Minnesota Vikings 90 - Man Roster

Since completion of the draft and a wave of undrafted signings, the Minnesota Vikings have made a significant signing a few tweaks to bring the offseason roster close to the 90 - man limit. 

The significant signing:

Jauan Jennings, WR

The Vikings needed a third receiver to go with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Now, they have the best receiving trio in the league. Jauan Jennings gives the Vikings some size and edginess they didn’t have in the receiver room and on the offense. 

Signed:

Smith Vilbert, DL

Bangally Kamara, LB

Terrill Davis, WR

Isaiah Loudermilk, DL

Waived:

Jordan Botelho, OLB

Shaleak Knotts, WR

Smith Vilbert and Bangally Kamara were signed after successful tryouts during the rookie minicamp. After going unselected in the draft, Terrill Davis had tryouts with the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. The Vikings ended his tryout tour. Isaiahh Loudermilk is the veteran addition of the recent roster tweaks. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, he had a five-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of those years was with Brian Flores on the Steelers coaching staff. 

The Vikings currently have 90 players on the roster. Undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson is one of those players. He’s from Australia and is part of International Pathways Program. As such, he doesn’t count towards the 90 - man roster limit. That leaves a vacancy. Harrison Smith? 

Minnesota Vikings Post-Draft Roster (90)

Offense (44)

Quarterbacks (4)

Kyler Murray

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Backs (6)

Aaron Jones

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

Demond Claiborne

Max Bredeson - fullback

Kejon Owens

Receivers (12)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Dontae Fleming

Joaquin Davis

Dillon Bell

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Luke Wysong 

Terrill Davis

Tight Ends (5)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Gavin Bartholomew

Ben Yurosek

Bryson Nesbit

Tackles (7)

Christian Darrisaw

Brian O’Neill

Ryan Van Demark

Walter Rouse

Caleb Etienne

Caleb Tiernan

Triston Leigh

Guards (5)

Donovan Jackson

Will Fries

Joe Huber

Henry Byrd

Tomas Rimac

Centers (5)

Blake Brandel

Michael Jurgens

Vershon Lee

Gavin Gerhardt

Delby Lemieux

Defense (42)

Defensive Line (11)

Jalen Redmond

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Monkell Goodwine

Eric Johnson II

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Smith Vilbert

Outside Linebackers (7)

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Tyler Batty

Chaz Chambliss

Cam’Ron Stewart

Arden Walker 

Inside Linebackers (8)

Blake Cashman

Eric Wilson

Ivan Pace Jr.

Josh Ross

Jacob Roberts

Jake Golday

Keli Lawson

Bangally Kamara

Cornerbacks (9)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

James Pierre

Zemaiah Vaughn

Dwight McGlothern

Chuck Demmings

Marcus Allen

Da’Veawn Armstead

Tyreek Chappell

Safeties (7)

Joshua Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Kahlef Hailassie 

Jakobe Thomas

Jacob Thomas

Special Teams (4)

Kicker

Will Reichard

Punter

Johnny Hekker

Brett Thorson

Long Snapper

Andrew DePaola

The NFL Draft Is Coming To Minnesota

A few weeks ago, there were rumors that Minneapolis-St. Paul was the “favorite” to host the 2028 NFL Draft. Those rumors became fact at this week’s Owners Meetings in Orlando. Seeing as the draft has been held in Chicago (2x), Detroit, and Green Bay during its recent travels, it’s only natural for the league to complete the NFC North. 

The NFL will always follow dollars in all that it does. Making the draft a traveling show has been a cash explosion for the league and the cities that host it. Combined attendance for the three-day event is creeping towards a million. While the Minneapolis-St. Paul Draft is expected to be spread across the metropolitan area, its focus will be on the spectacular US Bank Stadium. Unless some architectural tricks are planned, the stadium’s footprint isn’t as expansive as recent sites. There will be a great fan turnout but I doubt attendance records will be threatened. I might even be there. It would take a lot to pull me from my draft routine. Minnesota hosting might be enough. 

The NFL Draft became a nomadic event in 2015. 

2015: Chicago, IL

2016: Chicago, IL

2017: Philadelphia, PA

2018: Arlington, TX

2019: Nashville, TN

2020: Virtual due to the global pandemic

2021: Cleveland, OH

2022: Las Vegas, NV

2023: Kansas City, MO

2024: Detroit, MI

2025: Green Bay, WI

2026: Pittsburgh, PA

2027: Washington DC

2028: Minnesota

The NFL Draft became a thing in 1936. For the first five decades, it was a barely noticeable thing. For the next couple decades, it was a somewhat noticeable thing. For the past three decades, the NFL Draft has become a very big thing. The ridiculous growth of the NFL Draft has been a very curious thing. A movie was even made about the damn thing. 

When the draft went on the road in 2015, it felt new because it had been held in New York City for the previous fifty years. It was actually a return to what it had been. Before becoming a New York staple in 1965, the site of the draft roamed about for it’s first thirty years.

Pre-2015 draft locations:

1936: Philadelphia, PA

1937: New York City, NY

1938: Chicago, IL

1939: New York City, NY

1940: Milwaukee, WI

1941: Washington DC

1942-43: Chicago, IL

1944: Philadelphia, PA

1945-47: New York City, NY

1948: Pittsburgh, PA

1949-50: Philadelphia, PA

1951: Chicago, IL

1952: New York City, NY

1953-54: Philadelphia, PA

1955: New York City, NY

1956-61: Philadelphia, PA

1962-64: Chicago, IL

1965-2014: New York City, NY

I have been, and always will be, fascinated with the NFL Draft. The draft as an event, it’s critical part in football team-building, it’s history. All of it. It all fascinates me. 

And Then There Were 4 (5)

The Minnesota Vikings have reached the finalist stage of their search for their next general manager. At the start of the process, there were six external candidates for the job.

Terrance Gray - Buffalo Bills Assistant General Manager

Dave Ziegler - Tennessee Titans Assistant General Manager

RJ Gillen - San Francisco 49ers Assistant General Manager

Chad Alexander - Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager

John McKay - Los Angeles Rams General Manager

Nolan Teasley - Seattle Seahawks Assistant General Manager

Interim GM and long-time salary cap expert, Rob Brzezinski expressed an interest in the full-time job and is an internal candidate. A few days after the first six names were revealed, three more external candidates were added. 

Ray Agnew - Detroit Lions Assistant General Manager 

Reed Burkhardt - Denver Broncos Assistant General Manager

Kyle Smith - Miami Dolphins Assistant General Manager 

Pretty much from the moment Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired on January 30, Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager Chad Alexander was my favorite for the job. I’ve always preferred career scouts over football people focused on the analytics of the game. I get the importance of analytics in the evaluation process. I just prefer a background of on-field evaluation over spreadsheet evaluation. Alexander has been scouting football players since 1999. He was with Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens for 20 of those years. Unfortunately, he withdrew his name from consideration for the Vikings job last weekend. 

The first round of interviews were conducted before Vikings ownership departed for this week’s league meetings in Orlando. Upon their return, the team’s decision-makers will conduct in-person interviews with the finalists. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, there are four external candidates and one internal candidate.

