Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Are You Not Entertained?

It is a great time of year for football fans. You really have to like this time of year if you are true football nerd/doofus. You got off season planning and the underwear olympics going on plus, for Vikings fans, we got QB dilemma. How can you not be entertained?

The defensive backs were really fast yesterday. I like to see the body types to “guess” which players will be good tacklers or be able to take and give the punishment. A lot of safeties were under 200 lbs which is a little concerning but I guess it is just the way things are. I gravitate to the bigger safeties myself.

Dillon Thieneman did not disappoint and probably cemented himself as a first round pick. He would be a very nice pick but there were some other safeties that looked good that probably can be had in round 2 or 3 and maybe even later. It depends on free agency really. The cornerbacks were nice but they had a lot of them so the team may not draft one early. When you think about what Flores did the last couple of years, he probably is not going to be pounding the table for a corner. I expect a free agent or two to be added and then a developmental corner later in the draft. But if they do not sign any free agent they could go earlier for cornerback.

We need MOAR picks no?

Obviously, the QB decision gets most of the attention as is should. The Anthony Richardson availability news has conjured up plenty of opinion and a lot of them accurately reflect where AR is at in his career. Specifically injury history and accuracy issues. I will just say this to those of you who I feel cannot see the forest for the trees. The Vikings should trade for AR simply because he is better than Brosmer. AR could lose the competition to JJ but he still will get coached up by the Vikings staff and KOC. If JJ goes down again (knock on wood) then he could come in. What happens if he does better? He will be a free agent in 2027. The Vikings could be in line for a compensatory pick in 2028 if he signs a nice deal with another team in 2027. Asset management. He is worth a flyer that is for sure.

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

J.J. McCarthy Could Compete with Kyler Murray or Geno Smith, Pelissero Says

Pelissero, whose roots in Minnesota make him well-connected to the Vikings, continues to report that the Vikings do intend to have McCarthy compete with a former NFL starter for the QB1 job in 2026.

“What the Vikings are going to do this year is what they intended to do a year ago, which is have a legitimate guy, a former starter, competing with J.J. McCarthy,” Pelissero said Thursday on The Rich Eisen Show. “And they’re optimistic that a competitive environment is going to bring out the best in J.J. McCarthy.”

The viral clip from Pelissero’s appearance with Eisen was him saying Justin Jefferson still believes in McCarthy: “Justin Jefferson still believes in J.J. McCarthy. I can tell you that factually. He still believes in him.”
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“The ones that make sense to me would be Kyler Murray. He’s played a ton. He has not played in this offense. So you get an opportunity to learn from Kevin O’Connell, and we know he’s got playmaking ability. He’s fully healthy now. Geno Smith would also make some sense as a compete guy,” Pelissero said.
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“Because again, at some point, you can turn it over. Even those guys are your starters out of the gate and they outplay J.J. McCarthy, at some point you can turn it over,” he said, then shutting down the thought of Minnesota every giving the job to McCarthy if they signed Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins.

“The idea of bringing in Aaron Rodgers and if the season doesn’t get off to a good start, you’re not benching four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. You’re not having an open competition between Aaron Rodgers and J.J. McCarthy,” Pelissero continued. “I don’t believe you can have an open competition between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, because you’ve got thousands of fans pulling out their No. 8 jerseys, because he is Kirk Cousins.”

“I believe a guy like Kyler or Geno makes a ton of sense to come in, because you can have a truly level playing ground. You can choose the best quarterback,” he added.

Another Potential Vikings QB Target Open to Explore Trade Options
The Minnesota Vikings are trying to navigate a tricky quarterback situation this offseason. They want to add competition for J.J. McCarthy but not automatically send the 23-year-old to the bench. An intriguing option, other than Anthony Richardson, to possibly satisfy both those needs appeared to enter the trade market this week — Andy Dalton.

Minnesota Vikings now know key detail that will impact Jordan Addison’s future
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One Surprise Release Just Got Interesting for the Vikings
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Emmett Johnson Compares Himself to Great RBs, Would Love Vikings to Bring Him Home
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Top NFL Draft prospect just proved why the Minnesota Vikings need to make him their top priority
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Pitt LB Kyle Louis Would Seamlessly Fit In Brian Flores’ Defense
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NFL Experts Offer Potential Late-Round Options for Vikings

2026 NFL Combine day two review — Dillon Thieneman’s epic show, cornerback depth is there

So who stood out today?

