Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf throughout minicamp work in Eagan. The close-up shot captures the staff’s purple helmet, facemask, and sideline particulars as gamers continued offseason preparation earlier than coaching camp. June 2026. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
Most Minnesota Vikings followers are a minimum of semi-optimistic in regards to the 2026 marketing campaign, because the franchise onboarded Kyler Murray at quarterback in March, and Minnesota completed final season with a profitable file regardless of horrible quarterback effectivity.
However that doesn’t imply that every thing is hunky dory. Take into account the next listing of considerations with the common season 11 weeks away. The objects are counted right down to the principle concern.
Vikings’ Largest Flaws Nonetheless Reside on Offense
Minnesota Vikings guard Blake Brandel (64) traces up throughout the NFC Wild Card matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The veteran lineman dealt with one other postseason project whereas anchoring Minnesota’s offensive entrance in a playoff showdown. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.
4. Is Blake Brandel Sufficient at Middle?
The Vikings may need lastly solidified their middle place, and Brandel’s efficiency will decide if this resolution extends past 2025.
Slated to start out in Week 1, Brandel will assume certainly one of Minnesota’s most crucial roles. Robust play from him might imply the Vikings have discovered a long-term reply proper below their noses all alongside. Conversely, if he struggles, they are going to be again to looking for stability at certainly one of soccer’s most difficult positions.
Final season, Brandel started laying the groundwork, enjoying 383 snaps at middle and enhancing steadily all year long. What initially seemed to be a stopgap measure regularly developed into a real chance. Whereas his 61.4 Professional Soccer Focus grade isn’t spectacular, it demonstrates the dependability Minnesota requires on the place.
Dependability has at all times been Brandel’s hallmark. He steps up and capably handles starter duties when accidents necessitate his presence within the lineup. Final season, he performed all 17 video games, began 9, and took part in 64% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps with out turning into a legal responsibility.
His versatility stays his best asset. Brandel’s means to play guard, sort out, or middle makes him one of many staff’s most beneficial offensive linemen. This season, nevertheless, the main focus is squarely on middle, the place his play might lastly relieve Minnesota’s long-standing considerations in regards to the place.
The Vikings are placing numerous religion in a man who simply began enjoying middle on the age of 28.
3. The Depth at Guard and EDGE
These are the Vikings’ backup guards after Donovan Jackson and Will Fries:
Henry Byrd
Joe Huber
Vershon Lee
Delby Lemieux
Most NFL followers have by no means even remotely heard of these males. Is that an issue? Perhaps. The Vikings haven’t been in a rush to signal or draft guards this offseason. They might secretly love Byrd, Huber, Lee, or Lemieux.
However what in the event that they stink? What if that group isn’t game-ready? Minnesota’s offensive line was completely ravaged by accidents in 2025. If that occurs once more, a Sunday afternoon might function Byrd or Huber as a starter at guard. Would you are feeling nice about that?
For context, these guards can be found on the open market, as just a few examples:
Mekhi Becton
James Daniels
Will Hernandez
Greg Van Roten
Darren Wolfson mentioned on SKOR North airwaves final yr, “Walter Rouse, I’m told, his camp feels like there’s more of a pathway to playing time at some point at guard versus tackle. If you’re thinking Walter Rouse, draft pick last year, is more of a tackle, just saying, don’t sleep on the possibility of him playing guard, getting guard reps, working more so at the guard position, not the tackle position.”
Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson (74) and offensive sort out Walter Rouse (73) work by drills throughout minicamp on Jun. 10, 2025, on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility in Minneapolis. The younger offensive linemen continued creating chemistry whereas getting ready for coaching camp competitors. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Perhaps the repair is that easy, changing Rouse to protect and calling it good. It will make sense, too, as a result of Minnesota added two new tackles — the spot the place Rouse performs — this offseason: rookie Caleb Tieran and veteran Ryan Van Demark.
Rouse at guard might clear up the depth concern.
At outdoors linebacker, there isn’t a clear-cut OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. It could possibly be Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, or rookie Jake Golday. The Vikings aren’t accustomed to this drawback, however they created it themselves after they traded Jonathan Greenard two months in the past.
If Minnesota decides it wants one other veteran OLB, lots can be found on the open market, together with Jadeveon Clowney, who had a implausible season down in Dallas final yr.
2. Will the QB Plan Work?
Between Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer, the Vikings should have the quarterback scenario licked, proper? You’ll assume.
Nevertheless, Murray, McCarthy, and Wentz all have the identical concern — damage historical past. Murray missed 12 video games final yr. McCarthy missed seven. And Wentz was shut down proper earlier than Halloween. The expertise is there for Minnesota to resolve the QB drawback in 2025 and past, however what if accidents spoil every thing?
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray watches the sphere late within the second quarter on Sep. 26, 2021, in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Financial institution Discipline in Jacksonville. The veteran signal-caller surveyed the motion as Arizona remained in management throughout an early-season highway victory. Necessary Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs.
In that case, the Vikings can be again to sq. one at quarterback, particularly in the event that they miss the postseason, which could propel them to discover the 2027 NFL Draft for an additional try at discovering a quarterback of the longer term.
1. A As soon as-and-for-All Dedication to Working the Soccer
We publish this stat regularly — or some iteration of it each summer season — as a result of it simply hasn’t been rectified.
Vikings Dashing DVOA,NFL Rating,within the Kevin O’Connell Period:
2025: 13th2024: 20th2023: 27th2022: twenty seventh
Right here’s the principle drawback:
Vikings Dashing Playcall %NFL Rankingin the Kevin O’Connell Period:
2025: 19th2024: 18th2023: 30th2022: thirtieth
O’Connell should decide to operating the soccer. Till he does, his staff’s offense won’t ever attain its zenith. It’s so simple as that. Run the ball. It could actually’t get any extra elementary.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
