Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Stephen F Austin defensive again Chuck Demmings (DB07) throughout the NFL Scouting Mix at Lucas Oil Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos
OTAs and minicamp are within the rearview mirror, and coaching camp can be right here in late July after the gamers and coaches take a month of trip, apart from Kyler Murray, who correctly says he’s sticking round and persevering with his efforts to grasp the Vikings offense throughout this downtime.
With that in thoughts, right here’s my checklist of the highest 15 issues I’ll pay closest consideration to when the Vikings open coaching camp and hit the sphere for the primary padded apply on August 3.
Jeff Diamond Has His Eyes on Vikings’ Greatest Summer time Questions
1. Kyler Murray: He had an uneven efficiency in OTAs and minicamp (together with two interceptions on the primary day of minicamp) as he handled the educational curve of mastering a brand new, advanced Kevin O’Connell-directed offense. This isn’t trigger for alarm until he struggles in coaching camp, in restricted snaps throughout the preseason video games, and particularly throughout the two days of joint practices with the Ravens in Week 3 of coaching camp.
I applaud his doing additional work on this lifeless interval as a sign that Murray realizes he has an incredible alternative to revitalize his profession with an excellent supporting forged led by elite WRs in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and his offensive line needs to be a prime unit if heart Blake Brandel is a high quality heart and the opposite starters keep wholesome.
Minnesota Vikings huge receiver Dillon Bell seems in team-produced content material after becoming a member of the group as an undrafted free agent. On June 8, 2026, the Vikings featured Bell in launched media as he continued offseason work in Minnesota, getting ready for a summer season roster battle and a possibility to earn a spot on the regular-season squad. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
Murray appears to be at a profession crossroads, and an enormous season will possible result in one other $50 million-plus-per-year contract with the Vikings or elsewhere. So he’ll clearly be the point of interest #1 in coaching camp for his coaches and fellow gamers, together with media and followers. Now he must carry out on the stage anticipated for a primary total choose and never complain about what number of reps he will get in coaching camp, which smacked of excuse-making when he made the rep feedback in minicamp.
2. J.J. McCarthy: O’Connell and gamers resembling Jefferson talked this offseason about McCarthy making constructive strides within the offense and along with his mechanics. I consider Murray and McCarthy will each begin video games this season, as accidents have been an issue for each. If Murray will get harm or struggles because the anticipated starter, McCarthy can be able to pounce on the chance, after which it may be robust for Murray to dislodge him, with McCarthy seemingly extra of the long-term reply on the place.
J.J. additionally needs to be cautious along with his public feedback and discuss team-first. Individuals—particularly within the nationwide media —are likely to downplay that McCarthy performed properly, profitable his final 4 begins with a passer score over 100 and a completion proportion round 64%. I actually haven’t given up on his future at 23 years previous, and I don’t suppose anybody at Vikings HQ has both.
3. Caleb Banks: O’Connell mentioned he thinks the No. 1 choose can be able to go on Day 1 of coaching camp. After seeing him standing round in minicamp, I’ll be mildly shocked if his damaged foot is healed to the purpose that he’s full go when the pads come on that first week of camp. If he’s working with the primary unit within the Ravens’ joint practices, that can be an enormous win for the group. And if he begins each recreation at defensive sort out this season, depend me as very shocked given his damage historical past.
Banks is being counted on to begin in his rookie yr, and maybe he’ll have a chip on his shoulder after many draft analysts mentioned he was a attain within the mid-first spherical. The Vikings want Banks and third-rounder Domonique Orange to be affect gamers on the D-line proper out of the gate in opposition to Inexperienced Bay on September 13.
4. Jake Golday: The second-round choose labored nearly completely at inside linebacker in OTAs and minicamp regardless of O’Connell saying on draft day that he envisioned Golday as a combo edge and inside backer along with his measurement, energy, and athletic skill. He ought to get a ton of reps at edge/exterior backer in camp because the Vikings want him to be the reduction/rotational edge rusher behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner to melt the lack of Jonathan Greenard. Comparisons have been made between Golday and Van Ginkel, so let’s see him in that spot.
Golday performed each edge and inside in faculty, so he has the flexibility and the athleticism to do both job. However with Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Ivan Tempo at inside backer, it’s apparent Golday’s best affect this season can be if he’s that third edge rusher/OLB and does it properly. I’ll be intently watching the place he traces up in camp and the way he appears to be like.