Terrance Gray - Buffalo Bills Assistant General Manager

John McKay - Los Angeles Rams Assistant General Manager

Nolan Teasley - Seattle Seahawks Assistant General Manager

Reed Burkhardt - Denver Broncos Assistant General Manager 

and

Rob Brzezinski- Minnesota Vikings Interim GM/EVP - Football Operations

All four external candidates come from teams with recent team-building and on-field success. That’s a good thing. All four also have connections to the Vikings organization or people in the Vikings organization. Terrance Gray and Reed Burkhardt spent more than a decade as scouts for the Vikings. Both should still be well-known to many in the building. John McKay crossed paths with Kevin O’Connell with the Los Angeles Rams. Nolan Teasley is a little less connected. When Rob Brzezinski was tapped to guide the Vikings this offseason, former Seattle Seahawks cap guru Matt Thomas was brought out of retirement to assist in Minnesota. Thomas was in Seattle as Teasley rose through the organization. 

Then there’s Rob Brzezinski. 

Throughout this important change, I’ve favored Rob Brzezinski returning to his Executive Vice President - Football Operations role. Maybe it’s an expanded role. He’s been a crucial franchise fixture for nearly 30 years. If he’s truly interested in the general manager job, it doesn’t feel right to send him back to where he’s been. Brzezinski is a team- and consensus-builder. Actually, he perfectly matches what owner Mark Wilf says they’re looking for in someone for the GM job. Personally, I prefer a general manager that’s spent their career evaluating football talent. In my Vikings dream world, Brzezinski becomes more involved in the football operations than he’s been. Perhaps that opens up an opportunity for Emily Badis to become even more involved in contract negotiations and salary cap management. Most important, in that Vikings dream world, an external candidate is hired as general manager. It’s been an emerging trend in the league that the GM works below a football operations person. Brzezinski is too important to the franchise to be on the annual chopping block. The GM is always a few bad decisions away from being fired. 

So, Rob Brzezinski oversees football operations and helps make spectacular TCO Performance Center a happy place moving towards great on-field success. The Vikings then hire one of the four finalists to run the football decision-making process. Many fans and pundits want one person making all decisions. I think those people just want someone to blame when a decision turns bad. For things to work, there has to be a consensus between the front office and coaches. Brzezinski has already shown that he can help build that. Nothing works on the field if people aren’t on the same page off the field. Of the four external finalists, I wouldn’t mind seeing any of them running things in Minnesota. Right now, I’m leaning Nolan Teasley. Tomorrow, it could be Terrance Gray. Next week? John McKay. Maybe Reed Burkhardt. I just want to get to the other side of this important GM decision. I’m ready for just the usual football stuff. Roster and training camp thoughts. 

All Picks Signed

With few restrictions on the contracts, the signing of draft picks used to be an annual challenge. Holdouts were frequent. The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement changed all of that. It took an offseason lockout to get there but that agreement between the players and the owners made the signing of draft picks a scripted deal. Holdouts are now rare. Despite 15 years of relative draft-pick signing ease, I’m still amazed at how smooth the process has become. Perhaps I haven’t fully recovered from Bryant McKinnie’s 98-day holdout in 2002. Whatever the reason, I don’t rest easy until the Minnesota Vikings have all of their draft picks signed. There once was a year when the entire draft class was signed before the start of rookie minicamp. A week after the draft was held and the Vikings had all of their rookies under contract. It was beautiful. This year, it looked like it might happen again. 

The Vikings selected nine players in the 2026 NFL Draft

1. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

2. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

3. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5. Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin

6. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7. Gavin Gerhardt, C, Cincinnati

In advance of the May 8 rookie minicamp, the Vikings signed eight of the nine draft picks. The only pick not signed was second-rounder Jake Golday. In recent years, the signings of players selected in the second round have become difficult. Agents have been trying to add some of the contract guarantees given to first-rounders to the second-rounders. The owners, of course, have been resistant to such a change. While it hasn’t resulted in holdouts, the pace of second-round signings has lagged behind those of all other rounds. It’s a trend the Vikings have avoided because they haven’t made a second-round selection since 2022. They had one this year and the they are finally a part of the contentious second-round negotiations. While I was thrilled that the Vikings had a pick in the second round, I was a little nervous about them being part of this new negotiation nonsense. Fortunately, those negotiations aren’t as contentious this year as they’ve been the past couple years. It appears teams and agents have finally worked out their differences as second-round signings are moving easier than first-round signings. While Jake Golday was the last of the draft picks to sign his first NFL contract, the Vikings signed their second-round pick yesterday. 

And with that, the Minnesota Vikings have signed all nine of their picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

First Round Signing Tracker

The 2026 NFL Draft was over three weeks ago. That means that teams are more than three weeks into the task of signing the players they drafted. Here’s a look at the signing status of the first round picks.

2026 NFL Draft - First Round

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

2.   New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - Signed

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

4.   Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

6.   Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

7.   Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State - Signed

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - Signed

9.   Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah - Signed

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

11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - Signed

12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Signed

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami - Signed

16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon - Signed

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson - Signed 

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida - Signed

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia - Signed

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC - Signed

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State - Signed

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

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

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

31. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

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

15 of the 32 players selected in the first round have signed.

Minnesota Vikings Roster: How Did They Get Here?

Here’s a look at how the players got to the roster of the Minnesota Vikings. 

Draft: First Round

Justin Jefferson (2020)

Christian Darrisaw (2021)

Jordan Addison (2023)

J.J. McCarthy (2024)

Dallas Turner (2024)

Donovan Jackson (2025)

Caleb Banks (2026)

Draft: Second Round

Brian O’Neill (2018)

Jake Golday (2026)

Draft: Third Round

Tai Felton (2025)

Domonique Orange (2026)

Caleb Tiernan (2026)

Jakobe Thomas (2026)

Draft: Fourth Round

Jay Ward (2023)

Draft: Fifth Round

Ty Chandler (2022)

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (2015)

Max Bredeson (2026)

Chuck Demmings (2026)

Draft: Sixth Round

Josh Metellus (2020)

Blake Brandel (2020)

Walter Rouse (2024)

Will Reichard (2024)

Demond Claiborne (2026)

Draft: Seventh Round

Michael Jurgens (2024)

Levi Drake Rodriguez (2024)

Gavin Bortholomew (2025)

Gavin Gerhardt (2026)

Undrafted Free Agent

Ivan Pace Jr. (2023)

Jeshaun Jones (2024)

Dwight McGlothern (2024)

Bo Richter (2024)

Taki Taimani (2024)

Max Brosmer (2025)

Chaz Chambliss (2025)

Dontae Fleming (2025)

Joe Huber (2025)

Myles Price (2025)

Elijiah Williams (2025)

Ben Yurosek (2025)

Bryson Nesbit (2025)

Zemaiah Vaugh (2025)

Marcus Allen (2026)

Da’Veawn Armstead (2026)

Dillon Bell (2026)

Tyreek Chappell (2026)

Monkell Goodwine (2026)

Shaleak Knotts (2026)

Keli Lawson (2026)

Tristan Leigh (2026)

Delby Lemieux (2026)

Kejon Owens (2026)

Tomas Rimac (2026)

Marcus Sanders, Jr. (2026)

Cam’Ron Stewart (2026)

Jacob Thomas (2026)

Brett Thorson (2026)

Arden Walker (2026)

Lyke Wysong (2026)

Smith Vilbert (2026)

Bangally Kamara (2026)

Terrill Davis (2026)

Trade

T.J. Hockenson (2022)

Jordan Mason (2025)

Unrestricted Free Agent

Josh Oliver (2023)

Byron Murphy Jr. (2023)

Andrew Van Ginkel (2024)

Blake Cashman (2024)

Isaiah Rodgers (2025)

Will Fries (2025)

Tavierre Thomas (2025)

Eric Wilson (2025)

James Pierre (2026)

Johnny Hekker (2026)

Eric Johnson II (2026)

Jauan Jennings (2026)

Restricted Free Agent

Ryan Van Demark (2026) 

Street Free Agent

Andrew DePaola (2020)

Theo Jackson (2022)

Henry Byrd (2023)

Aaron Jones Sr. (2024)

Jalen Redmond (2024)

Zavier Scott (2024)

Carson Wentz (2025)

Joaquin Davis (2025)

Caleb Etienne (2025)

Vershon Lee (2025)

Kahlef Hailassie (2025)

Jacob Roberts (2026)

Josh Ross (2026)

Kyler Murray (2026)

Minnesota Vikings Roster: By Age

Here’s a look at the Minnesota Vikings roster broken down by age. 

