A Couple More Minnesota Vikings Coaching Tweaks

The Minnesota Vikings coaching tweaks never seem to stop coming. They made a couple tweaks on Thursday. They made a couple more yesterday. 

When offensive line coach Chris Kuper’s contract wasn’t renewed after the season, the Vikings promoted assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter to the top job at the position. Carter had far more experience leading the offensive line than most assistant offensive line coaches, so his promotion wasn’t much of a surprise. Some have questioned the move as Carter has had a contentious history with some of his players. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the team saw him on the field and in the building last season and are apparently confident in the promotion. Besides, Brian Flores had a very contentious history with at least one of his very vocal players. With Carter’s promotion, the Vikings needed an assistant offensive line coach. They found their coach in college.

Derek Warehime - Kentucky Run Game Coordinator

Derek Warehime was hired at Kentucky in December so he never coached a game for the Wildcats. He was the offensive line coach/run game coordinator at Coastal Carolina from 2023-25. The Chanticleers did some interesting things in the run game. I’m intrigued by the possibilities his addition brings. So often, NFL teams fill out their coaching rosters with familiar NFL coaches. I like it when teams bring in a coach, or two, or more, from the colleges. From the wider hash-marks to talent disparity, college football is very different than NFL football. Incorporating some of the things done by talented college coaches into an NFL team can be a good thing. In total, Warehime has about 20 years of coaching college football. 

The Vikings best coaching move of the offseason was keeping Brian Flores in Minnesota. The next best was the hiring of Frank Smith as assistant head coach. I’ve often wished that the Vikings would incorporate some of the spicy run schemes and plays that routinely see from other teams. Those schemes and teams all come from coaches in the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay coaching trees. The Vikings and Kevin O’Connell need some of that. The Vikings run game always looks so routine. Mike McDaniel got the Miami Dolphins head coach in 2022 for the run game he created with Kyle Shanahan for the San Francisco 49ers. Frank Smith was McDaniel’s offensive coordinator in Miami. When Chris Kuper departed, Frank Smith was my first choice to replace him. My worry was that Smith was more on the level offensive coordinator or even an under-the-radar head coach candidate. He’d long moved past the offensive line coach level. So, the Vikings hired him as assistant head coach. I like the addition of new offensive ideas with the coaching additions of Frank Smith and Derek Warehime. 

With the Pittsburgh Steelers swiping tight end coach/pass game coordinator Brian Angelichio, the Vikings needed a new tight end coach. As with the offensive line, the new coach was found within the building. Ryan Cordell has been with the Vikings since Kevin O’Connell was hired in 2022. He’s had the curious title of game management coordinator/pass game specialist. One of his tasks was holding weekly “situational master” presentations for the team. Based on film and game research, he’d address potential situations the team might face in future games. He also assisted Angelichio with the tight ends. Now, the position is his too coach. He’ll also retain his role as game management coordinator. It appears the “situational master” presentations will continue. O’Connell has often mentioned how impactful those meetings have been. 

The Vikings added a coach from the college ranks. They also lost one to the college ranks. For six years Imarjaye Albury Sr. has been a rising coach for the Vikings. From quality control to defensive assistant to assistant defensive line coach his trajectory has been a consistently upwards one. So much so that I imagine he might’ve been disappointed that he wasn’t tapped to replace Marcus Dixon as the team’s defensive line coach. The Vikings hired the extremely experienced Ryan Nielsen as defensive line/run game coordinator. Yesterday, Albury announced that he was headed to Texas Tech as the Red Raiders defensive line coach. It’s a great and much deserved opportunity. While I’m thrilled with the addition of Nielsen, I hate to see Albury leave. 

Summation of the recent Vikings coaching tweaks:

Promoted: Ryan Cordell - tight ends/game management coordinator

Added: Derek Warehime - assistant offensive line coach

Lost: Imarjaye Albury Sr. - swiped by Texas Tech

Hopefully, the Vikings aren’t further raided by the 31 parasitic teams in the league. Or the 100s of college football teams. 

For now, here is the current coaching staff of the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Frank Smith

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Offense:

Quarterbacks: Josh McCown

Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Quarterbacks: Jordan Traylor

Senior Offensive Assistant: Chris O’Hara

Running Backs/Run Game Coordinator: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Assistant Receivers: ?