If Golday can’t be a contributor on the sting as a rookie, I believe there’s probability the group will attempt to signal a confirmed veteran move rusher resembling Jadeveon Clowney or Haason Reddick in the event that they’re nonetheless obtainable as a playoff caliber group has to have greater than two succesful edge rushers and I don’t see that type of manufacturing coming from the likes of Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss or Tyler Batty who’re different edge/OLBs in camp.
5. Blake Brandel: I believe the Vikings missed the boat on a number of high quality facilities in free company and within the early rounds of the draft. I don’t begrudge them if the gamers they took within the early draft rounds had larger grades. However the heart is so essential to the O-line and the quarterback by way of his tasks as a run blocker, move protector, and in making the road calls.
On Nov 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Minnesota Vikings guard Blake Brandel (64) went by way of his pregame routine at EverBank Stadium earlier than going through the Jaguars. The lineman has change into a flexible piece alongside the offensive entrance, working in numerous roles when accidents and lineup adjustments happen. His regular presence continues to supply worth for Minnesota’s offensive unit heading into vital stretches. Obligatory Credit score: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Photos.
Brandel has made 31 begins over his five-year profession, principally at guard, however he did begin a few video games at heart in reduction of the injured Ryan Kelly final season and appeared to do okay. If Brandel proves to be a high quality heart and the remainder of the O-line stays wholesome, the group ought to have one of many league’s greatest items.
6. Jakobe Thomas: The Vikings handed on prime safeties Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren within the first two rounds and waited till choose No. 98 within the third spherical to pick Thomas, whom the Vikings coaches and participant personnel workers extremely praised. Whether or not Harrison Smith returns or not, I believe Thomas nonetheless must play repeatedly as a rookie and shortly beat out Theo Jackson and Jay Ward for the third security spot if Smith is again, or the second beginning security spot with Josh Metellus if Smith retires.
Thomas must be the protection who can run with receivers deep and play beneath routes in opposition to tight ends, whereas additionally being a run stopper. I believe he’s a considerably under-the-radar vital participant within the secondary this season.
7. James Pierre: The ex-Steeler nook was signed in free company to be the Vikings’ third nook, who is predicted to get numerous snaps together with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, until fifth-round choose Charles Demmings supplants him. Pierre was focused by DC Brian Flores and DB coach Gerald Alexander, who each labored with Pierre in Pittsburgh.
With so many groups having three high quality huge receivers on the sphere on over half the snaps, the third nook is a vital place that quarterbacks will typically goal. Pierre must play properly, or Demmings has to come back on shortly.
8. Dallas Turner: He made huge strides in his second season as a 2024 first-rounder when he led the group with eight sacks and added 15 QB hits, 66 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 4 compelled fumbles. With Greenard gone, the stress is on Turner to change into a double-digit sack artist who strips the QB and likewise performs the run properly.
He’s nonetheless solely 23 years previous and appears to have an incredible future as a Professional Bowl-quality edge rusher. He must preserve hitting the burden room to get greater and stronger to go together with his 4.46 pace. An enormous yr for Turner can be an enormous boon to the protection.
9. Andrew Van Ginkel: Talking of vital items on protection, a wholesome Van Ginkel is a should after he missed 5 video games final season with a neck damage. His stats dropped from 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 79 tackles, and two Choose-6s in his Professional Bowl season of 2024 to seven sacks, 11 TFLs, 54 tackles, and no picks final season, however he was nonetheless impactful when he was wholesome and taking part in.
Van Ginkel is likely one of the most instinctual defenders I’ve ever seen when he’s at his greatest. He’s a game-changer that NFL offensive coordinators should account for, and he has to play properly for the Vikings’ protection to be a prime unit.
10. Justin Jefferson: He’s the most well-liked Viking amongst followers at coaching camp, and we’re at all times watching Jets in camp, so he has to make my checklist of gamers I’ll be listening to. We all know he received’t get any snaps in preseason video games, which is the good strategy by the coaches, however he at all times competes laborious in practices and joint practices. It is going to be enjoyable to see how properly he and Murray (and McCarthy) join in camp.
Jefferson is searching for an enormous bounce-back season after his manufacturing dropped from 103 catches for 1,553 yards and 10 TDs in 2024 with Sam Darnold to 84 catches for 1,048 yards and solely two TDs with McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer final season. And he’s additionally a group captain, so he’ll be a extremely motivated participant in camp and on into the season.