21

Marcus Sanders Jr. 

22

Demond Claiborne

Jake Golday

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Domonique Orange

Jakobe Thomas

Marcus Allen

Dillon Bell

Shaleak Knotts

Keli Lawson

Delby Lemieux

Cam’Ron Stewart

Jacob Thomas

Luke Wysong

23

Caleb Banks

Gavin Bartholomew

Max Bredeson

Chaz Chambliss

Joaquin Davis

Chuck Demmings

Tai Felton

Donovan Jackson

J.J. McCarthy

Bryson Nesbit

Caleb Tiernan

Dallas Turner

Elijiah Williams

Da’Veawn Armstead

Tyreek Chappell

Monkell Goodwine

Tristan Leigh

Tomas Rimac

Arden Walker

24

Jordan Addison

Caleb Etienne

Dontae Fleming

Joe Huber

Vershon Lee

Dwight McGlothern

Myles Price

Jacob Roberts

Zemaiah Vaughn

Ben Yurosek

Gavin Gerhardt

Kejon Owens

Bangally Kamara

Terrill Davis

25

Max Brosmer

Kahlef Hailassie 

Ivan Pace Jr.

Will Reichard

Bo Richter

Levi Drake Rodriguez 

Walter Rouse

Jay Ward

Smith Vilbert

26

Henry Byrd

Christian Darrisaw

Justin Jefferson

Jeshaun Jones

Michael Jurgens

Jordan Mason

Josh Ross

Zavier Scott

Taki Taimani

27

Tyler Batty

Theo Jackson

Eric Johnson II

Jalen Redmond

28

Will Fries

T.J. Hockenson

Joshua Metellus

Byron Murphy Jr.

Kyler Murray

Isaiah Rodgers

Ryan Van Demark

28

Blake Brandel

Blake Cashman

Josh Oliver

James Pierre

Jauan Jennings

30

Brian O’Neill

Tavierre Thomas

Andrew Van Ginkel

31

Aaron Jones Sr.

Eric Wilson

33

Carson Wentz

36

Johnny Hekker

38

Andrew DePaola

Minnesota Vikings Roster: By College

Here’s a look at the Minnesota Vikings roster broken down by the college the players attended. 

Air Force

Bo Richter

Alabama

Dallas Turner

Will Reichard

Arizona 

Luke Wysong

Arkansas 

Dwight McGlothern

BYU

Tyler Batty

Caleb Etienne

Central Florida

Keli Lawson

Cincinnati

Ivan Pace Jr.

Eric Wilson

Jake Golday

Gavin Gerhardt

Clemson

Tristan Leigh

Colorado

Arden Walker

Connecticut

Ryan Van Demark

Dartmouth

Delby Lemieux

Ferris State

Tavierre Thomas

Florida

Caleb Banks

Florida Atlantic

James Pierre

Florida International 

Kejon Owens

Georgia

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Chaz Chambliss

Ben Yurosek

Dillon Bell

Brett Thorson

Georgia Southern

Marcus Sanders Jr. 

Georgia Tech

Jordan Mason

Indiana

Myles Price 

Iowa

T.J. Hockenson

Iowa State

Domonique Orange

James Madison

Jacob Thomas

Kansas

Bangally Kamara

LSU

Justin Jefferson

Jay Ward

Maine

Zavier Scott

Maryland

Tai Felton

Jeshaun Jones

Shaleak Knotts

Miami

Jakobe Thomas

Michigan 

Josh Metellus

J.J. McCarthy

Max Bredeson

Josh Ross

Minnesota

Blake Cashman

Max Brosmer

Missouri State

Eric Johnson II

Morgan State

Elijah Williams

North Carolina

Bryson Nesbit

Marcus Allen

Smith Vilbert

North Carolina Central

Joaquin Davis

North Dakota State

Carson Wentz

North Texas

Da’Veawn Armstead

Northwestern

Caleb Tiernan

Ohio State

Donovan Jackson

Oklahoma

Jalen Redmond

Walter Rouse

Kyler Murray

Oklahoma State 

Terrill Davis

Oregon

Taki Taimani

Oregon State

Blake Brandel

Johnny Hekker

Penn State

Will Fries

Pittsburgh

Brian O’Neill

Gavin Bartholomew

Princeton

Henry Byrd

Rutgers

Andrew DePaola

San Jose State

Josh Oliver

South Carolina

Monkell Goodwine

Vershon Lee

Stephen F Austin

Chuck Demmings

Temple

Cam’Ron Stewart

Tennessee

Theo Jackson

Jauan Jennings 

Texas-El Paso

Aaron Jones

Texas A&M

Tyreek Chappell

Texas A&M-Commerce

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tulane

Dontae Fleming 

UMass-Amherst

Isaiah Rodgers

USC

Jordan Addison

Utah

Zemaiah Vaughn

Virginia Tech

Christian Darrisaw

Tomas Rimac

Wake Forest

Michael Jurgens

Demond Claiborne

Jacob Roberts

Washington

Byron Murphy Jr. 

Western Kentucky

Kahlef Hailassie

Wisconsin

Andrew Van Ginkel

Joe Huber

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Schedule

The “who” and “where” of the Minnesota Vikings 2026 schedule has been known since the end of the 2025 season. With the NFL’s release yesterday of the full 2026 Schedule, the “when” of the Vikings schedule is finally known. 

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Schedule

Week 1:  vs Green Bay Packers

Week 2:  @ Chicago Bears

Week 3:  @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Week 4:  vs Miami Dolphins 

Week 5:  @ New Orleans Saints 

Week 6:  Bye

Week 7:  vs Indianapolis Colts 

Week 8:  @ Detroit Lions

Week 9:  vs Buffalo Bills (MNF)

Week 10: @ Green Bay Packers 

Week 11: @ San Francisco 49ers - Mexico City (SNF)

Week 12: vs Atlanta Falcons

Week 13: vs Carolina Panthers

Week 14: @ New England Patriots (TNF)

Week 15: vs Detroit Lions (SNF)

Week 16: vs Washington Commanders

Week 17: @ New York Jets

Week 18: vs Chicago Bears

Schedule issues:

1. Spending consecutive weeks in the UK last year, with travel from Dublin to London in the middle, should’ve made the Vikings exempt from the international game idiocy for several years. I don’t care that Mexico City is in the same time zone as Minnesota. Five international games in five years is bullshit. 

