Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Hopes
1. No injuries. This is probably too hopeful. There’s always injuries in football. No major injuries? Even minor injuries can cause significant issues. Justin Jefferson tweaked a hamstring early in camp last season and pretty much sat until the season started. This did nothing for the developing on-field relationship between Jefferson and J.J. McCarthy. It showed during the season. Even minor injuries can be a big problem. Despite being unrealistic, my #1 hope for the Vikings, at all times, will always be “no injuries,”
2. This is where my Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Hopes really starts. All eyes will be on the quarterback competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. It should be fun and I’m looking forward to it. Competition is a good thing and the team will be better for it. My hope is that the media coverage of the competition will be focused on what takes place on the field rather than off it. I do not give a shit about whether McCarthy and Murray enjoy their lunches together. Keep the coverage on the fun football stuff.
3. Harrison Smith returns for his 15th season. I’m not ready to say goodbye to the great #22.
The remaining hopes aren’t so much hopes as things I’m excited to see.
4. Frank Smith’s impact on the Vikings offense. In particular, I’m excited about his impact on the Vikings run game. After creative run as the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins under head coach Mike McDaniels, Smith was hired as the Vikings assistant head coach. It likely took that elevated title to get Smith over teams that perhaps wanted him as an offensive coordinator. It might be a bit of a stretch but I see his addition to the Vikings offense as almost as significant as the retention of Brian Flores to the Vikings defense. McDaniels and Smith crafted some of the most innovative blocking and run schemes in the league. After several years with a fairly stagnant run game, the Vikings could use a bit of that.
5. This is an extension of #3. I’m excited to see the offensive line come together under the guidance of Frank Smith and offensive line coach Keith Carter. Reports from the offseason workouts had the offensive line working with a tempo and intensity that hasn’t been seen in Minnesota for a while. Offseason workouts are supposed to be the learning phase of the process and the Vikings front was practicing with energy and intention. It was a hire that seemed to come under the radar but I’m also curious about the addition of Derek Windhime as assistant offensive line coach. He comes for the college level. I like the infusion of something a little different. It might still be football but the college game is very different from the NFL game. Windhime did some fun stuff as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Coastal Carolina.
6. The Vikings defensive line. I might be more interested in the development and evolution of the Vikings defensive line than I am with the quarterback competition. The quarterback thing will work itself out and the team will be better for it. After releasing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave and “replacing” them with first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange, the defensive line is filled with young and talented football players. With a fascinating path to the NFL behind him, Jalen Redmond emerged as an impact player last year. In two seasons, 2024 seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez has worked to establish himself as a young player on a steady rise. 2025 fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins showed potential as a versatile lineman in his rookie season. As did Elijah Williams as an undrafted rookie. Redmond, Rodriguez, Ingram-Dawkins, and Williams are emerging as an impactful collection of young, fun, undrafted, late-round football players. Even if the Vikings hadn’t added used a couple of top draft picks on Banks and Orange, I’d be excited about the defensive line. Having done so, the Vikings now have a deep group with high-end talent and very much underrated talent. In his three years as the defensive coordinator, Brian Flores has often had to scheme pressure. With the added and developing talent now at his disposal, the Vikings defense should be able to create pressure with talent rather a reliance on scheme. I can’t wait to see this defensive line on the field.
7.. Dallas Turner. I didn’t like the draft day trade of Jonathan Greenard. I get it but I didn’t like it. The biggest reason I get the trade is Dallas Turner. While I prefer the edge trio of Andrew Van Ginkel, Greenard, and Turner, I love the edge duo Van Ginkel and Turner. Trading Greenard fully unlocks Turner. I can easily see Dallas Turner ripping up the league.
8. About this time in 2022, I was excited to see in training camp a Vikings rookie class topped by Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth Jr., Ed Ingram, Brian Asamoah, and Akayleb Evans. In particular, I expected Cine, Booth, Asamoah, and Evans to be the building blocks of a great Vikings defense. Only four years later and none of those players are on the roster. After the departures this offseason of Jalen Nailor and Ty Chandler, none of the 10-member draft class of 2022 are on the roster. That’s terrible drafting. It should make it difficult to get excited about another draft class but I’m too optimistic to ever be cynical. I’m excited about the Vikings 2026 draft class. I already mentioned Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. They are just the start.
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
I believe Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jakobe Thomas, and Max Bredeson could all emerge as starters as rookies. Jake Golday, Chuck Demmings, and Demond Claiborne should make an impact as rookies and eventually join Banks, Orange, Thomas, and Bredeson as franchise fixtures. Caleb Tiernan could be the right tackle heir to Brian O’Neill. It’s an intriguing draft class and it’s easy to get excited about the potential of each of the rookies.
Two weeks out and it’s easy to get hopeful and excited about this Minnesota Vikings football team.
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