All Things 2026 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

2026 NFL mock draft​

Round 1 - Pick 18
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/players/29168249/jermod-mccoy/

Jermod McCoy CB
Tennessee • Jr • 6'0" / 193 lbs

Projected Team​ Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK​ 9th

POSITION RNK​ 1st

I'm not a big fan of projecting a first-round player who didn't take a snap in 2025, but this is a weak year for corners and the Vikings need help on the island. McCoy showed good length and the ability to play man coverage and will be fully healthy in 2026. He also displayed a smooth backpedal, breaks quickly on routes and has excellent hands.

2026 NFL mock draft: WRs fly off the board at a historic rate as combine week begins in Indianapolis

Seven wideouts land in the first round of this mock draft, tying the all-time record.

www.cbssports.com

Skol Vikes!!

My dark horse player for the Vikings to draft (if he's still there) is DT Peter Woods from Clemson. Came into the year a consensus top 10 1st round pick (top 5 in some mocks), but didn't have a dominating year in 2025, but the entire Clemson defense was less than spectacular. Incredibly talented player, along with these two....

DT and OL are just flat out positions that are better to fill in the draft than to try to fill in Free Agency. Caleb Banks (Florida) and Kayden McDonald (Ohio St) wouldn't be bad either.

Slightly alarming that Flores and the defensive staff has NOT been good at developing DBs since they got to MN (Metellus would be the outlier). New incoming CB coach is supposed to be good at this. Let's hope so, they need it

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Skor North is like ... the fifth? more important/interesting Vikings commentary in the market.

If Seifert, Alec Lewis, Goessling, aren't reporting it ... then to me it's not really worth reading.

What’s going on Jerome’s That guy is the one I listen to.

 

[GopherGrit]

ARodg's 2025 stats would have been absolutely pathetic without YAC.

Maybe? If you have an actual source of such information I would like to see it.

Regardless, all experts agree that Rodgers 2025 season far exceeded expectations given how he did in 2024.

The same holds true for Cousins, he just didn't get to start last year until the end, then played well.


The same fact applied equally to them both: coming back in 2024 was too soon for such an injury, they weren't the same.

 

[GopherGrit]

There are multiple ways to succeed and fail in any business including the NFL at least in terms of on field accomplishments.

The Jets method of failure is not exclusive.

Failure on the field can be absolutely decoupled from ownership decisions. And in the case of the Vikings, can absolutely be true.

Ownership had literally zero to do with the fact that the Vikings should have won the SB for the 1998 and 2009 seasons.


Burnsie said it best: "we get up there ... and his F'ing shoe falls off .... whadya gonna F'ing do???"

 

[Ope3]

Failure on the field can be absolutely decoupled from ownership decisions.

Over the long haul, yes it does.

 

[Ope3]

Maybe? If you have an actual source of such information I would like to see it.

Regardless, all experts agree that Rodgers 2025 season far exceeded expectations given how he did in 2024.

The same holds true for Cousins, he just didn't get to start last year until the end, then played well.


The same fact applied equally to them both: coming back in 2024 was too soon for such an injury, they weren't the same.

Aaron Rodgers Stats | Pittsburgh Steelers QB | SumerSports

Explore Aaron Rodgers's full player profile on SumerSports.

sumersports.com

Ranked 61st in Depth of Target.
Ranked 39th in Yds/Attempt.

Definition of a puss arm which does not succeed in the Post-Season. Utterly predictable.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Aaron Rodgers Stats | Pittsburgh Steelers QB | SumerSports

Explore Aaron Rodgers's full player profile on SumerSports.

sumersports.com

Ranked 61st in Depth of Target.
Ranked 39th in Yds/Attempt.

Definition of a puss arm which does not succeed in the Post-Season. Utterly predictable.

At the risk of wading into this back-and-forth hip deep (particularly without a dog in the fight), a fair amount of this can be attributed to the Arthur Smith offense; it's always been a knock on how he calls plays, and I'm at least partially an Arthur Smith fan. He's not noted for pushing the ball down the field.

Carry on....

 

[Ope3]

At the risk of wading into this back-and-forth hip deep (particularly without a dog in the fight), a fair amount of this can be attributed to the Arthur Smith offense; it's always been a knock on how he calls plays, and I'm at least partially an Arthur Smith fan. He's not noted for pushing the ball down the field.

Carry on....

Sounds like it was well suited for modest success for a 42 Year Old QB interested in self-preservation as well as for a long time HC in his last dance for the Steelers.

Good thing the Raven placekicker shanked the game winning Week 18 FG attempt. It gave Tomlin and Rodgers one more chance before he got the stuffing knocked out of him.

 

[upnorthkid]

Sounds like it was well suited for modest success for a 42 Year Old QB interested in self-preservation as well as for a long time HC in his last dance for the Steelers.

