Well, boys and girls. Looks like we will continue to beat that horse!
The offseason fun/drama is in full effect now. The press conferences from KAM and KOC were interesting. There are a lot of interpretations out there about what their plans are for the QB room. The consensus appears to be that they are aware of the fact that they need to upgrade that room. It does not mean that JJ is going to be gone or is not the starter. I am guessing there will be a competition. JJ has shown some really good flashes.
I would not call it All Pro level yet but he is still young. The issue is that KAM and KOC are probably aware that they cannot miss the playoffs again next year no matter what happens at QB. That is good a thing. Never forget that in the end …
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Tuesday that Flores sits atop their list of priorities as they enter the 2026 offseason and feels the urgency to keep the coordinator, whom O’Connell said the Vikings have “been really aggressive” in pursuing.
“I think he’s more than deserving, everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years,” O’Connell said, via the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Not surprised people are wanting to talk to him about that role. Excited for him to do so, all while knowing our No. 1 priority — really before the season even ended — our No. 1 priority has been to get that thing done with him.”
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O’Connell stated he has “a lot of confidence” the Vikings will come to an agreement to keep Flores. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, meanwhile, took a different approach to the matter, attempting to quell worries about a defensive decline if Flores were to leave.
“He is unique, and he does have a unique play style, but if you really look down deep, what does Flo value?” Adofo-Mensah said. “Versatility, physicality, the things that matter in good defensive football … that everybody values. Flo kind of takes those pieces and puts it together in an artwork that’s different than most, but the core colors that are a part of that painting, a lot of people share those same things.”
Kevin O’Connell talks J.J. McCarthy, goals for Vikings’ 2026 QB room
“In the quarterback room, it’s about having the deepest talented room you possibly can, each and every year,” O’Connell said. “What that looks like at a pretty impactful position on your salary cap, when you’re able to possibly plan for your depth chart looking in a way where you can be competitive no matter what.”
“I think there has to be (competition),” O’Connell said. “I think that’s what’s going to make everybody better in that room. I definitely want a competitive situation in that room.”
Asked directly if he wants McCarthy to be the starter in 2026, Adofo-Mensah gave a non-committal answer, not wanting to put himself or the team in any sort of bind. O’Connell wasn’t asked that question directly, but he also straddled the line between expressing support for McCarthy and making it clear that competition is needed to elevate the room as a whole.
“Obviously J.J.’s gonna be a major, major emphasis for our staff and our team and me personally,” O’Connell said. “We’ll figure out what that looks like as we navigate the early part of this offseason, when it comes to managing the roster. I think ultimately, we’ve gotta decide how to not only continue J.J.’s progression, allow him to continue to ascend as a young player, but at the same time, I think the competition in that room will only enhance our entire team.”
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At this juncture, McCarthy appears to be too talented and inexperienced to give up on, but also too flawed and injury-prone to fully commit to. That’s why bringing in a veteran and letting a true competition play out feels like a logical answer.
“I was really encouraged by the type of football he started to play toward the second half of the season, finishing the way he did,” O’Connell said. “But we’re still looking at a quarterback who’s started ten games. Ten out of a possible 34 in two years. Not the ideal path for a young quarterback to develop on the field, but I thought he did.”
This is a critical offseason for McCarthy. He’s got a lot of work to do to put himself in position to win an offseason competition and hold onto the starting job in Minnesota. It starts with developing consistent, repeatable mechanics that can allow him to be more accurate and stack completions together within the Vikings’ offense. The one thing that neither O’Connell nor Adofo-Mensah have any doubt about it how hard McCarthy will work to get to where they need him to be.
“He wants it more than anybody I’ve ever been around, and he’s got an offseason where he’s going to have time to not rehab an injury,” Adofo-Mensah said. “And we’re excited to see what development he takes and the steps he takes towards being available for us.”
“J.J. McCarthy is a guy that wants to be great,” O’Connell said. “I know he’s going to work tirelessly to do that. I know his teammates have a lot of confidence in what he’s gonna go to work to improve on this offseason and come back, have a great offseason, and be ready to hit the ground running in 2026. I think a deep and talented quarterback room will only enhance his ability to do that, and (I) look forward to being a part of that process.”
Vikings GM admits mistakes on Daniel Jones; trusted J.J. McCarthy despite ‘incomplete information’
In an eye-opening press conference on Tuesday, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted that the Vikings didn’t handle Daniel Jones’ free agency the right way last offseason, while also acknowledging that J.J. McCarthy started in 2025 despite “incomplete information.”
