Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches minicamp work from the follow discipline in Eagan. O’Connell continued overseeing offseason preparation as Minnesota evaluated roster battles, quarterback timing, and early set up earlier than coaching camp. June 2026. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings put minicamp behind them final week, and it’s time to start out enthusiastic about coaching camp, which begins in late July. Oddsmakers consider Minnesota will win roughly eight or 9 video games this season, so it’s as much as head coach Kevin O’Connell and buddies to show them improper.
Alongside the way in which at coaching camp, a handful of gamers will probably be below extra strain than most. These are these males, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = participant below probably the most strain).
Vikings’ Roster Bubble Has Actual Names This Summer season
Oklahoma offensive lineman Walter Rouse participates in drills throughout the 2024 NFL Scouting Mix on Mar. 3, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The athletic blocker showcased his motion expertise earlier than finally listening to his identify referred to as within the NFL Draft. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs.
5. Walter Rouse (OT)
Rouse couldn’t have loved the offseason — except the Vikings transfer him to protect.
Minnesota added veteran Ryan Van Demark and rookie Third-Rounder Caleb Tiernan, placing Rouse on the again burner as a result of neither of these males is slated to be a fourth depth deal with on the depth chart. Consider it this manner: if Rouse is shifted to protect, he’s not below very a lot strain. If he stays a deal with, it will likely be troublesome to keep up a roster spot with Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Van Demark, and Tiernan in the way in which.
4. Ivan Tempo Jr. (LB)
Minnesota began the offseason with ginormous query marks at off-ball linebacker. Eric Wilson was a free agent, so was Tempo Jr. The crew dropped rookie Kobe King out of nowhere throughout the 2025 common season and likewise booted Austin Keys off the roster.
Then the Vikings re-signed Wilson and Tempo Jr. and drafted Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday. Blake Cashman can be below contract via the tip of 2026.
If Golday is deployed as an ILB and he’s game-ready in September, Tempo Jr. might be an under-the-radar lower casualty.
3. Tai Felton (WR)
Felton was floating alongside this offseason, relishing life after Minnesota drafted no rookie wideouts in April. Quickly after, interim common supervisor Rob Brzezinski landed Jauan Jennings in free company, and he’s on the town because the Vikings’ finest WR3 since Jake Reed, at the very least on paper.
UDFA wideout Dillon Bell has additionally turned heads at minicamp. Kick and punt return man Myles Value is probably going protected within the common season.
Felton should stand off the web page in August. The man who drafted him in Spherical 3 final 12 months acquired fired in January. There’s a world the place the Vikings hold Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jennings, Value, and Bell on the 53-man roster and finish the Felton period after only one season.
It’s all as much as him.
Minnesota Vikings vast receiver Tai Felton (13) warms up earlier than the preseason opener on Aug. 9, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. The rookie wideout ready for his first NFL exhibition whereas competing for a significant function in Minnesota’s passing assault throughout coaching camp. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
Our Brevan Bane famous on Felton earlier this month, “Now that the Vikings have signed WR Jauan Jennings to be WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, things are looking a bit murky for Tai Felton. Maybe, he’s still in the long-term plans since Jennings is on a one year deal. However, it’s not a great look for those that have high hopes for Felton to be a major piece of the Vikings’ offense.”
“The Vikings likely do value Felton’s special teams ability, and to be fair, that is how Adam Thielen got his start in Minnesota. He grinded a couple seasons away on the special teams unit, and played so well that he eventually got put into a major role in the offense. Maybe that’s the scenario we’re dealing with here with Felton, but that is quite unlikely.”
It’s time to search out out if Felton is the true deal — or a wasted draft choose, which has been all too frequent in Minnesota since 2022.
One factor is for certain: Felton has the velocity to thrive.
2. Theo Jackson (S)
Harrison Smith hasn’t made his return-or-retire plans identified, but when he comes again, the security room will probably be a little bit crowded. Brzezinski and defensive coordinator Brian Flores drafted Miami’s Jakobe Thomas in April, the choose used as a fruit from the Jonathan Greenard commerce.
Jackson’s roster spot might be in jeopardy, as Smith (if he returns), Thomas, Josh Metellus, and Jay Ward can be roster locks. Jackson feels just like the quintessential roster-bubble man in June, particularly after Ward stole his beginning job down the stretch of 2025.
1. J.J. McCarthy (QB)
This one most likely doesn’t want a proof.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) drops again to throw throughout the first half on Sep. 8, 2025, in opposition to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Subject. The younger passer continued his first season as Minnesota’s beginning quarterback in a pivotal NFC North matchup. Obligatory Credit score: David Banks-Imagn Photographs.
Final 12 months, the Vikings handed McCarthy the QB1 job with no struggle in anyway. This 12 months, he has the struggle of a lifetime as a result of Kyler Murray didn’t come to Minnesota to be some 23-year-old’s backup. By the tip of the 2026 season, McCarthy might be the Vikings’ unabashed beginning quarterback for the lengthy haul — or he might be pondering his subsequent NFL vacation spot by way of commerce.
The stakes are huge for McCarthy. He’s on deck to show if he’s the Vikings’ savior in 2026 or tradebait in 2027.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
