Kwesi is up next, then free agency!
KOC got his well deserved extension and Kwesi’s deal is being discussed now. I expect an extension for Kwesi to be announced soon. His drafting has left a lot to be desired but the team has been successful nonetheless. He deserves his share of credit and an extension keeps the program intact. I am leaning heavily towards the team moving on from Sam Darnold and rolling with JJ McCarthy next year with a veteran QB backing him up and I do not expect that QB to be Daniel Jones. It is risky and a rolling of the dice but they may as well go for it now.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Sam Darnold Predicted to Ditch Vikings for Monster Deal in AFC
“All it takes is one suitor to drive Darnold’s market to the point where it’s cost prohibitive for Minnesota to retain him. And the numbers favor Darnold — at least five teams selecting in the top 10 of the NFL draft need a quarterback during a year when the supply doesn’t meet the demand. Darnold is the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback in free agency,” Fowler wrote. “Enter [the] Las Vegas [Raiders], which endured arguably the league’s worst quarterback situation in 2024. … Most execs polled believe Darnold belongs in the Geno Smith/Baker Mayfield class of contracts, somewhere in the range of three years and $100 million.”
Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently predicted Darnold’s market value at a considerably higher price point than did the executives who spoke with Fowler, projecting a three-year deal valued at $123.75 million ($41.25 million per season) with $70 million guaranteed.
“The debate surrounding Darnold in the 2025 offseason will likely focus on whether he can be more than just a bridge quarterback,” PFF wrote. “While his raw stats look impressive … his performance in key areas is more mixed, with 31 big-time throws balanced by 21 turnover-worthy plays.”
Spotrac went even further, projecting Darnold will ink a four-year, $160 million contract somewhere this offseason.
Along with that, a salary of $33-$41 million annually would render Darnold’s pay somewhere between roughly 50-67 percent of the highest QB contract in the league currently, which belongs to Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. As such, if Darnold is only the 15th-best quarterback in the NFL next season, a team is still getting somewhere between correct financial value and a bargain by inking him at a price point in that range.
As head jobs disappear, Brian Flores seems likely to return to Vikings in 2025
Brian Flores appears to be on the verge of being passed over for a second straight offseason in his pursuit of another NFL head coaching job. The Vikings’ defensive coordinator has interviewed with three teams—New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears—for their head coach vacancies. One (the Bears) has already filled the role, while the other two have moved on to a second round of interviews without Flores.
“I’ve never seen him getting a [head coaching] job. I just haven’t,” said KSTP’s Darren Wolfson on Tuesday’s Mackey & Judd Show on SKOR North. “We’ve discussed this for a long time with the pending litigation. Him getting interviews is not surprising—his body of work suggests he deserves another chance. But as long as this litigation is pending… as long as he is still suing the league, I just didn’t see a [New York Jets owner] Woody Johnson, or you name the owner, hiring Brian Flores.”
Three Vikings who could be in line for contract extensions this offseason
Andrew Van Ginkel
Signing Van Ginkel to a two-year, $20 million contract last spring turned out to be a brilliant move from the Vikings. He had a truly incredible year in Minnesota, recording 11.5 sacks, 18 total TFL, two pick-sixes, and a forced fumble while earning Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro honors. He does everything Brian Flores wants out of his outside linebackers.
He’s earned a sizable raise on his next contract, but inking Van Ginkel to a multi-year extension could allow the Vikings to structure it in a way that actually reduces his $12.4 million cap hit in 2025. Even if AVG and Jonathan Greenard remain in Minnesota for several years to come, Dallas Turner can step into Pat Jones’ role as the No. 3 OLB and see plenty of playing time.
Josh Metellus
Speaking of players who have earned raises, Metellus has been a key chess piece and playmaker for Flores since signing a two-year, $8 million extension prior to the start of the 2023 season. He stepped into a full-time role on defense that season and hasn’t looked back since. Metellus can line up anywhere on the field and cover, defend the run, or rush the passer. The Vikings’ Swiss Army knife has absolutely stuffed the stat sheet over the past two seasons: 219 tackles, 9 TFL, 16 QB hits, ten passes defended, five forced fumbles, and four interceptions.