Firstly, Avieon Terrell. The Clemson cornerback had an outstanding on-field performance. He just looks so natural, which isn’t a surprise given his bloodlines. The transitions were easy for him on every backpedal drill. His starting footwork was better than most for the ‘W’ drill. He showed explosive forward movements after his initial backpedal. On the #2 Teryl Austin drill his pivot and change of direction was whiplash worthy.
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Everette just looks the part. A dude. He looked different next to many of the other cornerbacks. He has a fantastic body type on a 6-1, 198lbs frame. He has 32 inch arms and ran a 4.38 forty.

Everything looked natural to him, including an outstanding gauntlet drill. All of his backpedals were smooth with no wasted motion. His ball-tracking was good. Every single rep was a tick in the box. The only minor error was a slightly shortened final backpedal on the ‘W’.

He’s well known as the leader of the Georgia secondary.

Safety review

Multiple safeties ran excellent forty times. It isn’t typical to see several 4.3 and 4.4 runners at this position. Of the 14 running a forty, 10 ran a sub-4.5.

Let’s not bury the lede though. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman produced one of the all time great on-field workout performances. He started off by running a 4.35 and jumping a 41-inch vertical. Yet it was how he moved during drills that was frankly quite stunning.

His backpedal and transition was as good as any cornerback I’ve seen. His movements were so sudden and deliberate with zero wasted motion. He did it all with a muscular looking 6-0 and 201lbs frame. He looked bigger, yet moved incredibly. It was genuinely a thrill to watch him compete.

Even on the gauntlet, where he got his body twisted around half-way through, he still contorted to catch everything.
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Jalon Kilgore definitely has something to him. He collected a decent tally of interceptions at South Carolina, he’s well sized (6-1, 210lbs) and has long arms (33 inches). He does have some potential versatility between safety and corner. He ran a 4.40 and jumped a 37 inch vertical. This was a good day for Kilgore.

NFL combine 2026: Grades for top DB prospects, plus other standout performers from on-field workouts
Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Measurables: 6-foot-0½, 194 pounds, 9½-inch hands, 31⅝-inch arm length
Testing: 4.27-second 40-yard dash, 1.49-second 10-yard split, 39-inch vertical jump

Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr. entered the week as CBS Sports’ No. 216 overall prospect but he’s sure to climb up the rankings after a historic combine outing Friday. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection posted the fastest 40-yard dash by a safety since NFL Network began tracking combine data in 2003, running a 4.27. He joined his brother Sonny in turning heads at the 2026 combine. Styles’ 39-inch vertical ranked fourth among safeties this year.

Even more impressive, he is scheduled to undergo labrum surgery next week after playing through the injury during the season, according to The Athletic.

Cap Stuff

Before starting I think I want to talk about Jalen Redmond. If the Vikings simply pick up his ERFA tender he will make $1,030,000 in 2026. They can then use a first round RFA tender on him in 2027 which should be around 8.7M. Another team could make him an offer in 2027 and if the Vikings do not match they get a first round pick but how often does that happen? So the minimum he probably will get (provided he keeps up his play from 2025) is 9.77M over two years. I would not want to do this and would rather reward him but not too much. I think a 3 yr 21M deal is fair.