2. For the fourth consecutive year the Vikings have to travel to one of the coasts for a Thursday night game. Three days is never enough rest between games. For four consecutive years, the Vikings have been forced to hand one of those days to travel. Again, bullshit. 

Some schedule highlights:

1. The Vikings kick off and wrap up the schedule with home games against division foes. 

2. Over the final eight weeks, the Vikings play only two division foes. 

3. Four Prime Time games is a nice start. Seeing as the Vikings will be ripping up the league this season, they’ll likely have a late-season game, or two, bumped to a Prime Time slot. 

4. Other than traveling (again) to the coast for a Thursday night game and an international game (again), it isn’t a bad schedule. It’s definitely a better schedule than the bullshit of last season. 

Second Round Signing Tracker

The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement removed the drama from contract negotiations with the players selected in the draft. Most of the details of a rookie contract are dictated by where the player was selected. In recent years, the only drama with these “easy” negotiations have come from the players in the second round. That’s because players, or their agents, have been trying to get some of the contract guarantees that go to the first round picks. 

2026 NFL Draft - Second Round Signing Tracker

1.   San Francisco 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers - Signed

2.   Arizona Cardinals: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M - Signed

3.   Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson - Signed

4.   Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee - Signed

6.   Las Vegas Raiders: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona - Signed

7.   Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington - Signed

8.   Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma

9.   Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

10. New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia - Signed

11. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

12. Detroit Lions: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan - Signed

13. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, Missouri

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

16. Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

17. Carolina Panthers: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

18. New York Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana - Signed

19. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

20. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina 

21. Indianapolis Colts: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia - Signed

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

23. New England Patriots: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears: Logan Jones, C, Iowa

26. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

27. Houston Texans: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan

28. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

29. Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

30. Buffalo Bills: Donald Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State - Signed

31. Los Angeles Chargers: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida - Signed

32. Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU - Signed

With 14 of 32 players signed, the second round is pacing the first round. That’s a significant improvement over recent years. I those years, perhaps a couple second round picks were signed at this point in the offseason. 

All that really matters is that Jake Golday signs soon. 

And Then There Were Nine

Last week brought reports that the Minnesota Vikings had requested interviews with six external candidates for their vacant general manager position.

The Six:

Terrance Gray - Buffalo Bills Assistant General Manager

Dave Ziegler - Tennessee Titans Assistant General Manager

RJ Gillen - San Francisco 49ers Assistant General Manager

Chad Alexander - Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager

John McKay - Los Angeles Rams General Manager

Nolan Teasley - Seattle Seahawks Assistant General Manager

Interviews with the candidates reportedly started on Monday. It was great to see things starting to roll. Then came reports yesterday that the Vikings decided six external candidates wasn’t enough. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Vikings had requested interviews with three more external candidates.

Ray Agnew - Detroit Lions Assistant General Manager 

Reed Burkhardt - Denver Broncos Assistant General Manager

Kyle Smith - Miami Dolphins Assistant General Manager 

Honestly, I was a little surprised that Ray Agnew and Reed Burkhardt weren’t among the original six interview requests. There’s always a need to draw connections between in both general manager and coach searches. Both of the new candidates had significant connections with the Vikings. Agnew was with the Los Angeles Rams when Kevin O’Connell was the Rams offensive coordinator. Burkhardt spent 13 years rising through the scouting ranks with the Vikings. When George Paton left the Vikings to become the Denver Broncos general manager, he took Burkhardt with him. 

The Vikings are definitely looking for a type as all nine of the external candidates are currently assistant general mangers and all nine have risen through the scouting ranks. There’s not an analytics-centric individual among them. 

Now there are nine external candidates to fill the Vikings general manager vacancy. Long-time salary cap wizard and current interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is the lone internal candidate. Unless the Vikings decision-makers suddenly decide that nine external candidates isn’t enough, there are now 10 total contenders for the job. 

For what it’s worth, Chad Alexander has been my favorite for the job from the start. With the new additions to the process, if I were to pick a top three, it might look like this.

Chad Alexander

Terrance Gray

Reed Burkhardt

While I definitely don’t want the Vikings to rush through the process. It’s too important. I can’t wait for the conclusion. A GM search in May isn’t fun. I just want to move on to actual football stuff. That’s fun. 

28 Is 29

Last Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings brought Adrian Peterson to spectacular TCO Performance Center to talk to the team’s rookies. The Vikings also had an additional surprise reason for bringing in the greatest running back in franchise history. Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle interrupted an “interview” with the wonderful news that Adrian Peterson will be inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor. #28 will be the 29th name to ring US Bank Stadium. 

Adrian Peterson is the greatest running back in Vikings franchise history. He’s in the discussion of the greatest running backs in NFL history. It wasn’t so much “if” he’d be inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor. It was really a matter of “when.” The team decided that the “when” would be now. He’ll get his spiffy purple jacket a year before he gets his spiffy gold jacket. In the next voting cycle, Peterson will be in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He should be considered a lock for a bust. Before that happens, he’ll be honored by the Vikings. 

Just as Randy Moss did nine years earlier, Adrian Peterson “ripped up’ the NFL as a rookie. His 1341 yard, 13 TD first season was highlighted by an NFL record 296 rushing yards against the San Diego Chargers. His 224-yard game against the Chicago Bears three weeks earlier might’ve been even more spectacular. Peterson was an easy choice for the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was just getting started. 

Adrian Peterson Career Highlights:

2007 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

2012 NFL MVP

3x Rushing Champ

4x 1st Team All-Pro

3x 2nd Team All-Pro

7 seasons of at least 1250 yards rushing

Adrian Peterson’s remarkable 15-year career will always be remembered for his ridiculous 2012 season. His 2011 season was ended by a Week 16 knee injury against the Washington Redskins. Despite the late-season injury, he was somehow ready for the start of the 2012 season. With fewer than 20 carries in each of the first two games, the Vikings eased him into the season. In Week 7, Peterson started a 10-game rushing performance rarely seen in league history. His 2097 years was a frustrating nine yards short of break Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. Peterson’s fantastic season on a reconstructed knee secured the league’s MVP trophy. It remains the last time the award hasn’t gone to a quarterback. With today’s NFL, that’s a streak that should continue for a while.

When Adrian Peterson was selected with the seventh pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, the league was well on its way to becoming one that’s pass-centric and quarterback-dominated. His immediate impact might’ve stalled that trend. He certainly did for the Vikings. Peterson was a beast of a back. He had to be the focus of the offense. He had an incredible football career. Now, he will be immortalized in the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor. 

At halftime of a game this season, Adrian Peterson will received that spiffy purple jacket and officially join the following franchise greats. 

Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor

Jared Allen

Matt Blair

Bill Brown

Joey Browner

Bobby Bryant

Jerry Burns

Cris Carter

Chris Doleman

Dennis Green

Carl Eller

Jim Finks

Chuck Foreman

Bud Grant

Steve Jordan

Paul Krause

Jim Marshall

Randall McDaniel

Randy Moss

Alan Page

John Randle

Korey Stringer

Scott Studwell

Ahmad Rashad

Fran Tarkenton

Mick Tingelhoff

Kevin Williams

Ron Yary 

Fred Zamberletti

Vikings Receivers

What a difference a single player addition makes. At the start of this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings receiver group was topped by the best receiver duo in the league. The position group was Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and a bunch of unproven players. Jalen Nailor had been the team’s WR3 for the past couple seasons. Whenever he was on the field, he was a nice compliment to Jefferson and Addison. Nailor departed for a nice free agent contract from the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s how the Vikings got to two great receivers and a bunch of questions. Receiver became one of the team’s most significant positions of need as soon as Nailor signed that contract with the Raiders. It was such a position of need that it wouldn’t have been a surprise if receiver was the pick as early as the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. USC’s Makai Lemon was available and the Vikings selected defensive lineman Caleb Banks. Not only was receiver not the pick in the first round, the position wasn’t the pick in any of the rounds. As the draft fell, the Vikings didn’t see a rookie receiver matching the need that they had. Perhaps they already had a solution for this particular position need. A couple days after the draft, former San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings visited spectacular TCO Performance Center for a little meet-and-greet with the Vikings decision-makers. He left without a contract. He had to think about it. On May 7, Jennings and the Vikings agreed on a one-year deal. 

