Danchat's Offseason Blueprint 2026

[Danchat]

Here is a summary of my blueprint, there is an extended addition for anyone who wants it. The idea is to placate the Wilfs mandate to strive for contention and satisfy Kevin O'Connell's clear desire for a new QB to start the 2026 season. My goal will also be to get the roster younger where possible.

Cuts

TE Hockenson, RB Jones, C Kelly

Re-signing

P Wright 3/12.3M, LS DePaola and CB Moreau on vet minimum

Restructures/Ext

RT O'Neill - 3 year, $63M extension

DT Hargrave - paycut/bonus to save $6M

WR Jefferson - save around $11M via a bonus

Trades

ED Greenard to Bucs for their 2nd rounder

RB Mason + future 7th to Chargers for their 6th rounder

DL Allen (plus eating $4M of salary) to the Bears for their 7th rounder

Free Agents

QB Kyler Murray - vet minimum (assuming offsetting salary)

S Alohi Gilman - 3/$27M

ILB Leo Chenal - 3/$24M

RB Tyler Allgeier - 3/$18M

TE Tyler Higbee - 1/$5M

ED Joshua Uche - 1/$5M

Draft (still early in my draft process, the positions are more important than the actual players)

Minor signings

WR Tutu Atwell - 1/$2.5M

ILB Willie Gay - 1/$2M

OT Josh Jones - 2/$6M

C Andre James, DL Jonathan Bullard, CB Darrell Baker Jr, QB Skylar Thompson - vet minimum

I can post the contracts spreadsheet, but I think this is getting a little long. Let me know what you think!

[TheLeviathan]

Good stuff Dan!  You think Allegier is the KOC style back?  I like the player but when I did mine I had a hard time pegging the kind of player that I thought KOC would enjoy using.  

Huge fan of what you did with the linebackers.  Chenal and Rodriguez are studs.  

The move makes sense but I hate giving up Greenard for a 2nd.

[Vanimal46]

Pretty much on par with a blueprint I would put together. The QB acquisition I think will be either Murray or Geno Smith at near league minimum...

I am intrigued with Jake Rodriguez learning AVG's role so we can have a solution there for 2027 and beyond. 

It sounds like we will be trying to bring back Hockenson on a reduced contract... For him, it's not really about the money. I just think he looks cooked on the field now and would rather move on like you did in your blueprint.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd rather they get picks in 27..... But overall this works. 

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Good stuff Dan!  You think Allegier is the KOC style back?  I like the player but when I did mine I had a hard time pegging the kind of player that I thought KOC would enjoy using.  

Huge fan of what you did with the linebackers.  Chenal and Rodriguez are studs.  

The move makes sense but I hate giving up Greenard for a 2nd.

Allgeier might not be a perfect fit, but one of the reasons why I moved Mason was because he's a horrid pass protector and can't be out there on passing downs, whereas Allgeier had a very good season there. He's a downgrade from Mason as a pure runner, but KOC was only using Mason something like 30% of the snaps when Jones was healthy.

Speaking of Greenard... 

 

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

For him, it's not really about the money. I just think he looks cooked on the field now and would rather move on like you did in your blueprint.

Yeah, in this mock I didn't land a future TE to pair with Higbee but there are quite a few options in the draft. I don't get the fascination with post ACL Hock, 2026 is probably going to be his last year as a Viking anyways. He wasn't productive with Darnold, JJM, Wentz, or Brosmer. I threw around the idea of giving a 3 year deal to Otton or Okonkwo on the open market, but I opted for the placeholder in Higbee.

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd rather they get picks in 27..... But overall this works. 

I did pick up 3 picks in 27 - 2 4ths and a 5th. Nothing crazy, but it's at least something as I figure we might be trading up for a QB in next year's draft.

[Mike Sixel]

32 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Allgeier might not be a perfect fit, but one of the reasons why I moved Mason was because he's a horrid pass protector and can't be out there on passing downs, whereas Allgeier had a very good season there. He's a downgrade from Mason as a pure runner, but KOC was only using Mason something like 30% of the snaps when Jones was healthy.

Speaking of Greenard... 

 

Yeah, in this mock I didn't land a future TE to pair with Higbee but there are quite a few options in the draft. I don't get the fascination with post ACL Hock, 2026 is probably going to be his last year as a Viking anyways. He wasn't productive with Darnold, JJM, Wentz, or Brosmer. I threw around the idea of giving a 3 year deal to Otton or Okonkwo on the open market, but I opted for the placeholder in Higbee.

I did pick up 3 picks in 27 - 2 4ths and a 5th. Nothing crazy, but it's at least something as I figure we might be trading up for a QB in next year's draft.

Ah, I skimmed too fast!

[nicksaviking]

Good stuff. I like Chanel, but I might rather bring Wilson back. He was team MVP last year as far as I was concerned. I know he's older, but I presume that makes him less expensive. I like the Gilman signing. Though I was starting to get excited about some of the early round safeties as well.

If I was going to take a RB for pass blocking, I'd rather go for Rachaad White. He's a good pass catcher too.

I don't think a TE can be used to his most effectiveness in this offense, so I wouldn't worry about losing Hockinson either. I might be eyeing David Njoku as a replacement.

Lee Hunter's measurables sounded brutal. I wouldn't be surprised if he's now a day 3 pick. Maybe late day 3.

Since you and Vanimal both had Slaughter and Lance in your pick projections, I'm going to guess they both go higher than listed. Lance's combine workout in particular was an all-timer, I'll guess 3rd round now; maybe 2nd. I like both though.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Allgeier might not be a perfect fit, but one of the reasons why I moved Mason was because he's a horrid pass protector and can't be out there on passing downs, whereas Allgeier had a very good season there. He's a downgrade from Mason as a pure runner, but KOC was only using Mason something like 30% of the snaps when Jones was healthy.

I was of the same thought in mine when I picked up Dowdle.  Mason is a one trick pony unfortunately.  

I hate that we're chasing RBs in free agency after sitting there last year and taking Tai Felton when we could've had Skattebo.

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

I was of the same thought in mine when I picked up Dowdle.  Mason is a one trick pony unfortunately.  

I hate that we're chasing RBs in free agency after sitting there last year and taking Tai Felton when we could've had Skattebo.

Yup, it was a really deep RB (especially compared to the 2026 class), Skattebo, Tuten, and Marks in the 4th along with Monangai and JCM in the 7th. So much so that I created this right after Day 3 wrapped up:

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Yup, it was a really deep RB (especially compared to the 2026 class), Skattebo, Tuten, and Marks in the 4th along with Monangai and JCM in the 7th. So much so that I created this right after Day 3 wrapped up:

Thanks, Kwesi! I know we were limited on picks last year, but it was criminal watching all of the RBs flying off the board in the mid rounds.