Vikings Offseason 2026

[Danchat]

50 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I don't believe that's the case. Kirk Cousins was much better under KOC. He finally got Kirko to take shots downfield and not be scared of making mistakes. Darnold looked good here, and he maximized Mullens to his very best self... granted his best self wasn't that great. 

The issue is we've had to start several QBs who are backup quality at best, and out of the league at their worst like Jarren Hall, the Passtronaut, JJM, and Brosmer. 

Statistically Kirk was fairly close between Zimmer and KOC, the main difference was the wins in KOC's era due to Kirk playing really well in the 4th quarter, though notably was preceded by playing poorly in the 2nd-3rd quarters. 2019-2020 under Stefanski and G Kubiak were his best statistically.

IMO JJM is way more talented than the rest of that group. On another forum, somebody asked this:

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what are the strengths of McCarthy? From what I can tell his super power is playing on a loaded team that runs the ball and doesn't ask him to throw

To which I responded: In college, it was his accuracy in the intermediate range, consistently converting 3rd downs (best 3rd and long conversion rate among college QBs that year), playing fairly well when pressured, played in a pro offense under center, and had the mobility to run for some first downs. It's kinda incredible how none of that has translated to the NFL. Not to mention he had zero red flags when it came to durability and now he's incredibly fragile.

The whole "JJM was hidden on a run-first super offense" isn't exactly true, heck, comparing him to Fernando Mendoza, JJM only threw one less pass per game comparing their final years and Michigan had zero NFL caliber WRs or OL to support the passing game. They blew out most their opponents in their championship year, so it was natural for them to run the ball a ton. Michigan's QB play before and after him were far worse on a supposedly easy-to-play offense.

I can be argued down to JJM being a high 2nd round caliber prospect without the use of hindsight. Plenty of prospects with relatively clean prospect profiles bust, it doesn't make the scouting reports wrong in hindsight. You can't project all of a prospect's strengths failing to translate and his maturity and durability to be far less than expected, that's just a risk that comes with the pick.

This regime has had a knack with everything going wrong for a prospect (see Cine, Booth Jr, Asamoah, etc). You just think having the likes of Josh McCown and Kevin O'Connell would get some level improvement out of JJM, even a little bit? Heck, even Brosmer looks worse after dominating last preseason. KOC can get a solid baseline level from veteran QBs, but you know who else can do that? Most other head coaches, including Mike Zimmer.

[Mike Sixel]

56 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Statistically Kirk was fairly close between Zimmer and KOC, the main difference was the wins in KOC's era due to Kirk playing really well in the 4th quarter, though notably was preceded by playing poorly in the 2nd-3rd quarters. 2019-2020 under Stefanski and G Kubiak were his best statistically.

IMO JJM is way more talented than the rest of that group. On another forum, somebody asked this:

To which I responded: In college, it was his accuracy in the intermediate range, consistently converting 3rd downs (best 3rd and long conversion rate among college QBs that year), playing fairly well when pressured, played in a pro offense under center, and had the mobility to run for some first downs. It's kinda incredible how none of that has translated to the NFL. Not to mention he had zero red flags when it came to durability and now he's incredibly fragile.

The whole "JJM was hidden on a run-first super offense" isn't exactly true, heck, comparing him to Fernando Mendoza, JJM only threw one less pass per game comparing their final years and Michigan had zero NFL caliber WRs or OL to support the passing game. They blew out most their opponents in their championship year, so it was natural for them to run the ball a ton. Michigan's QB play before and after him were far worse on a supposedly easy-to-play offense.

I can be argued down to JJM being a high 2nd round caliber prospect without the use of hindsight. Plenty of prospects with relatively clean prospect profiles bust, it doesn't make the scouting reports wrong in hindsight. You can't project all of a prospect's strengths failing to translate and his maturity and durability to be far less than expected, that's just a risk that comes with the pick.

This regime has had a knack with everything going wrong for a prospect (see Cine, Booth Jr, Asamoah, etc). You just think having the likes of Josh McCown and Kevin O'Connell would get some level improvement out of JJM, even a little bit? Heck, even Brosmer looks worse after dominating last preseason. KOC can get a solid baseline level from veteran QBs, but you know who else can do that? Most other head coaches, including Mike Zimmer.

I'm also beginning to wonder if koc can coach young players....

[Vanimal46]

12 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm also beginning to wonder if koc can coach young players....

Is it KOC's fault that JJM entering year 3 in the NFL still has issues with layering his passes? I mean, that's high school level stuff. I'm at a loss how a QB who's had elite coaching his whole life doesn't know he can just lob a pass to a wide open Myles Price in the flat for an easy TD? 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Is it KOC's fault that JJM entering year 3 in the NFL still has issues with layering his passes? I mean, that's high school level stuff. I'm at a loss how a QB who's had elite coaching his whole life doesn't know he can just lob a pass to a wide open Myles Price in the flat for an easy TD? 

