A Minnesota Vikings fan watches the motion through the first half of a highway sport towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Subject. The scene was captured on Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago as Minnesota supporters stuffed sections of the stadium and represented the franchise throughout an vital NFC North matchup. Necessary Credit score: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports activities
By now, the Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 offseason is within the books, with coaching camp starting on August 1st and the common season six weeks after that. Whereas the membership has fired up some encouraging transactions, reminiscent of signing quarterback Kyler Murray and broad receiver Jauan Jennings, Minnesota could remorse a handful of offseason selections.
Ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = prime doable remorse), right here’s the record of things that might age poorly.
Vikings Wager Closely on Youth and Inner Growth
Carolina Panthers middle Cade Mays runs onto the sector earlier than a house sport at Financial institution of America Stadium. The pregame second occurred on Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte as Mays ready for regular-season motion and continued his function alongside Carolina’s offensive line through the closing weeks of the marketing campaign. Necessary Credit score: Bob Donnan-Imagn Pictures
4. Ignoring Veteran Facilities in Free Company
The Vikings had alternatives to deal with their middle place extra aggressively. They might have pursued free brokers like Cade Mays, Elgton Jenkins, Lloyd Cushenberry, Luke Fortner, or Tyler Biadasz. Alternatively, they might have drafted a middle reminiscent of Jake Slaughter, Connor Lew, Sam Hecht, or Logan Jones.
As an alternative, they selected to retain Blake Brandel as their major middle, a choice that accepts intrinsic danger.
Whereas Minnesota did draft Cincinnati middle Gavin Gerhardt within the Seventh Spherical, hoping he would possibly develop, counting on a Seventh-Rounder for an instantaneous affect is ill-advised, significantly for a group targeted on stabilizing the quarterback place and sustaining offensive momentum.
If Brandel performs nicely, the Vikings’ choice will seem shrewd and affected person. Nonetheless, if he struggles, this one will undoubtedly turn out to be an offseason selection that followers shortly criticize, given the obtainable options. In the end, they opted to belief their inner resolution.
3. Passing on All of the Draft’s Greatest RBs
In free company, the Vikings mentioned no due to halfbacks like Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker II — presumably too costly. As an alternative, they drafted Demond Claiborne from Wake Forest in Spherical 5 and re-upped with Aaron Jones at a diminished value.
Throughout the draft, Minnesota handed on these rookie tailbacks:
Kaelon Black | R3, San Francisco 49ers
Jonah Coleman | R4, Denver Broncos
Mike Washington Jr. | R4, Las Vegas Raiders
Emmett Johnson | R5, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Nicholas Singleton | R5, Tennessee Titans
Adam Randall | R5, Baltimore Ravens
For a franchise that has not linked on a rookie RB draft choose since Dalvin Cook dinner in 2017 and Alexander Mattison (to an extent) in 2019, one would possibly’ve anticipated extra emphasis on a brand new runner. No luck.
For youth at operating again, Claiborne and his 4.37 pace is the one huge hope.
2. Buying and selling Jonathan Greenard
The Vikings is perhaps simply effective at outdoors linebacker with Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Rookie defender Jake Golday might even play some hybrid ILB-OLB snaps. Early summer season clues additionally hinted that defensive deal with Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins might flip to OLB infrequently in 2026.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard celebrates after a defensive cease as teammates collect round him at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The play occurred on Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis throughout a matchup towards the Arizona Cardinals as Brian Flores’ protection managed momentum within the second quarter. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Pictures
Regardless, most Tremendous Bowl contenders don’t commerce their greatest defensive gamers, and so they for rattling certain don’t commerce high quality EDGE rushers to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota did that anyway, refusing to accommodate Greenard’s asking value of $25 million per season over the subsequent 4 years. The stress is now squarely on Turner.
1. A Crew That Has Drafted Poorly since 2022 Betting It All on 1st-Spherical DT with a Dangerous Foot
The departures of DTs Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in March had been no shock. Allen signed with Cincinnati, Hargrave with Inexperienced Bay, and Minnesota signaled a transition in direction of a youthful technique.
Merely selling Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins was by no means going to be the whole resolution. Whereas these gamers stay beneficial, the Vikings clearly seen them as depth slightly than major starters.
The attitude later instantly knowledgeable their draft technique. Minnesota devoted two of its first three picks to Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, clearly outlining the entrance workplace’s imaginative and prescient for rebuilding the defensive position’s inside. The message was easy: out with the previous and in with the brand new.
Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks with reporters throughout a media session on the NFL Scouting Mix contained in the Indiana Conference Middle. The interview befell on Feb. 25, 2026, in Indianapolis as Banks mentioned his preparation and draft outlook earlier than NFL evaluators and group personnel. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
Whereas Allen and Hargrave supplied expertise, their projected 2025 efficiency wasn’t compelling sufficient. The Vikings evidently opted to assemble their future defensive position round rising expertise slightly than established, albeit mediocre, veterans.
So, the stress is now on the rookies. Fast growth from Banks and Orange will validate the transfer. However, if the defensive position underperforms, questions will inevitably come up about whether or not parting with two confirmed veterans was untimely.
The issue with Banks? Properly, he’s suffered two separate foot accidents for the reason that summer season of 2025, together with a damaged foot on the 2026 NFL Mix. Huge males with foot accidents are likely to have problematic recoveries, although that’s not a assure.
The Vikings haven’t drafted nicely during the last 4 years, and whereas Banks has All-Professional upside when wholesome, it’s slightly bizarre that one of many NFL’s worst-drafting groups since 2022 would make the leap on a boom-or-bust rookie.
Hopefully, for the Vikings’ sake, Banks, as No. 1 on this record, will age poorly.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