Tight Ends/Game Management Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Offensive Line: Keith Carter

Assistant Offensive Line: Derek Warehime

Quality Control: Derron Montgomery

Offensive Assistant: Ben Ellefson

Assistant to the Head Coach: Henry Schneider IV

Defense:

Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator: Ryan Nielsen

Assistant Defensive Line: ?

Outside Linebackers: Thad Bogardus

Assistant Outside Linebackers: Patrick Hill

Inside Linebackers: Mike Siravo 

Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator: Gerald Alexander

Defensive Backs Assistant: ?

Defensive Quality Control: Chenzo Funari

Defensive Assistant: Charlie Frye

Special Teams:

Assistant Special Teams: Dalmin Gibson

I see the Vikings needing the following coaches:

Assistant receivers

Assistant defensive line

Assistant defensive back

Those are three of the biggest position groups. Keenan McCardell, Ryan Nielsen, and Gerald Alexander could each use an assistant. There also remains a coaching roster curiosity. The Vikings website lists Nielsen as only the defensive run game coordinator. I’ve assumed, and many seem to assume, that he’s also coaching the defensive line. He has a strong history in that role. It’s what got him a couple defensive coordinator jobs. He even interviewed for the Vikings job that went to Brian Flores. If the website is accurate, there might still be a need for a defensive line coach that works with Nielsen. It also remains to be seen if the Vikings give a coach the pass game coordinator title that was held by Brian Angelichio. My guess is that McCardell gets the title. 

Until the next tweak. 

More Minnesota Vikings Coaching Tweaks

Every offseason brings changes to the coaching staffs across the NFL. Those changes range from overhauls to tweaks. The Minnesota Vikings are going through tweaks to their roster of coaches. The most impactful potential change was one that didn’t happen. Every offseason after he arrived in 2023, defensive coordinator Brian Flores deserved a head coaching opportunity. This was the third offseason that he was denied one of those opportunities. Remarkably, he only interviewed for two of this year’s ten head coach vacancies. The stupidity of the rest of the league is the Vikings gain. Flores continues as the team’s defensive coordinator. His new deal to remain in Minnesota reportedly makes him the highest paid assistant coach in the league. It’s deserving as he’s been outstanding. 

Brian Flores stays in Minnesota but seven coaches, so far, have departed.

Assistant Head Coach Mike Pettine - retired

Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator Daronte Jones - swiped by Washington Commanders

Safeties Coach Michael Hutchings - swiped by Cal

Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper - contract expired/hired by Philadelphia Eagles

Defensive Line Coach Marcus Dixon - contract expired/hired by Dallas Cowboys 

Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator Brian Angelichio - swiped by Pittsburgh Steelers

Assistant Receivers Coach Tony Sorrentino - swiped by Arizona Cardinals

A couple weeks ago, the Vikings announced the hiring of three coaches:

Frank Smith - Assistant Head Coach

Gerald Alexander - Secondary/Pass Game Coordinator

Ryan Nielsen - Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator

The Vikings also promoted assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter to replace Chris Kuper as offensive line coach. Over the days since those announcements, teams with new head coaches have raided the Vikings coaching staff. Mike McCarthy swiped Brian Angelichio to be the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike LaFleur swiped Tony Sorrentino to be the receivers coach of the Arizona Cardinals. To replace Angelichio as tight ends coach/pass game coordinator, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell promoted Ryan Cordell. For all of O’Connell’s four years Cordell has been the game management coordinator/pass game specialist. In that role, he’s prepared the team for games with his weekly “situational masters” meetings. 

With seven departures, so far, the Vikings are slowly moving past just coaching tweaks this offseason. Seven coaches is about a quarter of the entire staff. There have been three external hires in Frank Smith, Gerald Alexander, and Ryan Nielsen. Keith Carter and Ryan Cordell were promoted. Those promotions filled a vacancy but created another. They also might need someone to take up Cordell’s varied and nebulous roles. One coach currently on the staff that intrigues for that job is defensive quality control coach Chenzo Funari. With an aeronautical engineering degree from Ohio State, he’s literally a rocket scientist. He’s very much on the analytics side of football with a mind for game strategy. With seven departures and only three outside additions, simple math says that the Vikings still need four coaches. Assistants are definitely needed on the offensive line, at receiver, and in the secondary. Offensive line and the secondary are two of the largest position groups on the team. Receiver isn’t far behind. Keith Carter, Gerald Alexander, and Keenan McCardell could use some help. 