Josh Oliver
Some were surprised when the Vikings’ first free agent move in 2023 was to sign Oliver to a three-year, $21 million deal. Anyone who studies the tape closely has seen that he’s lived up to that contract since then. As Minnesota’s No. 2 tight end, Oliver’s receiving stats — 44 catches, 471 yards, 5 TDs combined over the last two seasons — aren’t eye-popping, but much of his value comes from his elite blocking ability.
Oliver is outstanding as a run blocker and can usually hold up long enough when asked to pass protect against edge rushers. Kevin O’Connell is a big fan of his for those reasons. As the Vikings look to improve their running game in 2025 and beyond, an extension for Oliver should be a possibility. Like with Van Ginkel, his current cap hit ($9.4 million) would be reduced in the process.
Kirk Cousins compensatory pick likely to give Vikings another top-100 selection
Over The Cap’s Nick Korte is projecting four teams to be awarded third-round compensation picks, with the Vikings being joined by the Dolphins, 49ers and Rams.
Teams can qualify for compensatory picks by losing more qualifying free agents than they gain. Last offseason, the Vikings lost six qualifying free agents and signed five. NFL.com wrote last May that the Vikings “signed five but lost six, with Cousins’ contract left as the unmatched deal.”
Vikings Predicted to Part Ways With $21 Million Pass-Catcher
The Minnesota Vikings have many tough decisions ahead to rebuild their roster into a contender for 2025, and that could lead to cutting starting tight end Josh Oliver.
Signed to a three-year, $21 million deal in 2023, Oliver was considered a boon to the Vikings running game with upside as a pass-catcher.
However, Oliver’s value is in question after playing just 56% of snaps. Bleacher Report deemed Oliver a top “cap causality” ahead of free agency.
“This signing was a bit of a head-scratcher when it happened, and it’s likely to be re-evaluated in the spring. The Vikings signed Josh Oliver to a three-year, $21 million contract in 2023, and the final year is set to be the most expensive. Oliver is a good blocking tight end, but paying him just under $10 million [in 2025] is a questionable value when he only played 56 percent of the offensive snaps in 2024,” Bleacher Report’s scouting report read.
“The Vikings will already be paying T.J. Hockenson $16.9 million next season. Giving that much money to a second tight end is a difficult pill to swallow, and cutting Oliver would free up $5.1 million.”
Vikings Get Good News on J.J. McCarthy After Lost Rookie Season
“All signs do point to J.J. being okay healthwise,” KTSP’s Darren Wolfson said on “SKOR North” on January 21. “In fact, I was texting with somebody close to J.J. on Thursday afternoon after the Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah]–Kevin [O’Connell] season-ending news conference they are convinced he’ll be ready to go in September.”
“I’m very excited about where J.J.’s at,” O’Connell told reporters on January 16. “He’s returned to on-field training, he’s returned to being able to be right where we hoped he would be at this point uh to have the type of offseason to be able to answer [if he is ready to start]. I think he maximized what this year was for him. I think he’s got a level of comfort in our offensive system and getting to, really, have a front-row seat for every aspect of what Sam went through.
“Him being able to absorb a lot of that and now have a really positive offseason from start to finish here will be able to give us, I think, the answer to that question as well as what that quarterback room looks like as a whole, the way I look at it.”
“Very excited about the opportunity to be there with J.J. as he continues to move through this wonderful thing we call the quarterback world,” O’Connell said. “I’m very excited about that.”
2024 Vikings Position Recap: Running Backs
How well did Jones play? And the whole lot? What’d Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell perceive?
“I think [Aaron] brought a level of execution and consistency to that position that really was impactful, and his ability to sustain over the course of the season and have a career-year – 1,500 yards all-purpose and what that really meant to our team,” O’Connell detailed the impacts out of the running backs room. “And then I think [about] getting Cam back and the way he infused his skill set into it throughout the [entirety] of the season. And, we still have a lot of strong feelings toward Ty and what he’s able to bring.”
