Vikings Offseason 2026

[Mike Sixel]

It's official. 

[Mike Sixel]

[Mike Sixel]

Thankfully this also means no Rodgers, so I can stay a Vikings fan.

[TheLeviathan]

Well...now the last big domino is the Greenard trade if it happens.  

[Mike Sixel]

I'm beginning to feel mildly optimistic about Murray, if healthy. Mildly. 

[Danchat]

51 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Well...now the last big domino is the Greenard trade if it happens.  

That and a potential extension for O'Neill that could free up a good $10M+. He has a very large cap hit, if they're going to keep him in 2027 and on then it's best to do an extension now.

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm beginning to feel mildly optimistic about Murray, if healthy. Mildly. 

I'm trying to remember if somewhere in the back of my head I knew that Murray was a life long Vikings fan. He played with Larry Fitzgerald for two years, so that might have been mentioned at some point?

Anyway, I'm not sure if that makes him slightly endearing, or if it means he's just resigned to losing big games like the rest of us.

[Vanimal46]

12 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm beginning to feel mildly optimistic about Murray, if healthy. Mildly. 

I'm pretty optimistic actually. We did just win 9 games with the worst QB play in the league. All Kyler needs to do is be league average or better and there's a good chance we're winning 10+ games in 2026. 

I was a lot more pessimistic about the Vikings if we were rolling with a QB room similar to McCarthy - Wentz - Brosmer like last season. 

[Vanimal46]

Considering the Vikings have never been on Hard Knocks before... This feels like the year we will do it, right? 

[The Great Hambino]

39 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Considering the Vikings have never been on Hard Knocks before... This feels like the year we will do it, right? 

I hadn't thought about that, but they really do fit the profile for it, don't they

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, The Great Hambino said:

I hadn't thought about that, but they really do fit the profile for it, don't they

Really high entertainment potential for NFL fans... New recognizable QB, HC on the ropes, old veteran team with lots of stories I'm sure. I could see it happening. 

[nicksaviking]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Considering the Vikings have never been on Hard Knocks before... This feels like the year we will do it, right? 

I thought if you made the playoffs in the past two years you got a pass. Should you want the pass.

[Vanimal46]

18 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I thought if you made the playoffs in the past two years you got a pass. Should you want the pass.

I forgot about that rule. So they probably bow out of that show if they can 

[Vanimal46]

I would have lost the bet 5 years ago that he wasn't going to last in the NFL past 5 years. Incredibly underrated career from a 1st round draft bust. 

[DocBauer]

COMING IN A BIT LATE, SO HERE I GO:

I'm fully in favor of the re-signing of Wilson. He's a little older, but he played DAMN well last season. And he sure didn't look like a guy who's tank was running low.

I WAS surprised about bringing Pace back. But he's still young, he's not expensive, and I'm guessing Flores is not ready to give up on him yet. 

Pierre is a solid addition who has quality PFF numbers for his career. He projects as the best #3 CB we've had for a couple of years. Honestly, while I'd love to see a young corner drafted early, there's a handful of corners sitting there for round 2 in FA that I wouldn't mind adding. I'd jump on 26yo Taylor-Britt from Cincinnati as a #4 CB with a ton of talent and projection. He might be the next "Rogers" signing that is ready to break through. At worst he's a really nice #4 who fights Pierre for the #3 spot. I watched this kid for his career at Nebraska, and he's got an "it" factor that shouldn't be ignored. That might eliminate a need for a CB drafted in the first 3 rounds. That's a bonus that shouldn't cost much.

There is NOW WAY I'd move Greenard unless the roster and payroll simply doesn't allow it. If he's actually moved, you have to get AT LEAST a 2nd round pick for him. Even then, one of your top picks have to be for ANOTHER EDGE player. So you get younger and cheaper, but you DAMN WELL better make a smart pick in the draft to find a potential fit because you just traded away a Pro Bowl player. 

With all due respect, I would have let Jones go. The ONLY reason I can see keeping him is to not pressure a rookie RB to be the #1 from day one. MAYBE that has merit, but I think it's a mistake.

FA wise, there's a couple EDGE guys that make sense IF Greenard is traded. And again, there's a couple CB available that also make sense and are "affordable" in the 2nd wave of FA that are solid players with potential. 

I'd keep Greenard if at all possible. 