At the start of free agency, Jauan Jennings was my dream receiver signing for the Vikings. I assumed that Jalen Nailor was gone and he needed to be replaced. There was a time when Jennings reportedly had WR2 contract expectations. If the Vikings couldn’t afford Nailor’s WR3 contract expectations, they certainly couldn’t afford Jennings. That was pre-draft. The trade of outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft gave the Vikings some cap room they didn’t have before. Jennings was close to affordable. The surprise of the Vikings-Jennings agreement was the contract. The deal is for an $8 million base with the potential for $13 million. That’s so much lower than the reports had Jennings seeking. That’s a bargain. After the Greenard trade, I thought that the Vikings could approach the reported contract expectations of Jennings. I never expected the actual contract to come so much under it. 

Jauan Jennings is clearly betting on himself in the Vikings offense and hoping for a better payday in 2027. As for 2026, with one addition, the Vikings dynamic receiving duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison has become a terrific trio. Justin Jefferson-Jordan Addison-Jauan Jennings has some Vikings fans thinking about the “Three Deep” trio of Cris Carter-Randy Moss-Jake Reed. That’s a ridiculously high bar. There’s two Hall of Famers. Settle down. Without having taken the field, the current trio is probably the best since that ridiculous trio. 

The Vikings receiver room isn’t just the three at the top of the depth chart. The Vikings roster currently has a dozen receivers.

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Jeshaun Jones

Joaquin Davis

Dontae Fleming

Dillon Bell

Shaleak Knotts

Marcus Sanders Jr.

Luke Wysong

With the top of the group being set, the wildcard of the group is Tai Felton. He was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he established a strong special teams presence. On offense, he had a handful of catches. Quick, fast, elusive, His positional strengths mostly come with what he can do after the catch. He must study the receivers ahead of him. Some of the most important receiver traits are those that come before the catch. Felton has to get better at those. Right now, he might be best seen as a receiver that needs opportunities created for him. Quick screens, jet sweeps, plays that get the ball in his hands quickly. The remaining eight receivers entered the league as undrafted free agents. Myles Price is on the roster for his kick and punt returns. As a rookie, he emerged as a legitimate return threat. Anything he adds as a receiver is a bonus. Jeshaun Jones has hung around the roster for a couple years. At 6’4”, Joaquin Davis has size at the position the Vikings didn’t have until Jauan Jennings was signed. Dontae Fleming is entering his second year with the Vikings. Dillon Bell, Shaleak Knotts, Marcus Sanders Jr., and Luke Wysong are undrafted rookies. 

It’s pretty easy to project four of the receivers on the Vikings 2026 roster. 

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

Tai Felton

For his return ability, Myles Price is an easy fifth receiver. That might be it. If anyone emerges as a sixth receiver, that receiver is probably Jeshaun Jones or Dillon Bell. Who knows? All the receivers on the Vikings have a shot. At the start of free agency, the Vikings had some receiver concerns. After the signing of Jauan Jennings, receiver might be the strongest position on the roster. 

First Round Signing Tracker

The 2026 NFL Draft was over two weeks ago. That means that teams are more than two into the task of signing the players they drafted. Here’s a look at the signing status of the first round picks.

2026 NFL Draft - First Round

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

2.   New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech - Signed

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame - Signed

4.   Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State - Signed

5.   New York Giants: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

6.   Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

7.   Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State - Signed

8.   New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State - Signed

9.   Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah - Signed

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

11. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - Signed

12. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State - Signed

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami - Signed

16. New York Jets: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon - Signed

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida - Signed

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia - Signed

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC - Signed

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech

27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

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

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

31. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

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

13 of the 32 players selected in the first round are signed. The curious thing about the signings so far is the four groups of three players. Of the 13 players signed, only 11th pick Sonny Styles isn’t next to another signed player. 

And Then There Were Six

When Minnesota Vikings ownership announced the start of the search for a new general manager, they said the process would proceed without public announcement of candidates and interviews. It would be done in secret. Nothing is secret in the National Football League. On Wednesday, it was reported that the Vikings had requested an interview with Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Terrance Gray. The Vikings might not be releasing any of the search particulars but someone is. A day later, it was reported that the Vikings had requested interviews with five more assistant general managers across the league. Here are the six external candidates to be the Vikings next general manager.

Terrance Gray - Buffalo Bills Assistant General Manager

Dave Ziegler - Tennessee Titans Assistant General Manager

RJ Gillen - San Francisco 49ers Assistant General Manager

Chad Alexander - Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager

John McKay - Los Angeles Rams General Manager

Nolan Teasley - Seattle Seahawks Assistant General Manager

As the Vikings interim general manager, Rob Brzezinski guided the team through this offseason after the January 30th firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Brzezinski has been a franchise fixture since 1999. He’s a candidate for the full-time job. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I prefer that he returns to his longtime role as salary cap wizard. The general manager is annually in jeopardy of losing their job. Brzezinski is too important to the Vikings front office to be in that sort of situation. Maybe they expand his involvement to all parts of the football operation. Perhaps the new general manager works in some sort of tandem with Brzezinski. Who knows? I just believe that the Vikings should hire an external candidate. With that in mind, I like the six candidates that have become the focus of the team’s search. 

I like that all six rose through the scouting ranks of their respective teams. I get the value of analytics in player evaluation but I’m about done with analytic-focused individuals being the top-shot caller for teams. A player isn’t defined by a spreadsheet. Anyway, my initial list of about a dozen candidates included three of the six. 

Chad Alexander

Terrance Gray

John McKay

Chad Alexander has been one of my favorites to be the Vikings next general manager from the start. Of the six candidates, he’s been scouting football the longest. He’s been doing it so long that it’s a bit shocking that he hasn’t been hired to run a team. As with all of the candidates, he’s interviewed with several teams in recent years. He’s ready for the job. It was easy to circle Terrance Gray as a candidate simply for the 11 years he spent as a scout with the Vikings. Brandon Beane plucked him away in 2017 and Gray has simply risen through the organization. John McKay is probably the top choice of many Vikings fans. The Los Angeles Rams have a strong front office. Just like the coaches under Sean McVay, a young Rams decision-maker is the next hot candidate for the next opening. McKay also has working experience with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. 