It's not just him. They've had very few impact rookies. 

[Vanimal46]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

It's not just him. They've had very few impact rookies. 

Jackson looked good on the OL before he injured his wrist... Addison is good. There hasn't been a lot of draft picks in general (thanks Kwesi) and fewer offensive talents we've drafted. Beyond those 2 it's JJM and Felton in the 3rd round which felt like a reach at the time.  

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

This regime has had a knack with everything going wrong for a prospect (see Cine, Booth Jr, Asamoah, etc). You just think having the likes of Josh McCown and Kevin O'Connell would get some level improvement out of JJM, even a little bit? Heck, even Brosmer looks worse after dominating last preseason. KOC can get a solid baseline level from veteran QBs, but you know who else can do that? Most other head coaches, including Mike Zimmer.

This is why I'm annoyed with KOC specifically trying to distance himself from the McCarthy pick. Almost all of them have busted, and McCarthy was the 5th QB taken that draft! Sure, the casual fans will think this pick was some special unicorn the Vikings failed to develop, but anybody who knows anything about football knew this was a high risk gamble going in, yet just about every one of us accepted that and agreed that it was a gamble they needed to take. Running from this looks cowardly and foolish considering the odds likely were never more than 50/50 that this would work out.

KOC may be the wrong guy for the job, but I would like to see him with another legit rookie QB. Maybe next time one that has more experience and maturity. I don't think failing on McCarthy is any different than failing on the other recent top QBs that lacked experience, like Richardson and Lance. I think McCarthy is still too young and too stubborn to show real growth. Unnecessarily throwing as hard as he possibly can to a wide open WR should prove this. Missing was unintentional, throwing as hard as he can was not.  When showing off how strong you are is your top priority, you look like you're still a frat boy. To have a chance in this league, he's going to need to get humbled, broken down and re-assembled just like Mayfield, Darnold and Geno Smith did.

As for Brosmer, I'm not putting much weight on an UDFA QB. I don't specifically remember what Brosmer was doing last year to look good, but he's got a weak and inaccurate arm and is slow as molasses. Those seem to be fairly un-fixable issues.

[nicksaviking]

Are we at all interested in Trey Benson? I'm not quite sure on the mechanics, but sounds like you'd have to roster him until Week 1 when you could put him on the IR/PUP? 

Not quiet sure, but if no one claims him AZ can put him on the PUP. Zavier Scott is already 27-years-old, so if he's still on the table to make the roster, I'd rather take a flyer on a higher upside guy like Benson. If Benson isn't healthy week 1, there will surely be RBs from other teams that will be cut that are as good or better than Scott anyway.

And, obviously Benson is a RB, so it goes without saying that his floor is 'never plays in the NFL ever again'.

[Danchat]

double post, please delete

[Danchat]

 

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Are we at all interested in Trey Benson? I'm not quite sure on the mechanics, but sounds like you'd have to roster him until Week 1 when you could put him on the IR/PUP? 

It sounds like his knee is in bad shape. I would if he was healthy, but the Cardinals seemingly had no confidence he was going to be healthy this year (Love at #3, signed Allgeier, Conner is still there).

[Vanimal46]

 

[TheLeviathan]

26 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

 

Cutting him just seems dumb to me.  It's not like anyone in that room is known for being an iron man and none of them are paid much.  Might as well keep all three for this year and see where we are at the end of this thing.

[Vanimal46]

17 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Cutting him just seems dumb to me.  It's not like anyone in that room is known for being an iron man and none of them are paid much.  Might as well keep all three for this year and see where we are at the end of this thing.

If anyone is offering a day 3 pick I’m taking it and running. But if it’s down to outright releasing him then I’m with ya. Keep him as the QB 3. He would have to be a real prick behind the scenes to release him. Who knows, maybe he is. 

[TheLeviathan]

3 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

If anyone is offering a day 3 pick I’m taking it and running. But if it’s down to outright releasing him then I’m with ya. Keep him as the QB 3. He would have to be a real prick behind the scenes to release him. Who knows, maybe he is. 

I think I'd move him for a third.  Anything else and it's just not worth it unless, as you say, he's a huge d-bag.

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I think I'd move him for a third.  Anything else and it's just not worth it unless, as you say, he's a huge d-bag.

McCarthy and a fifth for a third? Not that anyone is doing that....

