Even the Super Bowl champs have offseason needs. The Minnesota Vikings have more needs than that team. Here’s an early look at some of them.
Minnesota Vikings Offseason Needs
1. Defensive Line
The Vikings defensive line is an interesting group. Last offseason’s additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were supposed to make this position a team strength. Allen was productive but didn’t make the impact expected of him. Hargrave had a couple dominant games and that was about it. The Vikings defensive line was a decent group mostly because of the “other guys.” Undrafted, undervalued, underrated Jalen Redmond emerged as an impact player. He looked like he had something late in the 2024 season. His progression made Harrison Phillips expendable last summer. Redmond outperformed his better known linemates in 2025. He looks like a difference-maker moving forward. He’s an exclusive rights free agent so he’s easy to retain. However, Redmond is much more deserving of a better, longer-term deal than the tender that can be slapped on him. 2024 seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez developed into an impact rotational player in his second season. 2025 fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had some nice moments as a rookie. As highly as I think of Redmond, Ingram-Dawkins might have the most potential of the Vikings young defensive linemen. If he’d stayed at Georgia for another season rather than enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he might’ve been a Day 1 or 2 pick this year. He has that sort of natural talent. I believe that Hargrave will be a cap-savings cut. Allen has a nearly $24 million cap hit. That’s a big number. If the Vikings cut him, he’s still a $17 million cap hit. That’s still a big number. He was a solid player in 2025. He wasn’t the great player that he’s been in the past or that he’s paid to be. Perhaps he’s better in his second season in the Vikings defense. While I like the potential of the Vikings unheralded youngsters, especially Redmond, and hope for a rebound season from Allen, defensive line is a position that should be addressed early in the draft. I really like the talent at the position that should be available with the Vikings 18th pick in the first round.
2. Cornerback
Byron Murphy got a nice contract last season after a Pro Bowl season in 2024. In his three seasons with the Vikings, his best season was easily his second season. It’s often been said that he’s most comfortable playing in the slot. His Pro Bowl season was the season in which he played there the most. Isaiah Rodgers had a solid first season in Minnesota. In Murphy and Rodgers, the Vikings have two starting caliber corners. Youngsters Dwight McGlothern Zemaiah Vaughn have yet to show that they are more than depth players. The Vikings need a third corner. They need an outside corner to pair with Rodgers so Murphy can play more on the inside. Corner must be addressed with either their first or second round pick. In my current opinion, it would take a special player at another position for the 18th pick to not be a cornerback.
3. Safety
The Vikings safety group has been a team strength for most of the 2020s. They lost Cam Bynum in free agency last offseason. Franchise legend Harrison Smith MIGHT retire this offseason. If Smith doesn’t return, that’s a significant two-season hit at the position. Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward return. Metellus’s strength is his positional versatility rather than his ability to simply play a safety role. Jackson is a solid player. Ward’s ability to handle both safety and corner roles is his strength. So far, he’s been good at both but hasn’t excelled at either. Bynum-Smith-Metellus was an excellent, versatile defensive backfield trio. The Vikings don’t have that talent or overall versatility anymore. If Smith retires, there’s a significant need for a playmaking safety.
I believe that corner, defensive tackle, and safety are the most likely picks at #18. Probably at 49 as well.
4. Backup Quarterback
The Vikings greatest need at the quarterback position is J.J. McCarthy’s availability for all 20 games. He is the Vikings starting quarterback. The need is for a veteran backup. Hopefully, a backup that only has to take meaningless snaps at the end of an easy win.
I don’t get the pundits and fans constantly worrying about McCarthy’s ability to stay on the field. He never had an availability issue in college. The only threat to his availability in high school was the COVID season that forced him to move from his Chicago home to Florida to play at IMG Academy. Sure, he lost his rookie season to a knee injury. He missed games last season to an ankle injury from a hip-drop tackle. That’s an injury from an illegal tackle. He missed a game to a concussion. He missed a game due to a hand injury from smacking a helmet on a follow through. Sure, four injuries in only two seasons is an eye-opening number. Other than the knee injury that wiped out his rookie season, his injuries feel more random than problematic. He does have to get smarter in how he plays. He’s aggressive. I like his aggressiveness but he has to be smarter about it. He doesn’t have the frame for how he often plays.