When making that early wishlist, I was looking at the Seattle Seahawks front office. I was initially focusing on Vice President of Player Personnel Trent Kirchner. Chad Alexander, Terrance Gray, and Kirchner had been my top trio for most of the offseason. I’m not sure why I focused on Trinchner over Nelson Teasley. Since the release of “the six,” my top trio is now Alexander, Gray, and Teasley. If I had to rank the six candidates, it might look like this:

1. Chad Alexander

2. Nelson Teasley

3. Terrance Gray

4. John McKay

5. RJ Gillen

6. Dave Ziegler

Honestly, I wouldn’t be disappointed with any of the six. It’s not like I know or have even talked to any of them. How could I possibly have an informed opinion? Somehow, I do. 

Vikings Add A Receiver

When on the field, Jalen Nailor had provided the Minnesota Vikings with a solid third receiver option for the past couple seasons. His departure for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency left a significant need in the roster. The Vikings carried that need through the remainder of free agency and the draft. Many, including this guy, were surprised the Vikings didn’t select a receiver in the draft. It appears they might’ve had a solution all along. Last week, former San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings visited the spectacular TCO Performance Center for a little meet-and-greet. He left without a deal. The past week has been a week of waiting and hoping. Last night, the Vikings reportedly signed Jennings to a one-year deal. 

Early in the offseason, there were murmurs that Jauan Jennings was seeking WR2-type money. Yesterday, there were reports that the 49ers had presented a $17 million offer on the table during last season. If those were his financial targets, it seems money was the reason he was still unsigned in May. Jennings had a steady climb over his five years in San Francisco. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. He spent his rookie season on the 49ers practice squad as he adjusted to the NFL. In 2021, Jennings made the roster, started a game, and posted five touchdowns. He made the best of his opportunity. For five years, he played in the receiver shadows of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. He took advantage of every opportunity and emerged as one of the league’s best blocking receivers. Jennings showed that he was much more than just a blocker on the game’s biggest stage. In Super Bowl LVIII, he caught a touchdown and threw for a touchdown as the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. He showed that he was much more than an effective blocker. He was a playmaker too. With over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns, Jennings was one of the more productive receivers in the league over the last two seasons. Perhaps, his contract demands weren’t so lofty. 

Jauan Jennings’ one-year deal with the Vikings is for $8 million. Incentives can boost it to $13 million. That’s a remarkable bargain for a player with his skills and production. It appears he’s betting on those skills in the Vikings offense to get more lucrative offers next offseason. There was a time this offseason when Jennings was my dream receiver for the Vikings. With his contract expectations and the team’s salary cap restraints, it felt like an impossible dream. Now, the Vikings have the best receiver trio in the league. 

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

That’s a lot of “Js.” It’s also a lot of receiving talent. With his blocking skills, Jennings also gives the Vikings the ability to go with a “heavy” personnel while still having a legitimate, downfield receiving threat. The free agency departure of Jalen Nailor was a significant loss. Adding Jauan Jennings flips that loss to a net gain. 

Throwback Thursday: Two Geniuses And A Ballboy

I’m currently reading Art Donovan’s appropriately named biography, Fatso. Donovan’s a fun story-teller. His description of the 1958 NFL Championship Game got me thinking about the coaches of the late-50s New York Giants. That turned into bringing back this “old” post. 

As with the lack of respect shown to any high school substitute teacher, the New York Giants assistant coach had no hope of bringing the team's offensive meeting room to order. But when the bespectacled offensive coach entered the room and simply cleared his throat, all fell silent.
     Pat Summerall leaned over to Don Heinrich and asked, "Who the hell is that?"
     "That's Lombardi," Heinrich replied, "and you'll know soon enough."

It's amazing now that there was a time when Vince Lombardi was an unknown offensive coach. That was the case in his 1958 introduction to Summerall. Lombardi would be called an offensive coordinator today. Even more amazing is that the Giants unknown defensive coach then was Tom Landry. Lombardi and Landry are football coaching icons. Thinking of them as unknown assistant coaches is like thinking of Bill Walsh as Paul Brown's slappy in Cincinnati and Bill Belichick as Ted Marchibroda's gofer in Baltimore. It just doesn't feel right.

1956-63 is considered the "golden years" of New York Giants football. They won it all in 1956. They played for it all in five of the six seasons from 1958-63. Only missing the title game in 1960. Jim Lee Howell was the head coach from 1954-60. He'd be the first to admit that Lombardi and Landry were the ones that actually coached the players. It's impossible to imagine a head coach today giving the freedoms to his assistants that Howell easily gave his brilliant assistant coaches. He never felt threatened by them and constantly acknowledged their skills and where the credit belongs. In fact, the head coach claimed that he was only there to make sure that the footballs were properly inflated. Howell was hired as head coach in 1954. He had the difficult task of replacing his own coach, the legendary Steve Owen. Tom Landry was already there as a player/coach but was made a full-time coach. Howell's first external hire was grabbing Vince Lombardi from Red Blaik's Army team. Howell's first order of business for his coaches was to catch the Cleveland Browns. Paul Brown's Browns were the NFL's dominant team as soon as they joined the NFL, following the folding of the All-America Football Conference, in 1950. The new kids on the block were the best kids on the block. The Browns played in every NFL title game from 1950-55. They won championships in 1950, '54, and '55. The schemes developed by Lombardi and Landry were done with the Browns in mind. Being in the same Eastern Conference, the Browns success was at the expense of the Giants success. The rivalry between the two teams became the  NFL's best in the 1950's. It only took two years for the two Giants assistants to get past the Browns. They were helped by the retirement of Browns quarterback Otto Graham following the 1955 title game. Still, everything came together for the Giants in 1956. Frank Gifford was the perfect back for Lombardi's power sweep/option attack. Gifford was the NFL's MVP that season. Landry's defense, led by rookie middle linebacker Sam Huff, was brilliant. Landry's scheme and Huff's play was making a football-curious nation aware of this new "middle linebacker" position. For the first time in an NFL stadium there were chants of "defense,defense, defense...." The Giants were on top of the football world. The unknown assistant coaches were becoming known. Lombardi's last game with the Giants was the 1958 NFL Championship game against the Baltimore Colts, the "Greatest Game Ever Played." The Green Bay Packers grabbed him. That went so well that the Super Bowl trophy is named after the former Giants assistant coach. Landry's last game with the Giants was the 1959 NFL Championship game, also against the Colts. The expansion Dallas Cowboys grabbed him. He became a fixture in Dallas for an amazing 29 years. His Cowboys won five Conference and two Super Bowl titles. The two unknown coaching assistants that shared the same sideline in New York in the '50s were on opposite sidelines for two classic League Championship games a decade later. Lombardi won both. Howell retired following the 1960 season. Allie Sherman, who took over the offense from Lombardi, took over for Howell. The team that Howell, Lombardi, and Landry built played in three straight NFL Championship games from 1961-63. The Giants lost the first two to Lombardi's Packers.

There's no denying the football brilliance and historical significance of Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. For nearly 35 years, one or both were cornerstones of the NFL. History has not been as kind to Jim Lee Howell. I've been guilty of too easily dismissing his importance to those great New York Giants teams. One of the most impressive aspects of Howell was that he simply didn't care if he got credit for the wins. He'd rather take the blame for a loss than take credit for a win. Fortunately, those Giants teams had far more wins than losses. Howell did far more than pump up the footballs. He should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame simply for managing the egos and demands of his assistant coaches. The ability of head coaches to manage and delegate authority is more appreciated today. Head coaches in the first half of the NFL's existence did much more scheming and teaching. With only a few coaches on a staff, they had to. Jim Lee Howell was one of the first coaches, if not the first head coach, to limit his duties to delegating and game managing. It was Howell that decided to send Pat Summerall out to kick about a 50-yard field goal against Cleveland in something of a blizzard in 1958. A field goal that Summerall made to force a playoff against the same Browns team a week later. A field goal that would eventually put them in the 1958 NFL Championship game. A field goal attempt that was strongly opposed by Lombardi and Landry.