Good thing the Raven placekicker shanked the game winning Week 18 FG attempt. It gave Tomlin and Rodgers one more chance before he got the stuffing knocked out of him.

View attachment 42695

forgot all about the gross mismanagement from the Ravens to end that game too. Completed pass to pitt 24 and call timeout with 14 seconds. choose to then kneel the ball, losing 2 yards and call time out again with 2 seconds left to put it on the leg of a rookie kicker with no career game winning FG attempts with your entire season on the line. now he may have shanked it anyway, but with Lamar Jackson and Henry you don't even try get closer?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Maybe? If you have an actual source of such information I would like to see it.

Thst didn’t stop you from labeling Murray as an inaccurate passer, did it sport? I never saw an attribution to a third party, so I’m assuming it was all your expert analysis.

The data I supplied contradicted your assertion, and no where did I describe Murray as an “accurate” QB, the data made that argument.

Yes, Murray had a low per attempt average, as did his replacement when he got hurt , Jacoby Brisset (the backup we needed this year - we would have made the playoffs).

Do the question becomes, was it a function of two QBs being check down artists or a function of the offense scheme they were running?

According to this Phoenix paper, it was the latter, an issue with the scheme the O coordinator was running.

Cardinals' Offensive Issues Go Deeper Than Playcalling

The Arizona Cardinals' offense looks broken, and it's likely about more than just some poor situational playcalling.

gophnx.com

Cardinals’ Schematic Issues​

Before getting into the intangibles, the playbook should at least be addressed.
Cardinals fans and media alike are picking up on the same playcalling critiques. In the passing game, Arizona’s route trees are too simplistic, too slow-developing and too built on short, ball-control patterns. Meanwhile, the run game has been so nonexistent it’s hard to even look at the body of work closely enough to break down the schematic bones.

This point is further illustrated by the fact that Arizona had the league’s most productive TE, Trey McBride, 2025 First Team All-Pro who set an NFL record with 126 grabs by a TE, eat your hear out Todd Christensen.

Regardless, all experts agree that Rodgers 2025 season far exceeded expectations given how he did in 2024.

The same holds true for Cousins, he just didn't get to start last year until the end, then played well.


The same fact applied equally to them both: coming back in 2024 was too soon for such an injury, they weren't the same.

While we all have opinions galore, my friend, you seem to have the untamed hubris that yours equals facts for you and no one else

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

He was/is very likely getting cut so getting anything for him would be a major bonus. I had heard that it was possible someone would give up something to get him because he does have value as a pass rusher; he's just absolutely terrible against the run

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Rob B, feeling his oats as the Vikings kinda sorta interim GM

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Rob B, feeling his oats as the Vikings kinda sorta interim GM

Good for him and like his confidence.

I thinking he’s gonna have a very productive couple months

 

[howeda7]

Vikings should trade Jonathon Grenard too. He's at peak value, 29 and blocking Dallas Turner. Might even get a late 1st round pick or early 2nd for him.

 

[howeda7]

Bud Grant is spinning in his grave....

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Some Kyler News

Source: Kyler Murray, Cardinals haven't talked, rebutting GM

Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said he has spoken with quarterback Kyler Murray, but a source told ESPN that the two have not talked since the end of the season.

www.espn.com

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Interview with Rob B. At the combine

 

[GopherGrit]

Over the long haul, yes it does.

I can only go by the words you chose to use here, which by their definitions means you agreed with my statement that on field performance can be decoupled from management decisions, as I proved with the examples.

 

[GopherGrit]

Aaron Rodgers Stats | Pittsburgh Steelers QB | SumerSports

Explore Aaron Rodgers's full player profile on SumerSports.

sumersports.com

Ranked 61st in Depth of Target.
Ranked 39th in Yds/Attempt.

Definition of a puss arm which does not succeed in the Post-Season. Utterly predictable.

Those don't prove that he is inaccurate in medium and long range passes, they prove that the offense run emphasized short routes and short passes.

The relevant statistics, if they are easy to grab, are the usual (completion percentage, td, int, rating) on all passes over XX air yards.

 

[GopherGrit]

Vikings should trade Jonathon Grenard too. He's at peak value, 29 and blocking Dallas Turner. Might even get a late 1st round pick or early 2nd for him.

This take appears to be another in a long line of your bad, zero chance of ever happening, takes. For some reason, that seems to be your thing.

 

[GopherGrit]

Thst didn’t stop you from labeling Murray as an inaccurate passer, did it sport? I never saw an attribution to a third party, so I’m assuming it was all your expert analysis.

The data I supplied contradicted your assertion, and no where did I describe Murray as an “accurate” QB, the data made that argument.

Yes, Murray had a low per attempt average, as did his replacement when he got hurt , Jacoby Brisset (the backup we needed this year - we would have made the playoffs).

Do the question becomes, was it a function of two QBs being check down artists or a function of the offense scheme they were running?