Hopefully, the Vikings aren’t further raided by the 31 parasitic teams in the league. 

For now, here is the current coaching staff of the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Frank Smith

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Offense:

Quarterbacks: Josh McCown

Assistant Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Quarterbacks: Jordan Traylor

Senior Offensive Assistant: Chris O’Hara

Running Backs/Run Game Coordinator: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Assistant Receivers: ?

Tight Ends/Pass Game Coordinator: Ryan Cordell

Offensive Line: Keith Carter

Assistant Offensive Line: ?

Quality Control: Derron Montgomery

Offensive Assistant: Ben Ellefson

Assistant to the Head Coach: Henry Schneider IV

Defense:

Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator: Ryan Nielsen

Assistant Defensive Line: Imarjae Albury Sr.

Outside Linebackers: Thad Bogardus

Assistant Outside Linebackers: Patrick Hill

Inside Linebackers: Mike Siravo 

Defensive Backs/Pass Game Coordinator: Gerald Alexander

Defensive Backs Assistant: ?

Defensive Quality Control: Chenzo Funari

Defensive Assistant: Charlie Frye

Special Teams:

Assistant Special Teams: Dalmin Gibson

2026 NFL Draft Player Rankings: By Position

Super Bowl LX is in the books. The Scouting Combine is a couple weeks away. It’s 2026 NFL Draft season. Here’s a look at five of the top draft prospects at each position.

2026 NFL Draft Player Rankings: By Position

Quarterbacks

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

2. *Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi

3. Ty Simpson, Alabama

4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

5. Carson Beck, Miami

*-Trinidad Chambliss is challenging the NCAA for another year of eligibility. If he’s in this class, Chambliss is QB2 in this draft class.

Running Backs

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

3. Emmitt Johnson, Nebraska

4. Jonah Coleman, Washington

5. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Receivers

1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State

2. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

3. Makai Lemon, USC

4. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

5. Denzel Boston, Washington

Tight Ends

1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

2. Max Klare, Ohio State

3. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

4. Jack Endries, Texas

5. Dallen Bentley, Utah

Offensive Tackles

1. Spencer Fano, Utah

2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami

3. Monroe Freeling, Georgia

4. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

5. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Guards

1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M

3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

4. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

5. Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Centers

1. Connor Lew, Auburn

2. Logan Jones, Iowa

3. Jake Slaughter, Florida

4. Sam Hecht, Kansas

5. Trey Zuhn III

Edge

1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

2. David Bailey, Texas A&M

3. Kendric Faulk, Auburn

4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami

5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Defensive Tackles

1. Caleb Banks, Florida

2. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

3. Peter Woods, Clemson

4. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

5. Christen Miller, Georgia

Linebackers

1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State

2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State

3. CJ Allen, Georgia

4. Jake Golday, Cincinnati

5. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Cornerbacks

1. Mansoor Delane, LSU

2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

3. Avieon Terrell, Clemson

4. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

5. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

Safeties

1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State

2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

3. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

4. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

5. Bud Clark, TCU

Flea Flicker Mock Draft 1.0

The Super Bowl is in the books. The first round order of the 2026 NFL Draft is set. Here’s a first swing at a mock draft. 

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2.   New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

4.   Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami 

5.   New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

6.   Cleveland Browns: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

7.   Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

9.   Kansas City Chiefs: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, Miami

12. Dallas Cowboys: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

14. Baltimore Ravens: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

16. New York Jets (from Colts): Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17. Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

18. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

19. Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

25. Chicago Bears: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

28. Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

29. Los Angeles Rams: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

30. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

31. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

2026 NFL Draft First Round Order

With the Super Bowl in the books, the order of the 2026 NFL Draft is now set. Compensatory picks will be announced at a later date. Those will only impact the order after the second round. Here’s the first round.