But other than depth options, temporarily ignoring the obvious 1 for 1 drafting of an EDGE player to "replace" Greenard, the path forward is open and obvious to me

SIGN the next best CB available. That's Taylor-Britt. He won't cost a fortune. Now you have 4 viable CB, plus some interesting development CB on hand

ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED at how many comments made are in regard to Harry hanging it up. Despite his age, and whatever health/physical issue held him back the first half of the season, he was still really good the last half of the year. Personally, I think he's got ONE MORE good season in him. And I'm hoping he agrees and comes back and prove to everyone how great he has been.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't look at SAFETY as a draft choice in April.

I just think we have the opportunity to ADD another solid CB and let the draft flow as it will and look for the best option for the future. 

**NOTE: FA SHOULD have the FO finding the best #3 OT available. 

 

 

[DocBauer]

Regarding Murry, he's a STUD athlete. And he's put up some amazing numbers when healthy.  He's basically Tarkenton x2. And I say that with all respect because he's also a Vilings fan since childhood. 

His signing sounds great on so many levels. But Geno Smith...stole away by the Jets...seemed to be the better option for KOC. CAN KOC adjust his offense to adjust for Murry? 

What's kinda crazy is that KOC is inventive. But HOW inventive is the question here. With any sort of decent blocking, the short Murray CAN throw the ball. But he's also dangerous rolling out, and when things break down. Assuming for a moment that Hockenson is actually healthy and ready to re-establish himself as a receiver, he might have the best collection of receivers he's ever had. 

I dare say that despite his signing, the most important thing the FO can do is find a legitimate CENTER, and also add a young RB to work with Jones and Mason. The potential is THERE even though he wasn't my first choice.

[DocBauer]

This team isn't exactly devoid of talent. But it needs reinforcements at multiple spots, and it's short of one starter.

I DON'T want/agree with trading Greenard. HAVE to find a medium to keep him. IF he was moved, he brings back a #2 pick, probably. THAT pick has to be a younger, cheaper replacement that you'd BETTER GET RIGHT. IF he could bring back an additional 3rd or 4th round pick, I guess I listen more closely.

But even if he's brought back, the draft priorities remain the same. In no order, the Vikings need a S, CB, ILB, DT, C, RB. But you will have a hard time getting all 6 spots filled in the first 3 rounds and 4 picks.

I'd grab Britt-Taylor at CB in round 2 of FA and call CB good. Maybe there's a steal on day 3 you can develop, but you open next season basically set.

Considering how few times the defense plays with 2 ILB, I think you can live with what you have, and look for depth later in the draft, or another 2nd tier FA. 

Even if Harry comes back for 1 more year...and he was still really good once ramped up following WHATEVER his mystery health problem was...you still need depth, and his replacement. So SAFETY is a priority in rounds 1-3.

This team is CRAVING a long term answer at CENTER. So unless you believe someone like Dunker from IOWA will be sitting there in the 5th round, you'd better grab one early.

I don't mind having Jones around for another cheap deal as a veteran RB who does everything well. But the clock is about to hit midnight. And there are some really nice RB available in round 3 even. Emmet Johnson...even though he needs to improve his pass blocking a bit more...is an ideal fit for the Vikings. But there are some other very interesting options. 

And while I really like the young DL on the roster, what they've done, and what they might do, I do think they need another talented option to be added.

That's what I'd focus on. Bring in another solid CB and focus on S, C, DT, and RB. And use the rest of the draft for good athletes that you don't need to play in 2026 at CB, ILB, TE, and maybe a WR steal. Is there a Punter late you don't want to have to fight for post draft? 

[nicksaviking]

Is this team really going to go into the draft with Brandel as their current starting center? If so, this is a terrible idea.

I know many of us like the idea of grabbing a Center who can start early in the draft, but if that's the plan, then that means they're going to have to plan to waste more draft capital to  trade up for someone. And that's just a poor use of the equity.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Is this team really going to go into the draft with Brandel as their current starting center? If so, this is a terrible idea.

I know many of us like the idea of grabbing a Center who can start early in the draft, but if that's the plan, then that means they're going to have to plan to waste more draft capital to  trade up for someone. And that's just a poor use of the equity.

I thought he was ok at center.  They definitely have more needs than they have picks though.

