Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after the sport towards the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Pictures
Minnesota Vikings organized staff actions (OTAs) are underway, and coaching camp will start in two months. The franchise most likely received’t signal or commerce for too many new gamers, but it surely additionally has some burning inquiries to resolve.
Oddsmakers count on Minnesota to complete 8-9 or 9-8 and in final place within the NFC North; the Vikings have a protracted option to go in beating the percentages.
Nonetheless, within the meantime, these are the burning questions dealing with the membership, because the calendar turns to June.
Vikings Summer season Guidelines Begins with Smith, Banks, and Murray
Minnesota Vikings security Harrison Smith patrols the secondary throughout a preseason matchup towards the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. Smith has spent greater than a decade as one of many NFL’s most revered defensive backs, incomes a number of Professional Bowl choices and turning into a cornerstone of Minnesota’s protection. Aug. 29, 2015. Necessary Credit score: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports activities.
1. Will Harrison Smith Return?
Smith’s state of affairs has develop into considerably of a thriller: nobody is aware of what’s occurring.
The Vikings and their followers handled Week 18 of 2025 as if it have been his farewell, and that continues to be the final concrete indication from the 37-year-old security. He hasn’t formally retired, nor has he re-signed with Minnesota.
If he chooses to return for 12 months No. 15, he would probably play a major function in Brian Flores’ protection, probably logging over 400 snaps. The unusual half? June is a day away, and the Vikings are nonetheless unsure about whether or not their longtime security will return. It’s time for a verdict.
2. Will Caleb Banks Play Week 1?
Minnesota chosen Banks with a 1st-Spherical choose after a sequence of draft courses that left the franchise craving for extra younger expertise. The 2022 and 2023 drafts produced inadequate long-term prospects except for Jordan Addison, so Banks can’t develop into one other cautionary story.
His medical historical past added intrigue to the choose. Banks injured his foot throughout Florida’s 2025 coaching camp, performed three video games, declared for the draft, after which broke his foot on the NFL Mix in February. That damage, notably for a big defensive lineman, led many draft analysts to drop him to Spherical 2.
The Vikings had a distinct perspective. They chose him in Spherical 1, the place he was projected to go previous to the damage issues.
Now, right here’s the important thing level: if Banks is prepared for coaching camp in late July, Minnesota’s gamble will seem rather more affordable. If he’s not prepared for the common season, the optics will probably be horrid.
3. Will the Vikings Signal One other OLB?
The Vikings might convert DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to OLB and name it good. Which will remedy the OLB3 quandary. They may additionally groom rookie Jake Golday this summer season for hybrid ILB-OLB responsibility, like Golday’s teammate Andrew Van Ginkel. Selling Bo Richter or Tyler Batty for extra taking part in time is an choice, too.
Veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd celebrates on the sphere after serving to the Los Angeles Rams safe a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI. Floyd performed a key function within the Rams’ championship run and later turned a notable free-agent choice throughout a number of NFL offseason cycles. Feb. 13, 2022. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities.
If none of these transfer the needle, Minnesota should peek on the free-agent wire and determine if Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, or Leonard Floyd, for instance. make sense for the finances.
Which route will they journey?
4. Who Will get Extensions?
These gamers’ brokers can knock on the eventual new basic supervisor’s workplace door this summer season and request contract extensions:
Jordan Addison (WR)
Blake Brandel (C)
Blake Cashman (ILB)
Jordan Mason (RB)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Jay Ward (S)
It’s an enormous and eyebrow-raising listing. O’Neill makes probably the most sense for a direct extension; the deal he signed in 2021 is lastly drawing to an in depth.
Regardless of the way you cube it, although, the Vikings have about eight gamers who will need extra money earlier than too lengthy.
5. Who Wins QB1?
The Vikings insist it’s a real quarterback competitors between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. However sportsbooks recommend in any other case.
Minnesota signed Murray in March to a one-year, $1.3 million contract, a modest quantity since Arizona is protecting nearly your entire invoice. McCarthy began final season, however accidents and erratic play turned his first 12 months as QB1 right into a rollercoaster.
Quarterback Kyler Murray indicators his contract after becoming a member of the Minnesota Vikings throughout the 2026 NFL free-agency interval. The veteran passer arrived in Minnesota following his departure from the Arizona Cardinals, including expertise and competitors to the quarterback room because the Vikings continued shaping their roster for the upcoming marketing campaign. Mar. 12, 2026. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
Professional Soccer Community‘s Abhimanyu Chaudhary famous on the battle this week, “As of now, Murray is widely viewed as the favorite to win the starting job. He brings the experience of 87 career regular-season starts, a proven track record as a dual-threat quarterback, and is also well-trained to give the right answers to the media. More importantly, he’s stepping into Kevin O’Connell’s offense, the same system that turned Sam Darnold into an MVP candidate before Darnold left and won Super Bowl 60 with Seattle.”
“With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson surrounding him, Murray has the weapons to revive his career and potentially earn a lucrative long-term deal. McCarthy’s path forward is less certain because if Murray takes the starting job and performs well, the former Michigan standout will face a choice of either accepting a backup role and waiting for his opportunity in Minnesota or pursuing a trade to a franchise willing to give him a fresh start.”
Publicly, the entrance workplace and training employees are framing it as a professional competitors. Whereas which may be legitimate behind closed doorways, the betting market presents a distinct narrative, giving Murray roughly a 90% likelihood of securing the beginning job.
Total, this case will dominate the subsequent three months for the Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