11. Demond Claiborne: The sixth-round choose brings the component of elite pace (4.37 within the 40) to the operating again corps. He was a dual-threat participant as a wonderful runner (5.1-yard common in 2025) and good receiving again (28 catches final season) at Wake Forest. He was additionally kick returner in faculty.
Vikings rookie operating again Demond Claiborne participates in rookie minicamp throughout Could 2026 on the TCO Efficiency Middle in Eagan. Minnesota chosen Claiborne within the sixth spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft after an achieved faculty profession at Wake Forest, the place he earned consideration for his burst, imaginative and prescient, and skill to contribute in a number of offensive conditions. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
We must always see numerous snaps for Claiborne within the preseason video games, and I anticipate him to be a crowd favourite along with his pace and agility. I’m excited to see how he performs and if he could be a viable choice as a 3rd again behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason this season, with a possible greater function sooner or later.
12. Charles Demmings: See No. 7 (James Pierre) above relating to Demmings potential battle for the third nook or at the least changing into the fourth nook who will get play time in sure defensive schemes and within the occasion of damage to the opposite corners.
He’s a 4.4 man with good measurement at 6-1, 193 kilos who can run with huge receivers and will be capable of play the run, nevertheless it’s an enormous leap from a smaller faculty, Stephen F. Austin, to the NFL. I need to see Demmings attempting to cowl the Vikings’ prime three WRs in camp—Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, and he ought to get numerous taking part in time within the preseason video games.
13. T.J. Hockenson: The 2-time Professional Bowl tight finish is now a few years faraway from his ACL damage late within the 2023 season that restricted him in 2024, after which his manufacturing was lessened by the QB carousel final season (51 receptions for 438 yards and three TDs).
The Vikings want the 28-year-old Hockenson to be again in his 2023 type earlier than the damage, when he had a career-best 95 catches for 960 yards and 5 TDs. I’ll be watching how he connects with the Vikings QBs and whether or not he seems to be an enormous a part of the offense as an intermediate receiver, together with how he does along with his run blocking.
14. Aaron Jones: After a stellar 2024 season with 1,138 dashing yards, 408 receiving yards, and 7 mixed TDs when he performed in each recreation, Jones missed 5 video games final season with varied accidents (most notably a hamstring that landed him on IR), and his stats dropped to 548 dashing yards, 199 receiving yards, and three mixed TDs.
He’s 31 years previous and took a pay reduce to return to the Vikings, however he can nonetheless be a dynamic participant when wholesome. How a lot does he have left within the tank? We’ll be expecting early clues at camp.
15. Brian O’Neill & Christian Darrisaw: It’s good for a group to enter coaching camp with out numerous contract drama. O’Neill is a prime proper sort out when wholesome. He turns 31 in September and is looking for an extension, as he’s within the closing yr of his contract. He’s a group captain, so I don’t anticipate him to be a hold-in as he was throughout a part of the offseason program (although he did apply at minicamp).
Let’s see how the brand new GM, Nolan Teasley, handles O’Neill’s contract. He can cut back his 2026 cap hit considerably from the present $23 million with a 3 or four-year extension, and that may very well be cash wanted so as to add a vet edge rusher.
Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Christian Darrisaw (71) traces up throughout first-half motion in opposition to an NFC opponent, Dec 7, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. The blindside protector continues to work again into type following a serious knee damage that affected his availability and consistency throughout the season. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos
And whereas I’m speaking about OTs, the Vikings want Darrisaw to return to prime type as a Professional Bowl-caliber left sort out who stays on the sphere after coping with the aftermath of his 2024 ACL damage that had him out and in of the lineup final season.
Across the NFL: Ideas on the persevering with Brendan Sorsby saga
The NFL has refused to permit Sorsby to take part in a supplemental draft and has instructed him to enter the 2027 draft. Sorsby’s lawyer has mentioned that’s a violation of the participant’s authorized rights and the CBA. Will Sorsby sue the league or ask the NFL Gamers’ Affiliation to file a grievance in an try to drive his entry?
It most likely could be greatest for all events if Sorsby would take this yr off whereas he collects his NIL cash from Texas Tech and continues his remedy for his playing points. However this case will most likely head to the courts or an NFL grievance listening to, so it’s going to possible be an ongoing saga over the following few months.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Govt of the Yr … Extra about Jeff Diamond
