Minnesota Vikings broad receiver Jauan Jennings speaks with reporters after OTA follow, Might 27, 2026, on the TCO Efficiency Middle in Eagan, Minnesota. Jennings mentioned becoming a member of the Vikings, adjusting to a brand new offense, and the expertise surrounding him as Minnesota continued its offseason program with organized group actions throughout the spring. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
Once I first started my NFL entrance workplace profession again within the days of Bud Grant, Fran Tarkenton, and the Purple Folks Eaters, the one gamers I noticed within the offseason had been the brand new draft picks for a two-day rookie camp. I didn’t meet vets similar to Tarkenton till the primary day of coaching camp at Mankato State College in late July.
There have been no OTAs or obligatory minicamps. Not even an organized group offseason strength-and-conditioning program for the veterans.
Instances definitely have modified because the salaries for NFL gamers and coaches have skyrocketed in comparison with a number of a long time in the past. Solely star gamers earned six-figure salaries again then, and plenty of gamers had different jobs within the offseason to complement their revenue.
Minnesota’s Spring Exercises Might Tweak A number of Place Teams
Immediately, with the minimal wage at $885,000 and the typical wage over $3 million, gamers know they have to be current and work exhausting to enhance their craft and understanding of the playbook through the group’s offseason program, or they threat falling behind different gamers they might be competing with and different groups across the league.
Thus, OTAs and minicamps have taken on an essential function in participant/group growth main into coaching camp, which is anticipated to open the final week in July.
Listed here are the issues I’ll be paying essentially the most consideration to throughout the 10 scheduled OTA classes that wrap up the week of June 15, in addition to the June 9/11 minicamp.
Quarterbacks
We are able to anticipate to listen to Kevin O’Connell praising all 4 QBs in his media classes—Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. O’Connell will say Murray is working exhausting and doing an excellent job selecting up the system. He’ll say McCarthy seems stronger and has an excellent grasp of the offense, and Wentz has recovered from his shoulder surgical procedure and brings vet savvy to the QB room. And that Brosmer is a gifted work in progress.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addresses reporters following OTA follow, Might 27, 2026, on the TCO Efficiency Middle in Eagan, Minnesota. McCarthy mentioned the depth of Minnesota’s quarterback room, offseason coaching work, and constructing chemistry with veteran quarterback Kyler Murray because the Vikings continued organized group actions throughout the spring program. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
What O’Connell gained’t say in Might or June—and possibly not till mid-August–is who his beginning QB shall be on September 13 when the Packers come to city for the common season opener. He’ll proceed to say it’s an “open competition,” which is what he ought to be saying at this early juncture.
We are able to speculate who the coaches want to begin (virtually definitely Murray if he stays wholesome) based mostly on who’s taking the primary reps with the opposite offensive starters at minicamp practices.
The opening couple of sequence within the first preseason sport on the Giants on August 15 could inform us extra. And positively the August 19-20 joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens on the Vikings’ TCO facility ought to clinch it if O’Connell hasn’t formally introduced his alternative by then.
As for OTAs this week and subsequent week earlier than minicamp, each Murray and McCarthy ought to get an equal variety of reps with the beginning offensive line, prime broad receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, No. 1 tight finish T.J. Hockenson, and the RB combo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
Wentz and Brosmer probably shall be throwing to the non-starters (and I wish to see sixth-round operating again Demond Claiborne flash his 4.37 pace out of the backfield this offseason or definitely in coaching camp and preseason video games, and see if final 12 months’s third-rounder Tai Felton can take a giant step ahead at broad receiver after a non-productive rookie season).
Defensive Line and Edge Rushers
Will first-rounder Caleb Banks take part in any respect in group drills earlier than coaching camp as he continues his restoration from foot surgical procedure? Virtually definitely not, based on the intel we’ve heard. He’s taking part in classroom work and psychological reps—maybe in some walkthroughs—however he’s not anticipated to hit the sector till the beginning of coaching camp, which provides him two extra months of rehab.