[nicksaviking]

49 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I thought he was ok at center.  They definitely have more needs than they have picks though.

Maybe I'm under-estimating him. If he's as good as the remaining free agents, I guess that's fine.

I just don't want them going into the draft thinking they HAVE to get a center. Targeting a position because of a recently created hole almost always backfires for them.

[Mike Sixel]

28 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Maybe I'm under-estimating him. If he's as good as the remaining free agents, I guess that's fine.

I just don't want them going into the draft thinking they HAVE to get a center. Targeting a position because of a recently created hole almost always backfires for them.

Safety.... Is 100 percent a need to be drafted. 

Brandel is probably ok, but I'm drafting a center at some point. I want more than ok 

[TheLeviathan]

40 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Maybe I'm under-estimating him. If he's as good as the remaining free agents, I guess that's fine.

I just don't want them going into the draft thinking they HAVE to get a center. Targeting a position because of a recently created hole almost always backfires for them.

I thought, for a guy that had never played there before, that he handled it pretty well.  An offseason of being that guy, figuring out protections, etc. and maybe we have that guy.

It does mean we are perilously thin at OL depth then.

[TheLeviathan]

11 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Safety.... Is 100 percent a need to be drafted. 

Brandel is probably ok, but I'm drafting a center at some point. I want more than ok 

It sure seems like Smith might be coming back right?  I agree we need to draft one but maybe that changes it from being a Day 1/2 need to a Day 3 need?

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

It sure seems like Smith might be coming back right?  I agree we need to draft one but maybe that changes it from being a Day 1/2 need to a Day 3 need?

If an elite S is there in round 1, I'm taking him if Smith is back or not. Smith is as old as Vanimal, right?

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Safety.... Is 100 percent a need to be drafted. 

Brandel is probably ok, but I'm drafting a center at some point. I want more than ok 

I'd like to target both, but the problem when you have to find a starter in the draft, is that you can't sit and wait for one, since most probably aren't ready to start. And surely the other teams will take advantage of this. 

I'd like both spots to be filled with free agents, even if it's just a passable stop gap. 

[Mike Sixel]

13 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I'd like to target both, but the problem when you have to find a starter in the draft, is that you can't sit and wait for one, since most probably aren't ready to start. And surely the other teams will take advantage of this. 

I'd like both spots to be filled with free agents, even if it's just a passable stop gap. 

Most teams start first and second round picks these days. So I'm not sure I agree here. Heck, lots of third round picks too. 

[nicksaviking]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Most teams start first and second round picks these days. So I'm not sure I agree here. Heck, lots of third round picks too. 

Plenty do, but the Vikings don't. Particularly on defense.

And I really don't want to be in a spot where the Vikings have to pass up someone who's unexpectedly falling because there's only a few starters Flores would start and they are force to get one.

The years where this team was absolutely locked in on one position were almost always the worst drafts. They were locked in with Darrisaw and that worked out; Bradbuy was OK. But not McCarthy, Cine and Booth, Mike Hughes, Laquon Treadwell, Trae Waynes, Matt Kalil, Christian Ponder, Troy Williamson, Michael Bennet.

When there's little doubt what the Vikings HAVE to take, it's just about always a reach that backfires.

Maybe I can conceded to an OL rule, where those have worked out often enough that it's not the end of the world.

[TheLeviathan]

6 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

If an elite S is there in round 1, I'm taking him if Smith is back or not. Smith is as old as Vanimal, right?

[Vanimal46]

8 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

It sure seems like Smith might be coming back right?  I agree we need to draft one but maybe that changes it from being a Day 1/2 need to a Day 3 need?

If the Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is still on the board I'm running to the podium to draft him. Really good athlete that can play at the LOS like vintage Harry the Hitman. 

[Vanimal46]

11 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Is this team really going to go into the draft with Brandel as their current starting center? If so, this is a terrible idea.

I know many of us like the idea of grabbing a Center who can start early in the draft, but if that's the plan, then that means they're going to have to plan to waste more draft capital to  trade up for someone. And that's just a poor use of the equity.

I want the Iowa C Logan Jones. But evidently there are more than 5 quality centers that will be drafted in the mid rounds this draft. The only negative I see about Jones as a draft prospect is he's 25 years old, but I view that as a positive for the OL. He has a ton of starting experience in a pro-style Iowa offense.