For whatever reason, J.J. McCarthy is bashed more than any young quarterback I’ve seen. Locally, I feel that Christian Ponder was given a more forgiving run as the Vikings quarterback. He never once showed the promise in four seasons that I saw in McCarthy’s 10 starts last season. More recently, despite absolutely reckless play Jaxson Dart is seen by many, locally and nationally, as the savior of the New York Giants. He looked lost against the Vikings defense. He was worse in that game than McCarthy was in any game last season. I’m biased as a McCarthy-believer but I saw more promise than concern in his play last season. Despite my optimism that he’ll play a complete season, the Vikings need a reliable, veteran backup quarterback. It’s the quarterback position. That means it’s a significant offseason need.
5. Running Back
This position need is based on the assumption that Aaron Jones is a cap casualty. Jordan Mason is a very good running back. I have faith in him as RB1. Still, a backfield partner is a need. Topped by Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, and Breece Hall there are some strong options in free agency. While top running back contracts run far behind some other positions, signing one of the top free agent backs might not be the best idea for a team with salary cap concerns. This isn’t a strong running back draft but there are some intriguing options that should be available in the middle rounds. Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, Arkansas’s Michael Washington Jr., or Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton would pair nicely with Mason.
6. Wide Receiver
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are one of the league’s best receiving duos. A position group topped by those two doesn’t feel like a need. The Vikings need more than two receivers. Re-signing Jalen Nailor would be a dream. He might find a deal from another team that the Vikings can’t afford to match. 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton is next up but is still an unknown. He contributed more on special teams than offense. Whether it’s Felton or not, the Vikings need two receivers to effectively back up Jefferson and Addison.
7. Linebacker
This position probably should be higher as Blake Cashman is the only certainty. I expect the Vikings to re-sign Eric Wilson. He was a revelation last season. Cashman and Wilson would be a nice duo but both will be over 30 next season. After being passed by Wilson, Ivan Pace was mostly a special teams staple. He’s a restricted free agent. If Cashman, Wilson, and Pace are all on the roster next season, they have a competent trio. The Vikings need to get younger and deeper at linebacker.
8. Offensive Line
With Ryan Kelly likely headed to retirement, the Vikings will need a starting center. I believe that they will find that starter in the third round of the draft.
In my opinion, the single issue that kept the Vikings on the outside of the playoffs was the play of the offensive line. Most of the group’s problems were the result of injuries. The Vikings never knew who was going to be available from game to game. Sometimes, they wouldn’t know who was going to be available from quarter to quarter. The wildly inconsistent play of the offensive line got J.J. McCarthy injured three times and put Carson Wentz on injured reserve. Playing three quarterbacks, with undrafted rookie Max Brosmer being one of them, was the reason the Vikings didn’t make the playoffs. If McCarthy played 17 games, the Vikings probably win at least 11 games. So, the Vikings need their starting offensive line to play all of the games. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Donovan Jackson should form an outstanding left side, one of the league’s best. Right tackle Brian O’Neill and right guard Will Fries should form a strong right side. Find a center and the Vikings have an excellent starting five. Now, those five have to play most of the games. Better depth is needed. O’Neill turns 31 at the start of the 2026 season. He’s still playing at a high level but it’d be nice to start grooming his replacement.
9. Tight End
The Vikings likely have a T.J. Hockenson question to answer this offseason. My hope is that he’s agreeable to a re-do of his contract. If he’s not, he might be released. With Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Ben Sims, Ben Yurosek, and Gavin Bartholomew currently on the roster, tight end is closer to a strength than a weakness. Without Hockenson, it’s a significant need.
10. Special Teams
Punter Ryan Wright and long snapper Andrew DePaola are set to be free agents. If both are re-signed, the kicking battery of Wright, DePaola, and kicker Will Reichard is a strength. When he kept the ball in his hands, returner Myles Price was impactful as a rookie. He’s an interesting returner in that I don’t think that he has the long speed that the best returners typically have. He seems to get his yards with nimble feet and vision. I like him but a more explosive returner could challenge him in training camp.
While the above needs are numbered from 1-10 it’s more of a soft ranking. For example: on paper, linebacker might be the greatest need as Blake Cashman is the only one currently under contract for next season. I have defensive line, cornerback, and safety at 1-3 partly because I see those as the greatest needs early in the draft. Part of that is because those positions match the talent I see projected as available for those picks. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings first five picks in the draft are some order of defensive tackle, cornerback, safety, center, and running back. If the Vikings address any of those positions in free agency, it’s probably center and/or corner. Running back is tempting because of the players potentially available. Ultimately, I think going with Jordan Mason and a rookie with Zavier Scott is the better option.