We all know Jalen Redmond will begin on the D-line, and Banks is a probable starter if he’s wholesome and rapidly will get on top of things in coaching camp. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if there are any clues in OTAs and minicamp about who has a leg up for the opposite beginning spot amongst returnees Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and Levi Drake Rodriguez, and third-round DT Domonique Orange.
The fact is that the very best defensive strains have an efficient rotation, and that’s certainly what DC Brian Flores is hoping for from this younger group, which might change into a group energy.
Vikings linebacker Jake Golday seems throughout a Cincinnati Bearcats Soccer characteristic interview launched on Aug. 8, 2024, as fall camp preparations intensified forward of the school season. Golday mentioned his growth and function inside the program whereas taking part in a behind-the-scenes digital phase spotlighting Cincinnati’s linebacker room and offseason preparation course of. Necessary Credit score: Cincinnati Bearcats Soccer-YouTube.
I’m intrigued by what the coaches do with second-round LB Jake Golday, who performed defensive finish and inside linebacker in faculty. I used to be against buying and selling a confirmed edge rusher in Jonathan Greenard except the group didn’t consider he might keep wholesome after his shoulder points final season. Andrew Van Ginkel is a terrific participant, however he’s had harm points, and I like how Dallas Turner got here on final season with a team-leading eight sacks. However who’s going to be the third edge participant in a rotation, or within the case of harm to a starter?
I wish to see if the coaches give Golday some minicamp reps at OLB/Edge, after that was the indication when he was drafted. O’Connell says Golday is first studying the within linebacker spot, the place he would again up a wonderful beginning duo in Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson. However with Ivan Tempo additionally right here as a backup ILB, the very best first-year affect for Golday can be as a rotating edge rusher who can drop into protection (thus the athletic comparability between Golday and Van Ginkel). However we could not see that develop absolutely till later in coaching camp or on into the common season.
Safeties and Third Nook
Tons to dissect right here. Will Harrison Smith return for his fifteenth season, which ought to be the hope for the teaching employees and group? If he’s certainly coming again, I’m positive the coaches would like to see him on the sector at minicamp because the chief of the secondary.
How rapidly can third-round security Jakobe Thomas be taught the protection and the calls for of the security positions? He’s purported to be a wise and instinctive participant. He then ought to have the ability to beat out Theo Jackson and Jay Ward for the third security spot (which the Vikings make the most of of their protection pretty usually) and push Josh Metellus because the season goes on for the No. 2 spot except Smith retires. Then the group has to hope Metellus and Thomas could be a strong beginning duo.
On the third nook, I’ll be watching free agent signee James Pierre and speedy fifth-rounder Charles Demmings to see how they do in protection in opposition to the Vikings’ elite broad receivers. And what’s up with now third-year nook Dwight McGlothern, who appeared like a future star in 2024 coaching camp however has not but pushed his means into an even bigger function?
Reichard/Hekker/DePaola
This shall be extra of a storyline in coaching camp and preseason video games, however the departure of punter/holder Ryan Wright to the Saints in free company pressured the Vikings to signal 36-year-old Johnny Hekker to work because the punter and holder for all-pro kicker Will Reichard.
Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) strains up a subject purpose in opposition to the New England Patriots within the third quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures
There shall be hundreds of reps on subject targets and additional factors throughout OTAs, minicamp, and coaching camp, and the chemistry must be nice amongst Reichard, Hekker, and snapper Andrew DePaola, main into the common season, when there shall be loads of shut video games as standard. So we’ll see how this trio progresses within the subsequent month.
A number of reps for Brandel
The middle spot shall be a focus when testing the offensive line. Blake Brandel wants all of the reps he can get as he takes over because the beginning middle, and we’ll see if seventh-rounder Gavin Gerhardt seems like a participant who can push Brandel sooner or later and initially beat out Michael Jurgens (as backup middle) in coaching camp.
The OTAs and minicamp are essential for all of the facilities at a place that may very well be an issue this season.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Govt of the 12 months … Extra about Jeff Diamond
