A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the sector throughout pregame warmups earlier than a divisional matchup towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Discipline. The scene captures Minnesota’s sideline as gamers ready for one more NFC North showdown in Inexperienced Bay. Sept. 29, 2024. Necessary Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Pictures.
Minnesota Vikings’ roster development is just about full for 2026, save for a couple of free brokers who might be added right here and between now and September. Subsequently, it’s time to look on the staff’s weak spots — areas that might be addressed in free company or simply stay considerably missing coming into the common season.
The next listing ranks the weak spots in ascending order (No. 1 = weakest spot).
Vikings’ Lingering Roster Questions Begin within the Trenches
Wake Forest working again Demond Claiborne speaks with reporters throughout ACC Media Days on Jul. 23, 2025, on the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte. The productive faculty working again mentioned the upcoming season earlier than ultimately starting his NFL journey. Necessary Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Pictures.
3. Confirmed Youth at Operating Again
Did the Vikings draft a rookie working again in April? They positive did. Does anybody know if that Sixth-Rounder shall be any good? They don’t.
Demond Claiborne has regarded good to start out the summer season, however as a Sixth-Rounder, there’s simply not a lot precedent for him to thrive as an eventual bellcow RB1. His upside might be that of an RB2, based mostly on his draft inventory. He actually has the pace — 4.37 — for the job, however people will monitor his rookie season to see if he has the imaginative and prescient and skill to interrupt tackles that’s wanted for full NFL endurance.
RotoBaller‘s Will Brady famous this week, “Neither Jones Sr. nor Mason is currently under contract with the Vikings beyond the 2026 season. Claiborne is undersized for an NFL running back, but he brings a speed element that could allow him to establish himself as a key piece of the Minnesota offense going forward.”
“Given the clear long-term opportunity available in the Vikings backfield, Claiborne profiles as a worthy late-round dart throw for dynasty managers in rookie drafts.”
In the meantime, Minnesota has not employed a difference-making younger working again since Dalvin Prepare dinner, whose profession started 9 years in the past. The Vikings had 16 consecutive years with Adrian Peterson and Prepare dinner; it looks like they’ve paid the piper since 2023, with common working again output.
The coach can be accountable. Kevin O’Connell, a former quarterback, has refused to run the ball at a balanced fee, preferring to throw the rock, usually when his staff falls behind on the scoreboard.
Minnesota may’ve taken a extra severe method to discovering a younger working again; there have been loads of choices within the 2025 NFL Draft that they brushed apart. Subsequently, there’s lots of hope that Claiborne can turn into the true deal. If that doesn’t pan out, Minnesota will roll with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, whereas followers marvel if it would ever spend significant draft capital on a working again anytime quickly.
2. OLB Depth In comparison with Current Seasons
The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles on the second evening of the draft, along with a Seventh-Rounder, for 2 Third-Rounders. A kind of picks was spent on security Jakobe Thomas; the opposite will stay within the draft cupboard till 2027.
That evening, Minnesota’s OLB depth chart went from a roster energy — Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner — to a doable weak spot. Can Van Ginkel keep wholesome for 17 video games? Is Turner prepared to meet his 1st-Spherical draft inventory from 2024?
BYU defensive finish Tyler Batty meets with the media throughout Massive 12 Media Days on Jul. 10, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The veteran go rusher mentioned the Cougars’ upcoming marketing campaign earlier than his ultimate collegiate season. Necessary Credit score: Candice Ward-Imagn Pictures.
Behind the pair stay Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and UDFA rookie Cam’Ron Stewart. Defensive sort out Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins could obtain EDGE snaps this season, and the Vikings coaches have claimed that 2nd-Rounder Jake Golday can play off the EDGE as properly.
However none of these choices pack the punch of Greenard. Followers will merely hope that the OLB3 spot is taken care of by an unknown commodity, whether or not that’s Richter, Batty, Stewart, Ingram-Dawkins, or Golday.
Till additional discover, the supreme OLB depth is gone. The membership may additionally signal a free agent like Jadveon Clowney, Leonard Floyd, or Von Miller, to call a couple of examples.
1. The Beginning Heart
The Vikings handed on these facilities in free company:
Tyler Biadasz (Washington Commanders)
Lloyd Cushenberry (Buffalo Payments)
Luke Fortner (Carolina Panthers)
Elgton Jenkins (Cleveland Browns)
Cade Mays (Detroit Lions)
Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Blake Brandel (64) takes the sector through the NFL Worldwide Sequence on Oct. 2, 2022, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The versatile lineman appeared in Minnesota’s abroad matchup whereas persevering with to serve in a number of offensive line roles. Necessary Credit score: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Pictures.
From the draft, many anticipated Minnesota to spend a 2nd-, Third-, or 4th-Spherical decide on one, however that didn’t materialize, both. As an alternative, these prime prospects went elsewhere:
Jake Slaughter (Los Angeles Chargers)
Connor Lew (Cincinnati Bengals)
Sam Hecht (Carolina Panthers)
Logan Jones (Chicago Bears)
So, it’s Blake Brandel time at heart, a person who logged over 300 snaps on the place final season when Ryan Kelly missed video games and fired up a 61.4 Professional Soccer Focus grade as an entire. Brandel might be incredible at heart and continued to enhance. He might be mediocre. Or, by midseason or so, Minnesota may be prepared to offer rookie Gavin Gerhardt a glance or faucet on third-year heart Michael Jurgens’s shoulder.
Heart is just not a place of energy from a June standpoint, until Brandel surprises everybody.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
