Vikings Offseason: The High 3 Vikings Developments from fifth Week

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The Minnesota Vikings’ will play their subsequent common season recreation in seven months, so the membership has loads of time to arrange for head coach Kevin O’Connell’s fourth go-round within the Twin Cities.

Minnesota ended 2024 with a 14-3 file, that includes a melancholy Spherical 1 playoff exit.

Vikings Offseason: The High 3 Vikings Developments from fifth Week

Free company is about three weeks away, the draft is 9.5 weeks across the bend, and the membership’s schedule will probably be launched in Could.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures.

And to maintain observe, these have been the highest three developments of Offseason Week No. 5, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most necessary).

3. Daronte Jones to Interview for DC Job with Saints

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures.

New Saints head coach Kellen Moore may pluck a Vikings coach to run his protection in New Orleans: defensive passing recreation coordinator Daronte Jones.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Thursday, “The Saints have requested to interview Vikings pass-game coordinator/DBs Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator position, per sources. Jones has been heavy on the DC interview circuit this cycle.”

Jones, an obvious up-and-comer for a DC gig, has spoken with the Chicago Bears and Jaguars this cycle a few promotion, however these golf equipment employed different choices. So, Jones will both seize the Saints’ open place or return to Minnesota, a choice that ought to be introduced subsequent week.

2. Brian Flores Formally Returns to Minnesota

Minnesota Defensive Coordinator B. Flores addressed the media from the TCO Efficiency Heart on July twenty fifth, 2024. Flores was employed in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota completed thirtieth in factors allowed.

NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, “Eagles OC Kellen Moore is finalizing a deal with the Saints to be their new head coach, per The Insiders. What was expected for more than a week will be official soon. Moore leaves Philly a Super Bowl champion, and now the work begins in New Orleans.”

Brian Flores by no means interviewed for the Saints’ high job, however his return couldn’t be deemed “officially official” till New Orleans crammed the put up. Put plainly, there aren’t any extra head teaching jobs for Flores to earn this offseason. He’ll return to Minnesota for 12 months No. 3 and maybe attempt the HC market in 2026.

1. Kevin O’Connell Hints at J.J. McCarthy as His 2025 QB1

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.

The Vikings head coach swatted away any thriller about his younger passer, J.J. McCarthy, this week.

“We drafted him 10th overall for a reason,” O’Connell informed CBS Sports activities proper earlier than the Tremendous Bowl about McCarthy, his 22-year-old passer.

Minnesota employed Sam Darnold in 2024 after McCarthy tore his meniscus within the preseason. McCarthy performed splendidly that August afternoon, slicing and dicing the Las Vegas Raiders’ protection in an exhibition bout, and some days later, he hit the shelf for the season. Vikings followers realized they “couldn’t have nice things.”

O’Connell added, “I believe Sam has played himself into being kind of the marquee free-agent quarterback available. I do believe that his teammates and coaches and, our front office, and myself would love to have Sam back in Minnesota. But at the same time we do feel very confident in J.J. McCarthy. He’s healthy.”

That seemed like a McCarthy nomination for 2025.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL. 

All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data supplied by OverTheCap.com.