Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander bends all the way down to retrieve his helmet earlier than kickoff towards the Chicago Bears on Dec. 29, 2019, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. Alexander ready alongside teammates forward of the NFC North matchup as Minnesota closed the common season with a divisional contest towards Chicago at residence. Obligatory Credit score: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports activities.
New Vikings GM Nolan Teasley has hit the bottom operating in including a number of new employees members to his participant personnel employees and scouting division whereas parting methods with a number of others. Will GM Teasley and his new additions (together with former Bears GM Ryan Tempo) now take a tough take a look at Vikings positions of want with OTAs and minicamp within the rearview mirror and coaching camp about six weeks away?
Teasley has made just a few participant strikes in including some younger gamers who do not make headlines however might change into good depth gamers. However is there a splashy transfer on the horizon after the Vikings quickly get Brian O’Neill prolonged and decide up about $13 million in cap room to deliver their whole cap house for his or her Prime 51 to round $27 million?
As Teasley and Firm — together with Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores representing the teaching employees —analyze the roster, they absolutely can establish a pair positions the place assist is required.
GM Teasley and The Vikings’ Prime Roster Wants
There are not any extra high facilities hanging on the market so it’s on Blake Brandel to show he is usually a high quality middle. The remainder of the offense seems to be in good condition with the extensive receivers an apparent energy and the quarterback derby between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy actually probably the most important resolution forward for O’Connell this season (and for Teasley and O’Connell in 2027).
Defensively, I consider Flores is happy about his line of defense depth with the opportunity of two rookie starters if Caleb Banks is wholesome and Domonique Orange develops shortly within the Vikings’ scheme. The corners appear to be OK if free agent signee James Pierre and fifth-round decide Charles Demmings are high quality corners behind starters Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. The within linebackers are a workforce energy with Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Ivan Tempo, and second-rounder Jake Golday.
Nov 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (51), linebacker Ivan Tempo Jr. (0), cornerback Byron Murphy (7), and out of doors linebacker Dallas Turner (15) have fun after recovering a fumble that was later dominated useless throughout second-quarter play towards the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. The protection confirmed excessive vitality regardless of the reversal. Obligatory Credit score: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Pictures.
Which brings us to the 2 areas I believe are probably the most shaky heading into coaching camp — depth at edge rusher and beginning safeties.
I believe the coaches will persuade Harrison Smith to return for his fifteenth season and with Smith, third-rounder Jakobe Thomas, and Josh Metellus, the protection spot ought to be in good condition (and Theo Jackson and Jay Ward can battle it out for the fourth security spot however the coaches can’t be excited concerning the place if Smith decides to retire).
But when the cross rush is among the many finest within the league, then the safeties don’t essentially need to be elite though it will be good if Thomas shortly emerges and pairs with Smith as Metellus continues to play his hybrid security/linebacker function.
Until Golday shortly emerges as a strong edge rusher (as indicated on draft day) along with his potential to play inside ‘backer, we’ll need to proceed to harp on the ill-advised resolution to commerce Jonathan Greenard, an elite edge rusher when wholesome until a vet free agent of renown is introduced aboard.
As O’Connell, Flores, and GM Teasley and his employees take a look at the sting rusher group, they need to be involved about who will likely be within the rotation to offer Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner a break since speeding the passer is likely one of the most bodily demanding jobs in soccer. And I’ve all the time believed cross rushers are the second most necessary place within the NFL after quarterback (I’m going again to one thing Bud Grant usually mentioned—“give me a great quarterback and a fourth-quarter pass rush”).
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) celebrates recovering a fumble by towards the Detroit Lions within the fourth quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures
Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss are all former undrafted gamers who could grow to be respectable gamers however at this level, they’re not going to strike concern in QBs and OCs across the league. Golday appears to be the participant of potential promise because the rotational participant on the place on the present roster however we’re speaking a couple of rookie who’s unproven within the NFL.