The Search Is On

Last week, Minnesota Vikings ownership kicked off the team’s search for a new general manager with the following statement.

"With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, our search for the next general manager of the Minnesota Vikings is underway. This will be a thorough and deliberate process led by ownership, with support from a small internal advisory committee of senior leaders. We have also engaged respected firm TurnkeyZRG to assist in conducting a wide-ranging search that includes experienced football executives, emerging candidates and individuals with diverse professional backgrounds. Our focus is to identify a decisive leader with a clear vision for team building, strong communication skills and the ability to build alignment across an organization. Out of respect for all involved, we do not intend to publicly announce candidates and will provide further comment when the search is complete."

The Vikings general manager search has started and will proceed in secrecy. Very few things proceed in secrecy these days. That’s especially true of the NFL. The Vikings having no intention of publicly announcing candidates and interview requests doesn’t mean that someone else will have similar restraint. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported this morning that the Vikings have requested an interview with Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Terrance Gray. He’s a familiar name as he spent his formative scouting years with the Vikings. Prior to joining the Bills in 2017, Gray spent 11 years as an area scout for the Vikings. When Brandon Beane was hired as the Bills general manager in 2017, he hired Gray to be his director of college scouting. From there, Gray was promoted to assistant director of player personnel in 2021, director of player personnel in 2022, and assistant general manager in 2025. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer described him as being on the doorstep of a general manager opportunity for a couple years. It would be a nice story if Gray get’s that opportunity with the team for which he started scouting 20 years ago. 

Gray got his scouting start with the Vikings but his NFL start came with the Kansas City Chiefs. From 2003 to 2005, he worked with the team’s player development. In 2006, he joined a real team.

Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski as an internal candidate to get the full-time job. From all appearances, he did an excellent job coordinating the offseason and especially the draft. I’d prefer that he return to his job as salary cap wizard with perhaps a promotion and/or expansion of duties. Brzezinski is too valuable to the Vikings franchise to be on the annual chopping block. A general manager is always a bad draft away from being a former general manager. I’d rather see Brzezinski working with a new general manager than being that general manager. Doing so with someone he already knows could be a good start to a great franchise future. 

For what it’s worth, Terrance Gray is on my short-list of favorite candidates for the Vikings general manager job. The others:

Chad Alexander - Los Angeles Chargers Assistant General Manager

James Liifert - Houston Texans Assistant General Manager

May is an unusual time for major NFL team decisions like picking a new general manager but that’s the situation for the Vikings. Thanks to Tom Pelissero and his insider information, we know the first external candidate for the job. That candidate is Terrance Gray. With my limited information, he’s a damn fine start. The search for the Vikings next general manager is on. 

Possible Vikings Roster Additions

By my count, the Minnesota Vikings roster has 88 players. Undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson is among the 88. He’s an International Pathway player and exempt on the 90-man roster. As a result, there’s room for three roster additions. Who might those players be?

The possible additions begin with a familiar name. Harrison Smith. The Vikings franchise great has been mulling his retirement since completion of his 14th season. As a roster and salary cap formality, he was released earlier in the offseason. Personally, I’m not ready for a Vikings defense without Smith. If he’s yet to officially announce his retirement, I’m guessing that he’s coming back. Perhaps I’m being foolishly optimistic but I just don’t see a spring or summer retirement announcement. The longer he waits, the more likely it is that Harrison Smith returns for season #15. 

So Harrison Smith is roster addition #1. Two more. 

It doesn’t take a long review of the Vikings roster to find two positions of significant need. Neither position was addressed in the draft. Not only was neither addressed in the draft, one of the positions was significantly weakened. The Vikings traded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during the third round. There were a couple reasons the team’s top pass rusher was traded. The first reason was his contract demands. Two years after signing a four-year, team-friendly free agent deal, Greenard wanted a more player-friendly contact extension. Honestly, his play earned a better deal but the Vikings decided they couldn’t afford such an extension. The second reason was that Dallas Turner is ready for a bigger role heading into his third season. It’s a bold hope but if Turner plays to his potential, the trade of Greenard could be a net positive. Even if Turner effectively replaces Greenard, the outside linebacker depth needs some help. Selected in the second round, Jake Golday is an option. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets some edge rushing opportunities as a rookie. Tyler Batty and Bo Richter are young, formerly undrafted players with potential. The Vikings need a veteran outside linebacker option behind starters Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel. Initially, I liked the idea of adding A.J. Epenesa. Returning from an injury, he’s had a problematic offseason. At the end of March, it looked like he was signing with the Cleveland Browns. That ended with a failed physical. He recently visited with the Miami Dolphins. Who knows where he is in his recovery from injury? The Epenesa injury situation moved me on to an older but maybe more intriguing option. Jadeveon Clowney. At 33, he’s still playing at a high level. He managed 8.5 sacks with the Dallas Cowboys last season. That’s only a sack short of his career high. He started his career as such a freak athlete that he’s still a freak athlete after 12 years of defensive line work in the NFL. He always seems to be ready to play and has averaged over seven sacks over those 12 years. 

So, Jadeveon Clowney is roster addition #2. One more

Receiver is the third position of need. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the best receiver duo in the league. The Vikings need a third receiver to impact opposing defenses. Jalen Nailor had that role the past couple seasons. Tai Felton was drafted in the third round in the 2025 NFL Draft to potentially replace Nailor this season. As a rookie, Felton showed that he has a lot to learn when it comes to playing receiver in the NFL. The Vikings need a third receiver option with no questions? This one’s easy as the best option visited with Minnesota last week. After a nearly two-day meet-and-great, Juaun Jennings left without a contract agreement. I’m an optimistic sort and the guess here is that Jennings and the Vikings will reach an agreement on a contract. A Vikings receiving trio of Justin Jefferson - Jordan Addison - Juaun Jennings is a very exciting thing. 

So, Juaun Jennings is roster addition #3. 

Get it done. 

Vikings Defensive Line

Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings took a big free agent swing at boosting the talent on the defensive line. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, at the time, felt like great additions to a defensive line that only had Harrison Phillips as an established player. After trading Phillips to the New York Jets in the summer and cutting loose Allen and Hargrave, following a modest on-field return for those free agency dollars, earlier this offseason, the Vikings were left with an underrated and unheralded collection of defensive linemen. It’s a plucky, fun group with potential. Despite that potential, the Vikings approached last week’s NFL Draft with defensive line at the top of the need list. The position was addressed in the draft this season much like it was addressed in free agency last season. For what it’s worth, I’ll always prefer the draft approach. 

In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings went big, literally, with the selection of giant Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. If multiple broken foot issues hadn’t clouded his evaluation, Banks has the talent and potential to be a top-10 pick in nearly any draft. The draft is all about potential and Banks is loaded with potential. His ceiling is as high as a franchise-defining player. I was both surprised and thrilled with Caleb Banks as the Vikings pick in the first round. I was even more surprised and thrilled with Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange as the Vikings pick in the third round. I really liked that the team doubled-down on improving the defensive line. 

Minnesota has a great defensive line tradition. Over six decades of following the Vikings, I’ve been excited about a lot of the team’s defensive lines. This group has me excited.