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Starting 2026 Cap Space: -$45,506,353
Starting 2027 Cap Space: +$59,783,273
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Restructure Jefferson
Restructure Darrisaw
Restructure Fries
Cut Ryan Kelly, Aaron Jones
Trade Javon Hargrave and a 2027 6th to Ravens for a 2026 5th
Extend O’Neill 3 yr 72M
Redo Hockenson 2 yr 22M
Cut Allen (post June 1)
Smith retires (post June1)
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Sign Kyler Murray 1 yr 1.3M
Sign DT Logan Hall 3 yr 30M
Sign CB Asante Samuel 2 yr 11M
Sign RB Travis Etienne 3 yr 33M
Sign S Nick Cross 3 yr 18M
Sign DT Tim Settle 2 yr 10M
Sign LB Christian Harris 2 yr 6M
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Pick up ERFA tenders for Bo Richter & Zavier Scott
Extend Wright 2 yr 6M
Extend DePaola 1 yr 2M
Extend Redmond 3 yr 24M
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Ending 2026 Cap Space: +$35,013,039
Ending 2027 Cap Space: +$14,136,291
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Note: If the team cuts Metellus the 2027 Cap Space grows to $22,136,291
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Draft Picks for 2026
Round : Pick : Transaction Note
Round 1 : #18 : Original Pick
Round 2 : #49 : Original Pick
Round 3 : #82 : Original Pick
Round 3 : #97 : Original Pick
Round 5 : #160 : From Ravens (Hargrave Trade)
Round 5 : #161 : From PHI (Sam Howell Trade)
Round 6 : #195 : From IND (Blackmon Trade)
Round 7 : #235 : Original Pick
Round 7 : #241 : From HOU (Akers Trade)

Yore Mock

Trade Partner: Ravens
Sent: Javon Hargrave, 2027 6th
Received: 5.160
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Trade Partner: Browns
Sent: 1.18
Received: 1.24, 3.70
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Trade Partner: Bengals
Sent: 2.49, 3.97
Received: 2.41, 6.188
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Trade Partner: 49ers
Sent: 3.82
Received: 3.92, 4.127
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Trade Partner: Raiders
Sent: 3.92
Received: 4.102, 5.174
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Trade Partner: Cardinals
Sent: 5.174
Received: 6.182, 7.218
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Pick 24 : Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon 6’3 1/8″ 241 : 4.39 forty, 43.5 vert, 9.43 ras
Pick 41 : Dillon Thieneman S Oregon 6’0 1/8″ 201 : 4.35 forty, 41″ vert, 9.67 ras
Pick 70 : Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech 6’1″ 231 : 4.47 forty, 38.5″ vert, 9.52 ras
Pick 102 : Daylen Everette CB Georgia 6’1″ 196 : 4.38 forty, 37.5″ vert, 9.82 ras
Pick 127 : Mike Washington Jr. RB Arkansas 6’1″ 223 : 4.33 forty, 39″ vert, 9.81 ras
Pick 160 : Matt Gulbin IOL Michigan State 6’4″ 312
Pick 161 : DeMonte Capehart DL Clemson 6’4 7/8″ 313 : 4.85 forty, 33.5″ vert, 9.97 ras
Pick 182 : Josh Cameron WR Baylor 6′ 1 1/4″ 224
Pick 188 : J.C. Davis OT Illinois 6’5″ 322
Pick 195 : Taylen Green QB Arkansas 6’6″ 227 : 4.37 forty, 43.5″ vert, 9.99 ras
Pick 218 : George Gumbs Jr. EDGE Florida 6’4″ 245 : 4.66 forty, 41″ vert, 8.72 ras
Pick 235 : Charles Demmings CB Stephen F. Austin 6’1″ 193 : 4.41 forty, 42″ vert, 9.97 ras
Pick 241 : Robert Spears-Jennings S Oklahoma 6’2″ 205 : 4.32 forty, 35″ vert, 9.78 ras

A little note about Gublin.
Draft Profile & Projections
After transitioning from guard at Wake Forest to center at Michigan State in 2025, Gulbin earned a reputation as one of the most efficient interior blockers in the nation.

Projected Range: Most analysts currently slate him as a Day 2 or Day 3 pick, specifically between the 3rd and 5th rounds.

Expert Praise: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently listed him as his No. 2 center and No. 4 interior offensive lineman, predicting he will eventually be a “starting anchor” in the NFL.

PFF Standing: He finished the 2025 season as the highest-graded FBS center (82.6), including the No. 1 run-blocking grade at the position nationally.

I always like these silly plans even though very little of it is going to come to pass. If the Vikings can get Murray on the minimum that would be fantastic. I know adding 13 players seems high but considering the last few drafts, the team needs as much competition for the depth positions as possible.

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