The Stress Is Sky Excessive for These Vikings Gamers in 2026

Minnesota Vikings gamers collect within the offensive huddle throughout a divisional matchup in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Nov. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Subject in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin. Offensive deal with Christian Darrisaw is seen on the left as Minnesota organized pre-snap communication throughout a high-stakes NFC North showdown in entrance of a hostile street crowd. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Photographs.

After signing huge receiver Jauan Jennings from free company, the Minnesota Vikings’ roster is just about spoken for, as coaching camp is lower than eleven weeks away. Per our annual custom, we requested our writers to outline gamers with essentially the most to lose in 2026 — who’s dealing with a make-or-break marketing campaign?

Minnesota has an extended listing of gamers coming into prove-it territory.

The next are their responses. You can too take into account these males “boom or bust” candidates.

Coaching Camp Will Start to Reply Questions in July

It’s all on the road for these dudes.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) scans the Tennessee Titans’ backfield throughout second-half motion on Nov. 17, 2024, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Van Ginkel helped direct Minnesota’s defensive alignment whereas reacting to Tennessee’s offensive movement and personnel packages within the interconference matchup because the Vikings continued constructing one of many NFL’s most disruptive defenses. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs.

1. Andrew Van Ginkel | OLB

VT Author: Steve Hoikkala

The straightforward reply right here is Kyler Murray, however I’m going to go along with a participant who most likely isn’t in your radar however must be. I’m an enormous fan of Van Ginkel when wholesome. The problem is that he’s within the last 12 months of his present contract, turns 31 in July, and is coming off a 2025 season wherein he was injured for many of it or performed on a snap rely.

Gamers at EDGE are likely to fall off round his age, and he’ll doubtless want a stable to large 12 months to obtain an extension after the 2026 season. Another excuse why the Vikings shall be focusing on an EDGE closely within the draft and free company in 2027.

2. Theo Jackson | S

VT Author: Tony Schultz

The straightforward reply is J.J. McCarthy. I’m wanting on the different aspect of the ball and taking a look at a man we thought can be a stable participant. That’s Theo Jackson. He was set to line up subsequent to Harrison Smith and maybe present sufficient to take over the beginning mantle within the subsequent season with Smith’s eventual retirement.

That they had rewarded him with a brand new contract after Camryn Bynum signed with the Colts. He had ample probabilities to shine as Smith began the season with lingering medical points. There have been some struggles. When he returned, these struggles continued, and by the top of the 12 months, Jay Ward was placing extra on tape.

Now, the Vikings drafted Jakobe Thomas, who nonetheless has to show himself to take over, and Smith is just not 100% saying he has retired. If Jackson doesn’t have an amazing camp and has explosive performs on tape, the promise he confirmed would possibly return to the bench.

3. Brian O’Neill | RT

VT Author: Wes Johnson

McCarthy and Murray are the low-hanging fruit of this train, so I’ll shift to another person who has loads using on the road. O’Neill enters the ultimate 12 months of his deal and has already been requested to restructure it a bit for the Vikings so as to add in free company.

At present sitting with a team-high $23+ million contract at 31 years of age, a wholesome and productive 2026 might be the figuring out think about whether or not O’Neill is re-upped and finishes his profession with the Vikings.

4. Isaiah Rodgers | CB

VT Author: Adam New

He’ll at all times have that phenomenal sport in opposition to the Bengals, however Rodgers wants to seek out extra consistency this season. If he doesn’t, the Vikings most likely don’t need to offer him a brand new deal subsequent 12 months.

5. Jordan Addison | WR

VT Author: Ali Siddiqui

He’s already been in hassle twice with the league and was suspended for 3 video games final 12 months. If he will get into hassle once more, he might miss extra video games, which won’t solely value him cash down the street, but it surely might additionally lower the Vikings’ probabilities of going far this 12 months

This workforce has an opportunity to shock many this 12 months, and one motive is its WR trio of him, Jefferson, and Jennings. If Addison will get into hassle once more, it might value the workforce a few wins. Defenses wouldn’t be as robust as a workforce in opposition to them, both

6. Josh Metellus | S

VT Author: Cole Smith

Minnesota Vikings security Josh Metellus (44) secures a soccer throughout pregame warmups earlier than dealing with the New York Giants on Sep. 8, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The versatile defender ready for Minnesota’s season opener whereas persevering with his increasing function in Brian Flores’ defensive system coming into the 2024 marketing campaign. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Photographs.