Jalen Redmond

Caleb Banks

Domonique Orange

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Elijah Williams

Taki Taimani

Eric Johnson II

Monkell Goodwine

Despite a stuttering start to his professional career, Jalen Redmond has emerged as an impact player. He signed his exclusive rights free agent tender but he deserves a long-term deal. At 27, he’s definitely earned the riches and security of a long-term deal. I can’t wait to see him next to talented giants like Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The starting defensive line projects as:

Jalen Redmond - Domonique Orange - Caleb Banks

While I can’t wait to see that trio on the field, I really like the depth of Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Elijah Williams. Because I liked the potential of Rodriguez, Ingram-Dawkins, and Williams so much, there was a pre-draft thought that defensive line wasn’t the need that many made it out to be. I’m glad the actual decision-makers didn’t see it like I did. The position now projects as a team strength. 

With the unfortunate trade of outside linebacker backer Jonathan Greenard, there’s a chance that Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins might, on occasion, set up a little wider as a situational edge rusher. Drafted in the second round, linebacker Jake Golday might factor into the defensive front rotation. Even with the Greenard trade, the Vikings defense got better in the last week. It’s mostly because of the gigantic rookie duo of Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. I can’t wait to see them and this new Vikings defense on the field. 

Minnesota Vikings GM Search

Early May is supposed to be the start of some idle time in the NFL calendar. It’s the post-draft days with some minicamp action. There’s draft pick and scattered free agent signings. The Minnesota Vikings have picked this time to handle some serious football business. They are looking for a new general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired late enough in the process that Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf decided it better to wait until after the draft to find a new general manager. They were criticized by many for the wait but I agreed with it then and agree with it still. Adofo-Mensah was fired on January 30. A proper search would’ve lasted a few weeks. A new hire would’ve probably happened after the Scouting Combine and on top of the start of free agency. A wait was made easier with Rob Brzezinski in the building. He’s been a big part of the Vikings team-building process for all of the 2000s. It was easy to tap him as interim GM. Despite the constant honking of pundits against the decision, the Vikings draft evaluation process was probably more coordinated than it’s been in years. Enough so, that Brzezinski is a strong candidate for the GM job moving forward. If that happens, I wouldn’t be upset with it but I’d prefer he return to his old job. He’s too important to the Vikings franchise to be on the annual chopping block. An unfortunate aspect of the NFL general manager job is always being a bad draft, or two, away from looking for a new job. I’d rather Brzezinski not be in that sort of position. He’s too important to the organization. 

Three months ago, the Wilfs said that the new general manager search would start after the draft. The draft is in the past and the Vikings general manager search has started. Ownership said that it would be done in secret with the help of search firm TurnkeyZRG. I would’ve assisted for free. After Aofo-Mensah was fired, I made a GM Wish List. 

Chad Alexander - Chargers Assistant GM

John McKay - Rams Assistant GM

Mike Bradway - Assistant GM

James Liifert - Texans Assistant GM

Ed Dodds - Colts Assistant GM

Terrance Gray - Bills Assistant GM

Ryan Cowden - Patriots VP of Player Personnel

Andy Weidl - Steelers Assistant GM

Reed Burkhardt - Broncos Assistant GM

Trent Kirchner - Seahawks VP of Player Personnel

Most of the above, and some others, have made the list of potential candidates put out by the Athletic’s Alec Lewis and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. For some reason, a few pundits and some fans have tossed out Broncos GM George Paton as a possibility. How someone can suggest a currently employed GM as a possibility is a mystery to me. 

Three months removed from making that initial list of candidates, I’ve thinned it to the following:

Chad Alexander

James Liifert

Terrance Gray

Reed Burkhardt

Trent Kirchner

Again, I wouldn’t be against Rob Brzezinski getting the job but I’d prefer he didn’t. A negative to him even being a candidate is that it probably takes him out of the decision-making process. Of course, I’ve never met any of the candidates and only know them through their published history. So, it seems silly to even make a personal list of candidates let alone have a favorite. It’s what fans do. It’s definitely what this fan does. Chad Alexander has been my favorite from the start. James Liifert and Terrance Gray have since joined him as a trio of favorites. 

This is supposed to be the idle time. These are supposed to be the days waiting for draft pick-signing news. Maybe a free agent addition, or two. Instead, the Vikings decision-makers have a gigantic decision in front of them. It’s a decision that will significantly impact on the present and future of the franchise. They must get it right. 

A Vikings Lineup

The Minnesota Vikings had nine selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

1. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

2. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

3. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

3. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

3. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

5. Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

5. Chuck Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin

6. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

7. Gavin Gerhardt. C, Cincinnati

While the nine picks only had a 5:4 split between defense and offense, it felt very much like a defense-centric draft. That happens when four of the top five picks went defense. The four offensive players might eventually earn significant roles. Only one projects as an immediate starter. The impact of the five defensive players will be seen soon. At least, they better. A couple were selected with an immediate impact in mind. 

Here’s a look at a potential starting lineup for this season.

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
LT	Christian Darrisaw
LG	Donovan Jackson
C	Blake Brandel
RG	Will Fries
RT	Brian O’Neill
TE	T.J. Hockenson
WR	Jordan Addison
QB	Kyler Murray
RB	Aaron Jones
FB	Max Bredeson

Rookie fullback Max Bredeson was selected as an immediate heir to C.J. Ham. Bredeson’s sledge-hammer blocking will make an impact on the Vikings offense. Other than the free agent addition of quarterback Kyler Murray, the rest of the offense carries over from last season. Unlike last season, the offense, especially the offensive line, must stay on the field. 

Defense

DE	Caleb Banks
NT	Domonique Orange
DE	Jalen Redmond
OLB	Dallas Turner
LB	Blake Cashman
LB	Eric Wilson
OLB	Andrew Van Ginkel
CB	Byron Murphy Jr.
CB	Isaiah Rodgers
S	Josh Metellus
S	Jay Ward

I can not wait to see first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange incorporated into the defensive line. The Vikings had an interesting group of talented but unheralded defensive linemen but they had nothing like Banks and Orange. The two combine for about 660 pounds of moving, immovable football mass. The Vikings front, and as a result the entire defense, will look so different. For the pass three years, the schemes of defensive coordinator Brian Flores have been the driving force of a mostly successful Vikings defense. Now, Flores is able to pepper those schemes with some elite talent up front. While probably not first-team players in their first year, Jake Golday, Jakobe Thomas, and Chuck Demmings could earn impactful playing time. 

At the safety position, it’s still possible that Harrison Smith returns for his 15th season. 

Special Teams

K	Will Reichard
P	Brett Thorson
LS	Andrew DePaola
KR	Demond Claiborne
PR	Myles Price

One of the most intense competitions of training camp might be at punter. Both contenders are new to the team. Very veteran Johnny Hekker was signed this offseason. Georgia punter Brett Thorson was signed as an undrafted free agent. Despite going undrafted, Thorson was arguably the best punter in the draft. The only holdup with his candidacy for the position is that he never held in college. Maintaining a smooth kicking rhythm between Will Reichard, Andrew DePaola, and the holder might be as critical to the punting job as punting. 

Myles Price handled both kick and punt returns last season. I have sixth-round running back Demond Claiborne penciled in for the kick return job this season. 

There are only a handful of changes on offense, defense, and special teams but they are significant changes. Especially the defensive line changes.