2026 NFL Draft First Round Order

1.   Las Vegas Raiders

2.   New York Jets

3.   Arizona Cardinals

4.   Tennessee Titans

5.   New York Giants

6.   Cleveland Browns

7.   Washington Commanders

8.   New Orleans Saints

9.   Kansas City Chiefs

10. Cincinnati Bengals 

11. Miami Dolphins

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons)

14. Baltimore Ravens

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

16. New York Jets (from Colts)

17. Detroit Lions

18. Minnesota Vikings

19. Carolina Panthers

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)

21. Pittsburgh Steelers 

22. Los Angeles Chargers 

23. Philadelphia Eagles 

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)

25. Chicago Bears

26. Buffalo Bills

27. San Francisco 49ers

28. Houston Texans

29. Los Angeles Rams

30. Denver Broncos

31. New England Patriots

32. Seattle Seahawks

Teams with 2 picks:

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

Dallas Cowboys

Cleveland Browns

Teams with no picks:

Atlanta Falcons

Indianapolis Colts 

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Potential 2026 Minnesota Vikings Starters

Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks. And especially Sam Darnold. Someone had to win the Super Bowl this year. 

Now on to more important things.

Just for post-Super Bowl giggles, here’s a look at a potential 2026 Minnesota Vikings lineup. Until Harrison Smith makes it official, I have him riding off into his much deserved retirement with a Super Bowl win.

2026 Minnesota Vikings Starters?

Offense

Quarterback 

J.J. McCarthy

Running Back

Jordan Mason

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Fullback

?

C.J. Ham has retired. It will be interesting to see if the Vikings add another fullback or join the teams pushing for the extinction of the position. 

Wide Receiver

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Tight End

T.J. Hockenson

Tackles

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Guards

Donovan Jackson

Will Fries

Center

Jake Slaughter (rookie)

Defense

Defensive Line

Jalen Redmond

Lee Hunter (rookie)

Jonathan Allen

Linebackers

Jonathan Greenard

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner isn’t among the above but he’ll get the snaps of a starter. 

Cornerbacks

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Mansoor Delane (rookie)

Safeties

Harrison Smith

Joshua Metellus

Kyle Louis (rookie)

Special Teams

Kicker

Will Reichard

Punter

Ryan Wright

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

Returner

Myles Price

Flea Flicker Super Bowl Prediction

In a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. The first one was a fun game as Patriots corner Malcolm Butler swiped the game from the Seahawks in the final seconds. Butler’s interception at the goal line with 26 seconds to play was a stunner. Many have moaned over the years that Pete Carroll and his play-callers blew the game by not simply handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch. Actually, Russell Wilson lost it when he forced a pass into a crowd. In the moment, the play-call wasn’t the mistake. The execution was. 26 seconds left in the game, a timeout, second-and-goal from the one, the Seahawks held the keys to the game. Carroll expected the Patriots to call a timeout. Bill Belichick, the coach that should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, let the clock run. It was a surprising decision in the moment and seemed to panic the Seahawks. Still, the situation on the field favored the Seahawks. If Wilson didn’t have his receiver at the snap, throw the ball away. It’s a simple and immediate decision. Wilson failed that moment. Throw the ball away. About 20 seconds left, a timeout, third-and-goal from the one, the Seahawks would’ve still held the keys to the game. The Seahawks mistake at the end of Super Bowl XLIX was the execution, not the play-call. The NFL Films work documenting the Patriots execution of the game’s critical moments is outstanding. From the coaches box to the sidelines, Belichick, the Patriots coaches, and players simply and calmly did their jobs. The Patriots were in control of their situation while the Seahawks looked panicky.

The Patriots have been to a bunch of Super Bowls in the 2000s. The best thing about those appearances is that every one of those games was entertaining. For a football fan without a team in the game, that’s a very good thing. A shitty Super Bowl is a shitty way to end a season. Except for the winning team and their fans, a blowout is a shitty football game. All of those entertaining Patriots Super Bowls included Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. There’s no certainty that it carries over to Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye. I’m hoping for an entertaining Super Bowl LX. Here’s a guess at the game. 

Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

This is tough. From offense to defense to special teams, the Seahawks are the better team. I believe that each defense could overwhelm their opposing offense. This game could become a low-scoring slugfest. Perhaps a defensive or special teams score wins it. If the game plays like that, I’m leaning Patriots.