[The Great Hambino]

The longer they hold onto JJ, the greater the chance some team suffers an injury to their QB room and gets desperate enough to overpay in trade.  He would have to be actively sabotaging their game planning to be such a distraction that he's not worth holding onto in case of that scenario.  I think locker room cancer-type things generally get overblown - these are professionals, they're too wrapped up in their own game prep to get too concerned with high school locker room drama.  I'd like to think that, anyway

[Danchat]

Big article came out today from an NFL insider that I consider to be reputable - Tony Pauline reports on some "differences" in the evaluation of Caleb Banks between the new Front Office (Teasley) and basically Flores since he pretty much ran the 2026 Draft while Brez serves as the guy who turned the picks in and called the player first:

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After firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January, assistant G.M. Demitrius Washington and senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson were among the bigger names the franchise cut loose in June, more than a month after April’s draft. Some of the newer decision-makers now running the organization are questioning that group’s choice of defensive lineman Caleb Banks in the first round.

When the Vikings selected Banks with the 18th pick of Round 1, it was a surprise to just about everyone in the scouting community. Most of the league thought that, if Banks was going to be a first-round pick, it would be in the final selections, not the middle of the frame. He was never a consistently dominant defender in college, and his conditioning was a concern to some teams- all red flags that made him a marginal round one prospect. By his own admission, Banks did not come to Vikings camp in shape. He was graded as a second-round prospect on the final EssentiallySports Big Board just before the draft.

Sources tell me some in the front office believe the prior regime should’ve gone in a different direction with the 18th pick and feel Banks will not offer them the immediate impact needed. They have not been impressed with the lineman, as he’s been inconsistent on the field.

This is quite the expose to be coming out at this point of the season... but it's exactly what I was saying when he was drafted. Not great college production, lengthy injury history, plus multiple other sources have reported that conditioning is a problem. Just not a guy you spend a 1st rounder on. 

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To make matters worse, the Vikings’ pick in the third round, defensive lineman Dom Orange, has been tearing it up since the start of camp and is expected to move into the starting lineup sooner rather than later. Those on hand tell me that Orange, rather than Banks, looks like the first-round player. 

Truth be told, Banks and Orange play two different positions on the defensive line. And no one in Minnesota is writing Banks’ obituary as of now. The new regime believes the first-round pick should’ve been used on a higher-rated player who would contribute earlier in his NFL career.

Sources also tell me the Vikings could not be happier with undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas. The safety from James Madison was not on many boards prior to the draft, but he is expected to make the team’s active roster and contribute this season.

Jacob Thomas might end up being better than Jakobe Thomas, of whom we spent a 3rd round pick on.

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I wrote that sources were telling me defensive coordinator Brian Flores wanted pass-rush help in the opening frame, and that’s what they hope Banks will do. Flores carries a lot of weight in the Vikings organization.

Yup, they went with DL because Allen and Hargrave were cut, went need over BPA. Flores is quite possibly the best defensive mind in the league, but that doesn't mean he's the best college scout.

[nicksaviking]

15 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I think I'd move him for a third.  Anything else and it's just not worth it unless, as you say, he's a huge d-bag.

***IF*** I was a GM or HC who had illusions of greatness and thought this team was capable of making a deep playoff run, I might move him for any draft pick, even if he's not a huge d-bag. Him being on the roster would likely be a season long distraction and football coaches don't tend to put up with distractions.

Of course I don't have illusions of greatness for this team, more like illusions of good enough to get bounced in the first round.

 

[nicksaviking]

25 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Yup, they went with DL because Allen and Hargrave were cut, went need over BPA. Flores is quite possibly the best defensive mind in the league, but that doesn't mean he's the best college scout.

It was seriously a dumb idea to put Flores and KOC in that spot to begin with. I'm sure they were clamoring for it, but come on, if these kinds of guys are coming into the office at 4 AM for nine months straight to be the best coaches they can be, the other three months don't give them time to ALSO be the best GMS and scouts they can be. 

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

BYup, they went with DL because Allen and Hargrave were cut, went need over BPA. Flores is quite possibly the best defensive mind in the league, but that doesn't mean he's the best college scout.

I've planted my flag that I think that pick is going to work out for us barring injury.

However, there is no doubt that they basically gave up a late 2/early 3 type value by not trading down before they took him.  I really hope the new FO shows a better handle on maximizing player and draft value.

[Mike Sixel]

I didn't love the pick, for injury and conditioning reasons......and I've hated nearly every first round pick for years now....so, that's not relevant. 

[Parfigliano]

On 8/25/2026 at 7:52 PM, TheLeviathan said:

I think I'd move him for a third.  Anything else and it's just not worth it unless, as you say, he's a huge d-bag.

I haven't seen anything even vaguely  hinting that he's a problem child.  

[Vanimal46]

Trade in the works?