Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches OTA observe at TCO Efficiency Middle, with June 1 putting the offseason scene in Eagan, Minnesota, because the workforce works by way of highlights from spring drills. O’Connell oversees timing and set up whereas gamers transfer by way of observe reps throughout Minnesota’s early summer season preparation window underneath his teaching workers’s course. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings signed 4 foremost gamers in free company: quarterback Kyler Murray, broad receiver Jauan Jennings, cornerback James Pierre, and deal with Ryan Van Demark. After that, the membership entered the 2026 NFL Draft underneath interim normal supervisor Rob Brzezinski and traded exterior linebacker Jonathan Greenard throughout the occasion.
For these actions, ESPN afforded the Vikings a ‘B-‘ grade, and NFL.com was not far off with a ‘C+.’
Vikings Gamble Nonetheless Comes All the way down to Murray and Banks
Minnesota Vikings Govt Vice President of Soccer Operations Rob Brzezinski joins KFAN host Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich for a Mix dialogue, with Feb. 25, 2026 putting the interview in Indianapolis. Brzezinski explains roster-building philosophy and offseason technique as Minnesota’s entrance workplace prepares without cost company and draft choices throughout a pivotal analysis week. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
The Verdict on Vikings Offseason from ESPN
Seth Walder assigned an offseason grade to every NFL workforce this week, with Minnesota incomes the ‘B-‘.
He defined, “The best thing about the Vikings’ offseason is them signing Murray to a veterans minimum deal, which was possible due to his offsets from his contract with the Cardinals. It was a boon for Minnesota. Murray’s services would be worth many millions more on the free market, and he provides an answer at quarterback in the wake of J.J. McCarthy’s rough 2025 season.”
“The Vikings released veteran defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in March, consequences of ill-advised spending on the aging veterans the prior year. Those transactions left a hole at defensive tackle, which perhaps is why Minnesota reached for Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick in the draft, far earlier than he was expected to go (the Draft Day Predictor gave Banks only an 18% chance to be selected in the first round).”
Banks’s inventory fell due to two foot accidents he sustained because the summer season of 2025, together with one on the NFL Mix in February — a damaged foot.
“During the draft, the Vikings dealt Greenard, one of their best players, to the Eagles in exchange for two third-round picks. I don’t think it was worth it, especially in the current trade environment for high-end players. Despite only three sacks in 12 games last season, Greenard’s 23.2% pass rush win rate at edge would have ranked fourth at the position had he qualified,” Walder continued.
“The Vikings made a nice postdraft acquisition of Jauan Jennings on a one-year, $8 million deal. That’s good value for a No. 3 receiver, especially one with the upside Jennings showed in 2024, when he averaged 2.5 yards per route run.”
From NFL.com
That was the “good” grade. NFL.com’s Matt Okada handed Minnesota a ‘C+.’
After applauding the Murray signing, he wrote, “The rest of the offseason has been largely unimpressive, with the lowest free-agency spending in the league, per Over the Cap. The Vikes parted with a defensive stalwart in OLB Jonathan Greenard (trade), and safety Harrison Smith remains unsigned as of this writing. DTs Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were released after ineffective one-year stints.”
“The Vikings had a less-than-stellar draft, highlighted by what I viewed as a reach on Banks at No. 18 overall. Snagging Jennings on a cheap deal in May was a plus, but unfortunately, nowhere near enough to elevate an otherwise-lackluster spring.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard traces up on protection at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025 marking the NFC Wild Card matchup in Glendale, Arizona, towards the Los Angeles Rams. Greenard helps set the tone for Minnesota’s entrance, bringing stress and management because the Vikings attempt to sluggish a harmful postseason offense. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.
Per each publications, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles had particularly spectacular offseasons.
Hindsight Will Boil All the way down to Murray Signing and Banks Draft Decide
Offseason grades are identical to commerce grades and draft grades: they’re solely authentic with hindsight. Judging them now solely gives one thing to speak about and gauge public opinion. For instance, Walder gave the Seattle Seahawks a ‘B-‘ offseason grade in July 2025; they received the Tremendous Bowl seven months later.
The Vikings offseason marks can transfer into the ‘A’ vary if Murray cooks throughout his first season with Minnesota and prolongs his keep past one yr. The identical goes for Banks, who was a controversial decide on the time and stays so for some followers at the moment. If Banks performs and performs effectively, Minnesota will appear like rattling geniuses for seeing one thing different normal managers didn’t. If he fires up a redshirt season, the Vikings will look foolish.
In fact, wins will remedy all offseason grades, too. The Vikings haven’t received a playoff sport since 2019. It’s time to finish the drought.
Teasley Now in Cost
What’s extra, the Vikings sarcastically have already got a clear slate. The workforce’s house owners, the Wilfs, employed new normal supervisor Nolan Teasley from the aforementioned Seahawks 4 weeks in the past after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January. There’s a built-in repair if 2026 offseason strikes don’t quantity to a lot — Teasley had nothing to do with these transactions, and he’s at the moment assessing the roster and wage cap with recent eyes.
Seahawks assistant normal supervisor Nolan Teasley seems in a team-produced characteristic about Seattle’s draft course of and scouting operation, with Earlier than The Noise Episode 2 framing the front-office look. Teasley is proven round post-Mix analysis work as personnel workers assessment prospects, develop assessments, and put together draft choices inside Seattle’s broader planning course of that spring. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
Suppose the Vikings financial institution a successful report in 2026, together with a postseason journey — nice. Teasley will merely be alongside for the journey. If the marketing campaign goes pear-shaped, he’ll begin anew within the 2027 offseason.
Oddsmakers count on Minnesota to win 8.5 video games this season whereas ending final within the NFC North.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