Metellus obtained paid earlier than the 2025 season however struggled to remain wholesome and didn’t have the affect he had up to now. Possibly Theo Jackson’s disappointment in a beginning function affected Metellus’ function. However he has a sizeable contract in a non-premium place, so subsequent offseason might be fascinating if he doesn’t bounce again.

t7. Dallas Turner | OLB

VT Author: Dustin Baker

Jonathan Greenard is gone, which immediately promotes Turner. The speedy younger EDGE most likely has the chops for Greenard’s direct alternative, however in Vikings communicate, Turner have to be a mighty performer.

Why? Properly, the Vikings paid a fortune to get him: the twenty third general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft, Choose No. 167 in 2024, a 2025 Third-Spherical choose, and a 2025 4th-Spherical choose. It can by no means be adequate for Turner to be a Brian Robison-style go rusher — good however not nice. Primarily based on the value former basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah paid for Turner, he should flip right into a Professional Bowler quickly.

Couple these stakes with no Greenard within the combine, and Turner has hefty marching orders.

t7. Dallas Turner | OLB

VT Author: Kyle Joudry

J.J. McCarthy is the plain reply, however enable me to uplift Turner as somebody with a ton to lose. To this point, he has been a disappointment, being merely good somewhat than nice. He’ll want to alter that now that the runway has been cleared for takeoff.

t8. J.J. McCarthy | QB

VT Author: Ted Schwerzler

J.J. McCarthy is the obvious reply, and it doubtless has nothing to do with him. The competitors we maintain listening to about is Kyler Murray versus himself. If Murray is a stud, then McCarthy by no means performs in Minnesota once more and shall be on a brand new workforce subsequent season.

t8. J.J. McCarthy | QB

VT Author: Janik Eckardt

After lacking his rookie season with a knee damage, McCarthy was inserted into the beginning lineup final 12 months, however the outcomes had been inconsistent, to place it frivolously. He lacked accuracy, contact, and a really feel for the sport. If Kyler Murray, as anticipated, wins the beginning job and stays wholesome (large if), McCarthy would have performed simply ten video games in three seasons, which might be career-ending for a uncooked participant who wants in-game reps.

t9. Kyler Murray | QB

VT Author: Henrique Gucciardi

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) watches from the sphere throughout second-half motion in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 28, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Murray and the Cardinals battled an NFC West rival late within the common season as Arizona evaluated its offensive course and quarterback outlook coming into one other essential offseason. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs.

Most likely the plain choose right here, however this might be Murray’s final likelihood as a starter within the NFL. Kevin O’Connell is considered among the finest QB gurus within the league, and with the Vikings having one of many worst QB performances in 2025,

Murray will look higher even when he’s simply okay. If he can’t do it, although, it’s onerous to see one other workforce giving him this type of likelihood.

t9. Kyler Murray | QB

VT Author: Josh Frey

The Arizona Cardinals opted to take cap hits totaling about $55 million over the following two years somewhat than stick to the veteran quarterback. Now with the Vikings, Murray has an opportunity to earn himself a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} subsequent offseason if he performs properly.

If this season doesn’t go properly, or if J.J. McCarthy one way or the other beats him out for the beginning job, the longer term may be very unsure for the 28-year-old.

t9. Kyler Murray | QB

VT Author: Sean Borman

Murray is enjoying for his whole profession trajectory this season. In contrast to a younger prospect, he’s, at 29, preventing to show he’s nonetheless a top-tier starter within the NFL.

With weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson, if he can’t produce, he might be lacking out on a possible $40-50M/12 months contract, just like what Sam Darnold was capable of do (including inflation).

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker