Vikings Hyperlinks: Let’s Be Aggressive

As we motor on in direction of the Mix and free company, the QB query dominates the dialogue. The inside offensive and defensive traces together with cornerback are additionally space of determined want for upgrades. I ponder if a veteran QB will probably be snug signing a one yr deal figuring out full properly that as quickly because the offense has a troublesome day or the QB throws picks, the boo birds will come out and the requires JJ will improve. This assumes the veteran will begin. I don’t see Darnold or Jones prepared to come back again for one yr after which driving the pine. Jones has to need an opportunity at taking part in so he can get a long run deal. I have no idea if JJ might beat out Jones. It might be a shock. The Vikings could possibly be another QB as competitors for JJ if there’s really going to be a contest. I consider the workforce may have one however I believe the vast majority of followers don’t want one. They need JJ to start out. Interval.

I posted an article beneath that talks about how tough it’s proving to be discovering good inside offensive linemen across the NFL. Throwing cash at guards might show to be disastrous. Even spending excessive picks on offensive linemen has confirmed to be unhappy for the Vikings. The true query is do the Vikings have succesful folks in cost that may establish offensive linemen? It isn’t unreasonable to have critical doubts. However they must do one thing too.

All that being stated, the actual positions that want rapid consideration (after QB and earlier than inside offensive line) is defensive sort out and cornerback. All you need to do is have a look at the inner free brokers and gamers below contract subsequent yr at these positions. It really isn’t rocket science. If they’ve to come back again with Brandel who might enhance since final yr was his first taking part in guard within the NFL for a full season, hopefully Risner, and sadly, Bradbury. They do have Jurgens who they stored on the energetic roster all season. There’s a cause they did that and it shouldn’t be dismissed. He might nonetheless not develop into a starter however they like him together with Rouse.

Having a cellular QB might assist out the offensive line so much. JJ and probably Daniel Jones would undoubtedly be an improve within the mobility division.

NFL Releases 2025 HBCU Mix Roster

The Nationwide Soccer League, in partnership with the Black School Soccer Corridor of Fame, introduced the gamers attending the 2025 Traditionally Black Schools and Universities (HBCU) Mix.

The HBCU Mix will probably be held on the New Orleans Saints observe facility, the Ochsner Sports activities Efficiency Middle, on Monday, February 17. Offensive prospects will work out at 8:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT and defensive prospects will work out between 12 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. CT.

The HBCU Legacy Bowl is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, February 22 at Tulane College’s Yulman Stadium, with dwell protection on NFL Community.

The HBCU Mix and Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl kick off subsequent week in New Orleans. The important thing gamers to observe for heading into the week comply with the development within the NFL – working backs. pic.twitter.com/0YIM7yCc79

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) February 15, 2025

Jada Byers, RB, Virginia Union
Irv Mulligan, RB, Jackson State
Elijah Williams, DL, Morgan State
Keshawn Toney, TE, South Carolina State
Carlvainsky Decius, DB, Morgan State
Kendall Bohler, DB, Florida A&M
James Burgess, DB, Alabama State
Robert McDaniel, DB, Jackson State

Minnesota Vikings Information and Hyperlinks

REPORT: One other Raider Prediction Lands Viking QB in Las Vegas

Whereas the Raiders have been predicted to chop ties with Minshew this offseason, and the return of Ridder is unlikely, O’Connell appears to be the one mainstay on the quarterback depth. That being stated, the Raiders energetic pursuit on a quarterback showcases that the franchise will probably be wanting to make use of O’Connell in a backup position as soon as extra.

The 33rdTeam’s Marcus Mosher joined the Raiders predictions just lately and he too chimed in on the Raiders and Darnold connection. Here’s what he needed to say revolving Darnold as he enters free company.

“Darnold will also benefit from a weak quarterback class in the 2025 NFL Draft, which could lead a team like the Raiders to pay him now rather than wait for someone to fall to them. Darnold is only 27 but has a lot of experience, having started 73 games in the NFL,” Mosher wrote.

Now with the brand new management in Las Vegas in head coach Pete Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and normal supervisor John Spytek, the Raiders would profit from including an skilled quarterback comparable to Darnold. If Darnold had been to signal with the Raiders, the offense might take leaps and bounds from what it was final season.

“The best landing spot would be with a veteran coach and a roster full of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but considering he hasn’t earned a big payday yet in the NFL, the money could ultimately dictate where he lands,” Mosher wrote.

Daniel Jones Will get Readability on Vikings Future Earlier than Offseason

ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes that situation might play out with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I think the Raiders are gonna make a play for Sam Darnold. I think Sam Darnold’s a candidate to be the Raiders quarterback. We’ll see whether Minnesota lets him go or not, but let’s see if that works out with Sam Darnold winding up in Vegas. And so, if he goes there, then the Vikings have to bring in another quarterback. J.J. [McCarthy], obviously, is going to be there. J.J. is coming along,” Schefter stated on the “Pat McAfee Show” on February 10.

“I think that was part of the reason they brought in Daniel Jones; because they were kind of getting him up to speed in their system their organization in the event that they do lose Sam Darnold.”

Schefter’s feedback comply with these of O’Connell, who stated on “The Dan Patrick Show” on February 13 that the workforce had but to determine on a path between Darnold, Jones, and McCarthy.

O’Connell additionally stated the workforce remained involved with all three QBs throughout the course of.

“We haven’t made that decision yet,” O’Connell informed Dan Patrick on “The Dan Patrick Show” on February 13. “J.J.’s here every day. But I talked to Sam yesterday for a long time. Talked to Daniel Jones for a long time. I just want those guys to know that there’s an element in this where our relationship matters. The communication between me and those guys has to be paramount, and the agents and our front office, those conversations will go on.”

Seahawks GM John Schneider’s true assertion sends agency message that may affect the Vikings’ free company technique

There’s an epidemic within the Nationwide Soccer League and we noticed it on full show within the playoffs.

Excessive-end offensive linemen are a scarce useful resource.

After Tremendous Bowl LIX, it’s extra apparent than ever that even the very best groups battle on the offensive line. That is the second Tremendous Bowl loss by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs that resulted from a poor offensive line. It’s not just like the Chiefs haven’t tried both. They’ve spent quite a few assets on the offensive line, together with a number of second spherical picks and thousands and thousands in free agent {dollars} to solely have the unit crumble within the largest spot of the yr.

With the quantity of groups which have points on the offensive line, it’s not fairly that straightforward. The Minnesota Vikings have had points on the inside of the offensive line for years and the fanbase is begging normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to repair it.

It’s a wise wager that the Vikings will attempt to repair it, however how they’ll go about it’s nonetheless up within the air. Adofo-Mensah basically stated that enchancment isn’t linear.

“I think having studied it, I would agree with what he said. What I would say is though, I think a lot of times everybody hears that and thinks the answer is kind of simple. And the answer can come from different ways. It can come from a different player. It could come from a player year over year improving. It could come from how we do things from a pass protection standpoint. Those two games revealed some issues in there that were tougher to overcome. How do you overcome them? And that’s what’s beautiful about football. It’s this complex sport. If you want to run the football, there’s a lot of ways to do it. You could maybe get better at receiver and make them play you a certain way. We’ll approach this off-season trying to fix the team with that creativity, that mindset in place. We’ll collaborate with Kevin, but yeah, we want to be in a place where we’re still playing football. And to win these last games, any potential places where teams can attack, you’ve got to be ready for, not just from your starting lineup, but from your two deep. And so we want to set ourselves up to be in that position and going from there.”

The thought of fixing the offensive line not being linear is one thing that seems to be felt throughout the league. Throughout an interview, Seattle Seahawks normal supervisor John Schneider spoke to the epidemic of the offensive line.

Schneider is correct. We are able to discuss fixing the offensive line till we’re blue within the face, nevertheless it’s not so simple as it appears.

Whereas Schneider is correct about simply throwing cash on the place, that’s what free company basically is. Just like the NFL Draft, you need to spend your belongings properly. Adofo-Mensah did an excellent job with it final yr by signing three Professional Bowl gamers with the Vikings free company class.

Nonetheless, we’ve seen quite a few cases of free agent contracts not figuring out. Heck, the Vikings have had a number of of them through the years. Throwing belongings on the drawback received’t clear up it. Like alternatives within the NFL Draft, the strikes must be calculated, properly researched, and the asset must be out there.

There’s a main shortage of excellent offensive linemen and each workforce wants them. Merely throwing cash on the drawback received’t repair it. It’s essential use your belongings in a wise approach just like the Philadelphia Eagles have. Certain, they’re paying three of their offensive linemen top-of-the-market offers, however they drafted all three of them, and that doesn’t embrace beginning heart Cam Jurgens who is ready to get his personal top-of-the-market contract.

KOC Reveals Who was on Observe to Win 2024 Vikings QB Battle

Final season the Minnesota Vikings scooped up a former first spherical choose at quarterback after they signed Sam Darnold. In addition they used their first choose on a quarterback, drafting J.J. McCarthy. Discussions raged on relating to who would begin throughout the common season, however all of them turned moot when McCarthy suffered a season ending knee damage.

That doesn’t imply head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t want to think about what his plan of assault was. In fact he was leaning a method or one other simply weeks earlier than the season began. It additionally performs into what the QB blueprint might appear to be for 2025.

Recent off profitable an NFL Head Coach of the Yr award, MN Vikings chief Kevin O’Connell joined the Dan Patrick Present. It didn’t take lengthy for the host to hit him with a fairly powerful query. If the damage to the rookie by no means occured, who was going to start out?

“Well I would say this, Dan. We had just seen J.J. [McCarthy] play in his first preseason game. There was a lot of positive things on that tape that left us as a coaching staff saying that we need to see this thing through to the end of training camp… Sam Darnold was having a really good camp. It was showing up day in and day out… I would probably say that Sam Darnold would have been our starting quarterback just out of the experience.”

Vikings’ fan favourite 2025 NFL Draft prospect would enhance the inside offensive line with a big consequence

Many within the Vikings’ fanbase need them to promote out to repair the inside of the offensive line, together with with their first-round choose.

The newest installment of our SKOL Search collection focuses on a fan favourite in Alabama guard Tyler Booker.

Strengths

Power: Booker is arguably the strongest participant on this class. As soon as he will get his arms on you, it’s over. He can drive you thru the bottom and stop you from shifting off of your spot.

Dimension: Booker has unbelievable measurement and size. Constructed just like the Pokemon Golem, Booker can’t be displaced and has sufficient size to maintain cross rushers at bay.

Anchor: The 2 above traits spotlight Booker’s greatest trait: his anchor. You received’t be shifting him backward, as he thrives placing his toes into the bottom and holding his personal.

Weaknesses

Motion Expertise: Booker is a bodily imposing participant at guard. He’ll seize you and stop you from shifting. Nonetheless, Booker struggles with motion. He doesn’t take good angles when climbing to the second degree and his footspeed is subpar in a significant approach.

Athleticism: Whenever you have a look at Booker, you see a robust menace in a telephone sales space. What he doesn’t have is nice athleticism. He struggles when pulling, climbing to the second degree, and getting off the soccer rapidly.

Leverage: Booker struggles with consistency in leverage. He will get himself in dangerous positions by lunging at defenders, permitting defenders to

Booker is an interesting prospect. He is among the greatest inside offensive linemen within the NFL Draft and his power profile is unbelievable. With that stated, the deficiencies are ones that would take him off the Vikings’ draft board.

Whenever you run an out of doors zone scheme just like the Vikings do, your inside offensive linemen want to have the ability to transfer properly and climb to the second degree. These components aren’t what Booker does properly. It’s a really poor scheme match.

2025 NFL draft: 5 stud gamers the Vikings can’t cross up at No. 24

It feels virtually inevitable that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings will commerce down from the twenty fourth choose on this yr’s NFL draft. They merely want extra alternatives, and it is a deep draft class into the second and third rounds, notably at some positions of want for Minnesota (RB, DT, CB). It simply makes every kind of sense, supplied Adofo-Mensah can get good worth from a workforce that desires to come back as much as 24.

However there are specific gamers who’re just too good to cross up. In hindsight, the Vikings clearly ought to’ve taken Kyle Hamilton or Trent McDuffie with the twelfth choose in 2022, as an alternative of buying and selling down 20 spots and selecting Lewis Cine. Successful on this league requires depth, nevertheless it additionally requires discovering stud gamers. So with that in thoughts, listed here are 5 gamers who look too good to cross up on in the event that they occur to make it to the Vikings at 24 (and it must be fairly doable; we’re not gonna put possible top-ten picks Mason Graham or Will Johnson right here).

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen

Texas CB Jahdae Barron

Alabama LG Tyler Booker

Michigan DT Kenneth Grant

.

Observe: I’d disagree with this 100%. In addition to, Jeanty, none of those gamers is head and shoulders over different gamers at their place teams. IMHO. Sadly, on account of Kwesi giving up picks final yr, the Vikings in all probability must commerce down and it will not shock me if he traded a future choose to get extra picks.

Vikings Might Half Methods With $16 Million Standout in 3-Staff Myles Garrett Commerce

ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell took a have a look at the Vikings’ choices as a third-team facilitator in a blockbuster commerce centered round defensive finish Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, who has requested out of his present state of affairs however isn’t wanted within the Vikings locker room — notably when contemplating his value could possibly be as excessive as two first-round picks.

Barnwell on Thursday, February 13, laid out a situation wherein the Vikings transfer Turner to the Browns and get again a big-time draft asset in return.