Enter Teasley and the Vikings’ new participant personnel workforce.
Who’s nonetheless obtainable? The highest two edge rushers nonetheless on the free agent market are Joey Bosa (5 sacks, 5 compelled fumbles, and 42 pressures for the Payments final season whereas making $12.6 million however his cap hit was much less with voidable years on the deal; Bosa has 77 profession sacks over 10 years) and Jadeveon Clowney (8.5 sacks and 32 pressures for the Cowboys who paid him a discount $3.45 million; 66.5 profession sacks over 12 seasons).
Sep 29, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks outdoors linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) returns an interception for a landing towards the Arizona Cardinals throughout the first half at State Farm Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports activities
Haason Reddick is one other veteran edge rusher of lesser potential at this stage of his profession in comparison with Bosa and Clowney and he was extra dear at $14 million in 2025. Reddick had 2.5 sacks and 23 pressures for the Bucs final season and has 61.5 profession sacks over 9 seasons.
I’ve to consider Teasley, O’Connell, and Flores are kicking the tires on these three vets, particularly Bosa and Clowney who will surely improve the Vikings edge rusher group. And I believe the workforce can construction a deal that may not be troublesome to soak up on their wage cap and will make the Vikings protection extra formidable.
Ideas on Brendan Sorsby getting into the NFL
To start with, I’d be extraordinarily shocked if the Vikings put a draft alternative bid on the proficient however problematic Sorsby in a possible supplemental draft if the NFL certainly schedules one for the previous College of Cincinnati quarterback. I believe the Vikings are going to stay with their present QB group and allow them to battle it out for this season and the longer term.
Sorsby signed with Texas Tech this yr solely to be implicated in a scandal that concerned inserting at the least 40 bets on his personal workforce whereas at Indiana and was dominated ineligible by the NCAA for putting greater than 9,000 bets for at the least $90,000 whereas a school participant. He was granted reinstatement by a Texas decide earlier than the Large 12 raised a ruckus and Sorsby in the end utilized for the NFL supplemental draft.
He’s an enormous QB with a robust arm and operating potential who most scouts fee as a primary, second, or third-round expertise. The massive questions are if he’s kicked his playing behavior, whether or not the NFL will droop him upon getting into the league, how lengthy that suspension could be, and if there are groups prepared to danger a premium draft decide (that may be then deducted from their 2027 draft decisions) in the event that they choose him.
Bernie Kosar was a first-round decide within the 1985 supplemental draft by the Browns and had a nice profession that included a number of playoff years and a Professional Bowl season in 1987. Corridor of Famer Cris Carter entered the NFL as a fourth-round supplemental draftee of the Eagles. Nevertheless it’s been a few years since a high prospect similar to Sorsby has been obtainable on this method and the luggage he brings is a large crimson flag.
Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby seems to be on throughout the spring soccer sport, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium. © Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures.
If my workforce wanted a greater QB — and I’m considering of the Jets, Cardinals, and Browns right this moment — I’d totally examine and vet Sorsby as to the place his playing dependancy stands as he comes out of remedy.
Playing is such a no-no within the NFL and all professional sports activities that I’d be extraordinarily cautious about bringing him on my workforce and I in all probability would cross, particularly for a participant on the highest profile place of quarterback and contemplating the 2027 draft is predicted to function a wonderful QB class headed by the likes of Arch Manning and Dante Moore.
However when gamers with vital off-field baggage similar to Deshaun Watson and Tyreek Hill get huge contracts from groups similar to Cleveland, Kansas Metropolis, and Miami, it’s probably there will likely be a number of groups who put in a draft alternative bid for Sorsby and I count on it to be a third-round decide and presumably as excessive as a second-rounder. Then Sorsby will likely be underneath intense scrutiny from the league, his workforce, the media and the followers for the following a number of years and presumably for his complete profession.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Govt of the 12 months … Extra about Jeff Diamond
