Darnold last summer as there are about J.J. McCarthy now. But the real measure is comparing what Darnold did last season to what McCarthy is expected to do this season. Mike Clay gives McCarthy the standard rookie ranking of 4, which is fair but also lacks context based on situation. Zach Wilson starting as a rookie for the Jets would also merit a 4 ranking, for instance.

It Hinges on J.J. McCarthy

It’s no secret that the Vikings season will hinge largely on McCarthy’s performance. I’ve weighed in on expectations for McCarthy this season, based largely on the recent averages of young, first-time starters who landed in good situations and what we’ve seen from McCarthy in the limited practice and preseason time he’s had so far. That baseline expectation is roughly the same as Sam Darnold’s performance last season.

There are also scenarios where McCarthy under or overperforms that baseline expectation. Underperformance would likely come from him not being up to NFL speed in his processing and decision-making, with occasional misreads that prove costly. Overperformance would likely come from facing less pressure than Darnold did a season ago, while being able to deliver the ball from a clean pocket with Darnold-like or better accuracy and making the occasional key play with his feet.

There’s certainly a range of how people think McCarthy will perform. I’ve heard one guy say he thinks McCarthy will get injured again and Sam Howell will become the next Sam Darnold. I’ve heard that Tom Brady wouldn’t be surprised if McCarthy is MVP this season. Mike Clay projects McCarthy to lead the league in interceptions with 16 but otherwise having a decent season. He certainly seems to be a great fit in the Vikings’ locker room and is on or ahead of Kevin O’Connell’s development schedule. But he still has everything to prove.

Bottom Line

The Vikings have the second-best roster on paper in the division, according to Mike Clay in his projections above, and that’s with McCarthy at the standard rookie rank of 4, same as Cam Ward with the Titans. The Vikings also have one of the toughest schedules in the league, which is true for every team in the NFC North this season, but they also have arguably done the most this off-season to improve their starting roster- Vikings and Bears improved the most on paper.

Assuming for a moment that J.J. McCarthy has a Sam Darnold 2024-like season, which is a base case scenario for the Vikings, they could win the division if the Lions take a step back from last season, the Packers are about the same, and the Bears are no more than a little improved. That’s more or less the base case for each team.

There’s also the optimistic case for the Vikings in which McCarthy really shines, and the pessimistic case where he struggles. My sense is that the optimistic case is more likely than the pessimistic scenario, with roughly a 30% chance of the former and a 20% chance of the latter and a 50% chance of a base case scenario.

But overall the Vikings at +300 seems about right.

Final NFC North Thoughts

The NFC North may be the toughest division in the NFL and the most competitive top to bottom this season. I don’t expect any 15- or 14-win teams this season, and eleven wins may be enough to win the division. That’s a reflection of the tougher schedule the division faces this year more than the quality of the teams compared to last season.

But overall, on paper before the season begins, it looks like a tighter grouping in terms of odds to win the division, ranging from around +300 for the Vikings and Lions in my view, to around +500 for the Packers and Bears.

But most years rather than there being a tight grouping of teams in terms of record, there is usually at least one team that gets squeezed and ends up several games behind in last place. That has been the Bears the past few years and the Lions before that. It might still be the Bears again this year, but I’d put the Packers odds of finishing in last place higher than they’ve been since Matt LaFleur has been head coach.

As always, injuries are a big caveat. Injuries are a big part of the game and aren’t going away anytime soon. Which team in the division that manages to stay the healthiest will have an advantage while any team that loses a key player or two could be dealt a major setback.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/6/29/24451809/sizing-up-the-nfc-north

Minnesota Vikings · 2025-06-30T19:36:55-0400

Minnesota Vikings All Quarter Century Team: Offensive Tackle No. 1

Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Which offensive tackle this century will get the chance to be OT1 for the Vikings All Quarter Century Team?

We’re moving on to some of the less-glamourous positions on the team if you’re a casual fan, but the real ones know and appreciate the hog mollies that play in the trenches. We’re kicking off finding the offensive line starters for the Vikings All Quarter Century Team by voting on OT1.

We’ve got some really good picks here and I’m excited to see how this one shakes out. Let’s get to the poll!

Brian O’Neill (2018-present)

O’Neill transitioned from playing tight end into an offensive tackle at the University of Pittsburgh before being selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Like most tackles on this list, O’Neill is a monolithic 6’7 and 310 pounds which he carries very well on his frame. A steady presence for the Vikings over the last seven seasons, he’s started 106 games of 110 that he’s played in, making two Pro Bowls (2021 and 2024).

Phil Loadholt (2009-2015)

Loadholt played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma before being selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he started 15 games and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

In all, Loadholt started all 89 games he played in for the franchise, missing only two regular season games through his first five seasons. In year six, Loadholt was limited to 11 starts due to a pectoral injury he sustained in November of that year.

Loadholt’s seventh season was ended before it began when he tore his Achilles tendon during a preseason game against the Bucs. In July of 2016, he announced his retirement from the NFL.

When healthy, Loadholt was one of the league’s best right tackles during his time in the NFL.

Bryant McKinnie (2002-2010)

The 6’8, 352-pound McKinnie was a nine-year starter for the Vikings after being drafted with the seventh-overall pick in 2002. He started seven games as a rookie following a contract holdout but would go on to start every game over the next five seasons and record 16 starts in seven total campaigns.