2 Pressing Questions for 2025
1. Will Jones re-up with the Vikings at an affordable price after a strong season?
Really, the question here may be whether Jones is OK weaning off a career-high 306 touches – and mentoring an addition that poses to take over or at least go halfsies – or if he desires replicable volume?
2. Which market – free agency or the NFL Draft – will Minnesota look toward for RB help?
Those are just two considerations in fun-to-track, granted dangerously early mock drafts (don’t take them as gospel); Johnson and Hampton are listed as options in the mid-to-late 20s range. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is viewed as the consensus RB1 but figures to be gone once Minnesota is on the clock.
2024 Vikings Position Recap: Quarterbacks
Notable Numbers
12 – Darnold led the NFL with 12 games with at least two passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 100 or higher.
157.9 – The NFL maximum passer rating formula tops out at 158.3. It’s hard to believe Darnold’s line against the Falcons — 22-of-28 passing for 347 yards and five touchdowns — didn’t reach that, but his day was good enough for a new Vikings single-game record of 157.9 that topped the 157.2 by Gus Frerotte against San Francisco on Sept. 28, 2003 (minimum of 20 pass attempts in a game).
Mekhi Blackmon Remains Positive, Makes Progress in ACL Recovery
The disbelief and pain have worn off.
The eagerness to return is as strong as ever for cornerback Mekhi Blackmon.
The 2023 third-round pick from USC opened his second NFL training camp with excitement and optimism — and a torn ACL. The injury occurred unceremoniously during the Vikings first practice of July.
“Really, I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think it was real. I didn’t really think I was injured at all,” Blackmon said last week as Vikings players cleared out their lockers at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. “Just thought I got banged up a little. So when I got the news, I was real bummed. But everything happens for a reason. God makes no mistakes, so I’m just kind of waiting for my turn, and it’s coming soon.”
Blackmon played 435 defensive snaps and two on special teams as a rookie. He recorded 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery over the course of 15 games (three starts).
Kevin O’Connell Recognized as NFC Coach of Year by 101 Awards
Continuing its 55-year tradition of celebrating the top achievements of each NFL season, The Committee of 101 revealed the 2024 recipients of the annual 101 Awards in an exclusive national announcement on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Wednesday morning.
The lineup of award winners includes Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell as NFC Coach of the Year, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid as AFC Coach of the Year, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson as AFC Offensive Player of the Year, Broncos CB Pat Surtain II as AFC Defensive Player of the Year, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley as NFC Offensive Player of the Year and Lions S Kerby Joseph as NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
Vikings’ $42 Million Star Breaks Silence on Uncertain Future
Approaching free agency for the first time in his career, Minnesota Vikings safety Cam Bynum does not know what the future holds.
The former 2021 fourth-round pick had a breakout season as part of a Vikings defense that finished fifth in points allowed. He played the third-most snaps on defense, totaling 96 combined tackles, a career-high three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) projected Bynum to garner a three-year, $42.8 million contract as a top-three safety in free agency.
Appearing at a fan meet-and-greet, Bynum addressed his future, admitting he’s “not sure” what his future looks like in and if it’s in Minnesota.
“I’m not sure what it’s looking like, but I’m praying I’m back here,” Bynum told FOX 9. “I’ve loved everything about my four years here… being a Vikings, there’s nothing better. I’m praying it will work out, and I know God will put me exactly where I need to be.”
Vikings’ Jalen Nailor: Puts forth career year
Nailor secured 28 of 42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns across 17 regular-season appearances with the Vikings in 2024. He also rushed three times for minus-four yards and lost one fumble.
Nailor also secured three of five targets for 33 yards during Minnesota’s wild-card round loss to the Rams. The 2022 sixth-round pick set new career-high marks across the board in his third season with the Vikings, stepping up as the team’s No. 3 receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He’s now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with Minnesota.
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