Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
The Minnesota Vikings hope to enhance or preserve their contemporary new 14-win customary after practically successful the NFC North in 2024 with Sam Darnold on the helm.
3 Certainties of the Vikings Offseason So Far
The membership now has treasured cap area to spend — lastly — and may open a Tremendous Bowl window if quarterback J.J. McCarthy seems to be the actual deal.
NFL free company begins in about 4 weeks, and the 2024 NFL Draft is 74 days away, so there’s loads of time to invest in regards to the franchise’s plans. However these are the three objects onlookers know for positive in regards to the 2025 offseason. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most vital).
3. Inside Offensive Line Is a Precedence
The Los Angeles Rams set an NFL playoff report for 9 sacks, knocking Sam Darnold flat 9 occasions in Minnesota’s Spherical 1 postseason loss.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell was positive to name out the trenches after the loss. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell instructed reporters.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Whereas iOL change shouldn’t be completely assured, it might be bizarre for O’Connell to name-drop that part of his depth chart as needing enchancment … after which do nothing about it through the offseason.
Minnesota will possible find yourself with a brand new middle + guard or two.
2. Brian Flores Will Be Again for 12 months No. 3
Flores interviewed for jobs with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets. These groups later employed different candidates.
One NFL emptiness stays open: the New Orleans Saints’ high job. Flores has not interviewed for that place and possibly wouldn’t need to if requested. Kellen Moore, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator, is the odds-on frontrunner to fill it.
Due to this fact, barring a last-minute reversal across the NFL, Flores will likely be again in Minnesota for 12 months No. 3.
1. Kevin O’Connell Right here for the Lengthy Haul
On January twenty first, about one week after the Vikings’ season prematurely ended, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “More years in Minnesota: Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract extension, per sources. He was scheduled to be entering the last year of his contract, but no longer. Now that their head coach extension is done, the Vikings also working an extension for their GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.”
The offseason didn’t get too far alongside earlier than Minnesota’s brass locked in O’Connell for the subsequent 5 years.
The person received Coach of the 12 months 2.5 weeks later.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.
