So, what’s different about this training camp?
It starts with a 22-year old quarterback. The Vikings haven’t had much luck finding a long-term, franchise quarterback to replace Fran Tarkenton. The Hall of Famer retired after the 1978 season. There’s been a legion of contenders for the “franchise” quarterback role. There’s always been something that’s kept each contender from becoming the “one.” J.J. McCarthy is the next one and might be the one with the best chance to succeed. On- and off-the-field, there’s something about this kid. I was sold before the Vikings made him the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite losing his rookie season to injury, I’m even more sold now.
The excitement around this team isn’t all about the young, unproven quarterback. The Vikings have had an offensive line problem for more than a decade. It’s been a clear problem and derailed some otherwise talented teams. For most of that time, the team’s decision-makers dabbled at improvements. A mid- to late-round guard here. A modest free agent tackle there. A position change? Why not? This offseason, there was no dabbling. The Vikings attacked the improvement of the offensive line. Blessed with an elite tackle duo, they focused on the interior of the line. They spent big free agent money on right guard Will Fries. They replaced their undersized center with bigger, experienced, established Ryan Kelly. He might be closer to the end of his strong career than the beginning but he’s the perfect center for a young quarterback that’s yet to take a regular season snap. The Vikings completed their overhaul of the line interior with the selection of left guard Donovan Jackson in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. No dabbling. The three players were high-end replacements to fix a long-term problem. On paper, this is the best Vikings offensive line in decades. The potential is there for them to be among the league’s best.
The excitement around this team isn’t all about the young, unproven quarterback and the rebuilt offensive line. The Vikings defense has emerged as a strength under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Despite all of the good things this defense has done, an interior pass rush has been lacking. It’s forced Flores and his coaches to lean on an often maniacal blitzing scheme. In addition to improving the offensive trenches, the Vikings prioritized improvements in the defensive trenches. Before free agency officially opened, defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were signed. While Hargrave is on the wrong side of 30 and has been a personal dream free agent signing since he left the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, he can still wreck an offense. The Vikings have accumulated an intriguing collection of late-round and no-round defensive line talent. The group is young and raw and hopefully ready. Surrounding Harrison Phillips with Allen and Hargrave allows the coaches to pepper a rotation with these youngsters. The Vikings defensive line competition is going to be one of the most interesting of training camp.
The excitement around this team isn’t all about the young quarterback, the rebuilt offensive line, and intriguing, talented defensive line. The reasons for excitement around the 2025 Minnesota Vikings are many.
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Harrison Smith
Jonathan Greenard
T.J. Hockenson
Byron Murphy Jr.
Blake Cashman
Dallas Turner
Aaron Jones
Jordan Mason
Andrew Van Ginkel
Joshua Metellus
Isaiah Rodgers
Andrew Van Ginkel
Ivan Pace Jr.
Josh Oliver
Will Reichard
Theo Jackson
Jalen Nailor
A couple new players that have me excited about their potential:
Jeff Okudah
Rondale Moore
It’s an exciting time.
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