“Whereas the Vikings received 14 video games, they’re deep at edge rusher after signing Jonathan Greenard and

Andrew Van Ginkel and buying and selling up for Dallas Turner within the first spherical of the 2024 draft. It might be a shock in the event that they sacrificed extra draft capital to go after Garrett,” Barnwell wrote. “The Browns might prefer to add a young edge rusher to replace Garrett in lieu of pure draft capital as part of a deal. … There was plenty of talent ahead of Turner on the edge, but the 22-year-old didn’t exactly force his way onto the field as a rookie.”

None of meaning Turner is a nasty participant or that it’s time to declare him a bust. What it does imply, although, is that if the Vikings can get off of him for a mid-to-high first-round choose or one thing early within the second spherical, it could be price it.

Only a as an example, the Chicago Bears would possibly be capable to get within the recreation for Garrett for the value of the Nos. 10 and 39 picks this April. If the Vikings might get off Turner’s $16 million rookie contract in return for an early second-round choose because the third workforce concerned in that commerce after which draft defensive backs with the Nos. 24 and 39 alternatives, that could be extra beneficial than retaining Turner on as a rotational cross rusher.

.

Observe: An NBA fashion commerce that not often occurs. I can’t even recall one time the place three groups had been concerned in a commerce. This concept is mainly buying and selling Turner to the Browns for his or her 2nd spherical choose AFTER the Browns commerce Garrett for the #10 and #39 picks. I imply, I suppose they might do it however I’d hope to get one other mid spherical choose too.

An Off Season Plan
Beginning Cap Area
2025: $58,012,543
2026: $101,508,844
Franchise tag Sam Darnold and commerce him to Raiders for choose #73 and #217
Minimize Ed Ingram
Minimize CJ Ham
Harrison Smith Retires or Minimize
.
Lengthen Brian O’Neill – 2 yr 32M (Salaries of 8.5M, 14.5M, 16M, 16M; 15M signing bonus; saves 7M in cap area)
Lengthen Andrew Van Ginkel – 2 yr 28M (Salaries of 5M, 15M; 8M signing bonus; saves 4M in cap area)
Lengthen Josh Oliver – 3 yr 21M (Salaries of three.5M, 4M, 7.5M; 6M signing bonus; saves 2.5M in cap area)
Lengthen Daniel Jones – 1 yr 15M (9M wage; 6M signing bonus)
Lengthen Theo Jackson – 2 yr 6M (Salaries of 2M, 2M; 2M signing bonus)
.
Signal Milton Williams (DT) – 3 yr 66M with one void yr
(Salaries of 20M, 12M, 24M; 10M signing bonus)
.
Signal Trey Smith (RG) – 4 yr 88M with one void yr
(Salaries of 1.17M, 12.83M, 22M, 22M; 30M signing bonus)
.
Signal Jevon Holland (S) – 3 yr 63M with one void yr
(Salaries of 5M, 15M, 23M; 20M signing bonus)
.
Signal Asante Samuel Jr (CB) – 3 yr 43.5M with one void yr
(Salaries of 1.17M, 10.83M, 15.5M; 16M signing bonus)
.
Signal Tyrell Dodson (LB) – 2 yr 9M with one void yr
(Salaries of 1.17M, 3.33M; 4.5M signing bonus)
.
Ending Cap Area
2025: $19,152,543
2026: $10,972,844
.

There’s sufficient cap area remaining to signal some low degree free brokers which mustn’t even have an effect on the cap area as a result of that is for the highest 51 already.

In 2026, they might reduce Harrison Phillips and Blake Brandel and they’d get one other 11M in cap area. They might do restructures on Greenard, Hockenson, and possibly Jets.

Yore Mock
Trades
Commerce Associate: Raiders
Despatched: Sam Darnold
Obtained: R3.73, R6.218
…
Commerce Associate: San Francisco
Despatched: R1.24
Obtained: R2.43, R3.75, R4.111
…
Commerce Associate: Jacksonville
Despatched: R4.111, R6.217
Obtained: R4.124, R5.142, R7.222
…

R2.43 Tyler Booker OG Alabama 6’5” 325

R3.73 TreVeyon Henderson RB Ohio State 5’10” 208

R3.75 Azareye’h Thomas CB Florida State 6’2” 198

R3.97 Jordan Phillips DT Maryland 6’3’ 320

R4.124 Aeneas Peebles DT Virginia Tech 6’1” 290

R5.142 Seth McLaughlin OC Ohio State 6’4” 305

Photograph by Jason Mowry/Getty Pictures

R5.159 Jackson Hawes TE Georgia Tech 6’5” 260

R6.198 Tahj Brooks RB Texas Tech 5”10” 230

R7.239 Malachi Moore S Alabama 6’0” 201

UDFA

David Gbenda LB Texas

Trey Wedig OT Indiana

Warren Brinson DT Georgia

Shaun Dolac LB Buffalo

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