According to this Phoenix paper, it was the latter, an issue with the scheme the O coordinator was running.

Cardinals' Offensive Issues Go Deeper Than Playcalling

The Arizona Cardinals' offense looks broken, and it's likely about more than just some poor situational playcalling.

gophnx.com

Cardinals’ Schematic Issues​

Before getting into the intangibles, the playbook should at least be addressed.
Cardinals fans and media alike are picking up on the same playcalling critiques. In the passing game, Arizona’s route trees are too simplistic, too slow-developing and too built on short, ball-control patterns. Meanwhile, the run game has been so nonexistent it’s hard to even look at the body of work closely enough to break down the schematic bones.

This point is further illustrated by the fact that Arizona had the league’s most productive TE, Trey McBride, 2025 First Team All-Pro who set an NFL record with 126 grabs by a TE, eat your hear out Todd Christensen.


While we all have opinions galore, my friend, you seem to have the untamed hubris that yours equals facts for you and no one else

Any QB can throw short passes. An offense like KOC's can't be productive on only short passes.

Obviously I was talking about medium to long passes.

Thanks for proving I was correct that for those passes Murray has big issues.


Also corroborated by the Tweet posted by Ogie in the other QB thread.

 

[Ope3]

I can only go by the words you chose to use here, which by their definitions means you agreed with my statement that on field performance can be decoupled from management decisions, as I proved with the examples.

Loud wrong.

In the 2009 NFC Championship the coaches/personnel responsible for 12 Men in the Huddle at the SuperDome didn't hire themselves. Neither did the QB who threw the ill fated pass across field when already in FG range.

Signs of dysfunction were clearly apparent on the sidelines with the QB & HC just a few weeks earlier in Carolina. A win there would have greatly improved the odds of the #1 seed HHH/Dome advantage.

That machine put in place by Wilfs would go on to implode spectacularly less than 10 months later.

They have failed to reach the Post Season in consecutive seasons ever since.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I think there's zero chance Kyler Murray ends up a Viking.

I would bet a lot of money on Derek Carr coming here to compete with JJ. The second option would be Cousins.

 

[BleedGopher]

Minnesota Vikings​

Predicted 2026 starter: Kirk Cousins

The Vikings managed 14 wins in 2024 with a quarterback (Darnold) who ranked only 14th in QBR. While they won't always have a defense as dominant as that team had, I have to imagine Minnesota is hankering for palatable quarterback play.

J.J. McCarthy's performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it. Given how Minnesota let its known quantity in Darnold walk out the door in favor of McCarthy, I suspect coach Kevin O'Connell will want to go back to known, solid production. And Cousins represents that. The veteran quarterback was playing some of the best ball in his career with the Vikings in 2023 prior to suffering an Achilles injury. Cousins wasn't the same with Atlanta, though he did play well at the end of last season.

The Falcons are expected to release Cousins. Once they do, the Vikings might take him back.

Predicting all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2026 season

Will Kirk Cousins go back to Minnesota? Could Kyler Murray join the AFC? Let's predict who will start for every NFL team in the 2026 season.

www.espn.com

Skol Vikes!!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Any QB can throw short passes. An offense like KOC's can't be productive on only short passes.

Obviously I was talking about medium to long passes.

Thanks for proving I was correct that for those passes Murray has big issues.


Also corroborated by the Tweet posted by Ogie in the other QB thread.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

This take appears to be another in a long line of your bad, zero chance of ever happening, takes. For some reason, that seems to be your thing.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Interview with Rob B. At the combine

Wow

Rob is an impressive guy - definitely worth a watch,

The gal who interviews him was excellent as well.

 

[Ope3]

Those don't prove that he is inaccurate in medium and long range passes, they prove that the offense run emphasized short routes and short passes.

The relevant statistics, if they are easy to grab, are the usual (completion percentage, td, int, rating) on all passes over XX air yards.

28th in Completion rate.

Yuck.

Aaron Rodgers Stats | Pittsburgh Steelers QB | SumerSports

Explore Aaron Rodgers's full player profile on SumerSports.

sumersports.com

 

[Ope3]

New gig for KAM. Back to the 49ers.

https://www.startribune.com/former-vikings-general-manager-kwesi-adofo-mensah-hired-49ers-john-lynch/601587959

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

I would bet a lot of money on Derek Carr coming here to compete with JJ. The second option would be Cousins.

I think the Vikings could have their pick between Carr, Cousins, or even Murray if they want. All 3 of those guys would probably put the Vikings 10 spots higher on their list than any other team looking for a QB. Carr has made it pretty clear he's not interested in playing for anyone that can't be a very strong postseason threat.

Barring any bridges burned on either side that we haven't heard about, I still think it's probably Cousins. And I wouldn't hate that at all. Don't have to love it, it just has to be a viable option