The former Miami Hurricane was named a Pro Bowler in 2009 and ended his Vikings career having started 131 of 132 games played in Minnesota.

Christian Darrisaw (2021-present)

Darrisaw was drafted by the Vikings with the 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He would go on to start immediately in Minnesota but was limited to just 12 games (10 starts) as a rookie due to injuries.

When he’s healthy, he’s truly one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL. Unfortunately, the injuries came back with a vengeance in 2024. Darrisaw started just seven games after putting together 14 starts and 15 starts in the previous two seasons, respectively.

If he can shake this injury bug, I would not be surprised if he ends up being one of the best tackles in franchise history.

Source: https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/...l-loadholt-bryant-mckinnie-christian-darrisaw

News Vikings Team Notes

Starter

Trade Recap​

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 21, 2026: Round 4, Pick 121​

Denver Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 18​

...​

The Big 12’s leader in tackles for loss last season, Isaiah Glasker, considered the NFL this past winter. But he’s running it back at BYU.​

Glasker finished with 14.5 tackles for loss last year and led BYU in tackles with 70.​

The size and athleticism of Glasker were a revelation last year. There were signs of his ability during spring and fall camps in previous years, but injuries and learning the linebacker position made it a slow launch. Last year, Glasker made everyone a believer.​

A former wide receiver in high school, Glasker began his college career at safety before moving down into the box as a linebacker. He hasn’t looked back since.​

Starter

Can Someone Lend Me a Hand Here?​

Conclusion​

Starter

Starter

Episode Summary: Key Points​

Listen:​

Watch:​

Why SKOL Nation Should Tune In​

Fan With Us!​

Open Question:​

Starter

Starter

Starter

Starter

who is the minnesota vikings underrated players in 2025​

Based on the search results, here are some Minnesota Vikings players considered underrated or poised for a breakout season in 2025:​

Javon Hargrave (Defensive Tackle): Although he’s coming off an injury, Hargrave is seen as a potential “under-the-radar star” for the Vikings in 2025. His past production as a pass rusher suggests he could have a significant bounce-back year if he stays healthy.​

Trade Recap​

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 56, 2026: Round 4, Pick 124, 2026: Round 6, Pick 203​

San Francisco Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 50​

...​

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 4, Pick 101, 2026: Round 6, Pick 180​

New Orleans Receives: 2026: Round 3, Pick 97​

...​

Starter

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game​

Previous games​

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions​

Starter

Chicago Bears​

It All Hinges on Caleb Williams​

Bottom Line​

Detroit Lions​

It Hinges on the Offensive Line for the Lions​

Bottom Line​

Green Bay Packers​

Did the Packers Really Do Anything to Move the Needle?​

What About Jordan Love?​

And the Packers Defense?​

Bottom Line​

Minnesota Vikings​

It Hinges on J.J. McCarthy​

Bottom Line​

Final NFC North Thoughts​

Starter

Brian O’Neill (2018-present)​

Phil Loadholt (2009-2015)​

Bryant McKinnie (2002-2010)​

Christian Darrisaw (2021-present)​

Trade Recap

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 21, 2026: Round 4, Pick 121

Denver Receives: 2026: Round 1, Pick 18

...

The Big 12’s leader in tackles for loss last season, Isaiah Glasker, considered the NFL this past winter. But he’s running it back at BYU.

Glasker finished with 14.5 tackles for loss last year and led BYU in tackles with 70.

The size and athleticism of Glasker were a revelation last year. There were signs of his ability during spring and fall camps in previous years, but injuries and learning the linebacker position made it a slow launch. Last year, Glasker made everyone a believer.

A former wide receiver in high school, Glasker began his college career at safety before moving down into the box as a linebacker. He hasn’t looked back since.

Can Someone Lend Me a Hand Here?

Conclusion

Episode Summary: Key Points

Listen:

Watch:

Why SKOL Nation Should Tune In

Fan With Us!

Open Question:

who is the minnesota vikings underrated players in 2025

Based on the search results, here are some Minnesota Vikings players considered underrated or poised for a breakout season in 2025:

Javon Hargrave (Defensive Tackle): Although he’s coming off an injury, Hargrave is seen as a potential “under-the-radar star” for the Vikings in 2025. His past production as a pass rusher suggests he could have a significant bounce-back year if he stays healthy.

Trade Recap

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 56, 2026: Round 4, Pick 124, 2026: Round 6, Pick 203

San Francisco Receives: 2026: Round 2, Pick 50

...

Minnesota Receives: 2026: Round 4, Pick 101, 2026: Round 6, Pick 180

New Orleans Receives: 2026: Round 3, Pick 97

...

Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game

Previous games

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games

Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions

Chicago Bears

It All Hinges on Caleb Williams

Bottom Line

Detroit Lions

It Hinges on the Offensive Line for the Lions

Bottom Line

Green Bay Packers

Did the Packers Really Do Anything to Move the Needle?

What About Jordan Love?

And the Packers Defense?

Bottom Line

Minnesota Vikings

It Hinges on J.J. McCarthy

Bottom Line

Final NFC North Thoughts

Brian O’Neill (2018-present)

Phil Loadholt (2009-2015)

Bryant McKinnie (2002-2010)

Christian Darrisaw (2021-present)