“You’re trying to make sure that you don’t lock yourselves into what you did and thinking that it’s always right,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I always go back to the process and what we thought at the time. It’s easier to go and be revisionist and results-based, but going to really think through what we had at the time, I still understand why we did what we did. The results maybe didn’t play out the way we wanted them to, but ultimately, I think that at the end of the day, we could’ve executed better in certain places.”
Adofo-Mensah didn’t give specifics initially, but he later admitted that he regrets how they handled the Daniel Jones negotiations. Here’s what he said when a reporter asked if the Vikings were “overconfident” about Jones returning.
“I don’t want to say overconfidence, but I do think him being here was something that we kind of considered and thought would impact his decision. But ultimately, there are free agents, and to your point, learning lessons. I think, execution-wise, you have to treat it as such. No matter what the conversation is or relationships are, free agents are free for a reason, and they’re allowed to vet all their options. Ultimately, we could’ve executed better around that.”
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Adofo-Mensah then said that they gave McCarthy the chance to start this season even though they had limited information to support the notion that he was ready.
“We talk a lot about the path of young players isn’t linear, and you don’t know how the first three games, four or five games are going to go. We have a lot of historical studies about what the first few games are going to look like, or that first year could look like, in a sense, and ultimately, that’s why we tried to build the team, knowing those growth pains could come, to be able to overcome them and withstand them, in a certain sense,” Adofo-Mensah began.
“Ultimately, a lot of this job — RG [Ryan Grigson] calls it fast eyes, and this isn’t a fast-eye decision, but in a perfect world, you would have had a full sample, three years of watching him play in the NFL before. That’s not how this works. And sometimes you have to go on incomplete information. And the information we had was all good, but it was admittedly incomplete and small-sampled. So ultimately, we trusted in the information we had, we trusted our coaches, we trusted in the team around him to do that. And so, it’s hard to — really when you think about that and then go look back at the season, as I talked about, you saw the improvement at the end. You saw the flash of the player we thought he could be. So, in that sense, I can’t say that we were overconfident. Maybe the timing didn’t work out with other aspects of our team, whether that be injuries or different things like that. But ultimately, we’re comfortable with where we are, and we’re excited about where he can go.”
Takeaways: Kevin O’Connell & Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Vikings 2025 Season & Coaching Staff
“This season was not, in any way, shape or form, what we planned or hoped for,” O’Connell said, “but just the way they finished, the way they continue to fight, the way they stayed together and continue to strive for success through adversity, was impressive to watch. And so fortunate to be around the great group I get to be around.
“The same for our coaches. Total compliment to our coaching staff for helping to persevere through what was a difficult season at times and, ultimately, finishing the way we did, 5-0 down the stretch, shows a lot about those guys,” O’Connell continued. “And most importantly, our players, our staff.”
Adofo-Mensah called it “obviously disappointing” to be on the outside of the playoffs looking in.
“That’s not the standard we set here for ourselves. It’s not the standard we’ve set for our fans,” he said. “At the same time, I have a great deal of respect for how the season finished.
“That’s a great credit to K.O. and his staff, the core group of players that we’ve assembled in this locker room,” Adofo-Mensah added. “We had a lot of things that showed flashes of the team we wanted to be, but ultimately we weren’t consistent enough, and that’s what we’re going to try to do, find that consistency — find that ability to turn flash into reality over the course of a 17-game season to get us where we want to go.”
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No 1. Mike Pettine retiring
O’Connell shared during his press conference that Assistant Head Coach Mike Pettine will be retiring.
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No 2. Outlook on Flores
O’Connell noted more than once that the organization has been “aggressive” in efforts to retain Flores while also respecting his opportunity to interview with other teams. (ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced via X Tuesday that the Ravens had completed an interview with Flores for their head coach vacancy.)
“Flo’ knows exactly how we feel about him, but at the same time, we want to be really supportive. I’m really excited for him,” O’Connell said. “I think he’s going to, for sure, talk to one team about their head coaching position. Would not be surprised at all if it ends up being multiple. I think he’s more than deserving with everything he’s brought to our organization over these past three years. It’s been an awesome process to go back to when I first sat down with him, really talked about this vision and his impact and what it’s inevitably ended up being. It’s been a really positive thing for me. Our relationship is super strong.
“We’re talking almost every day and just making sure he knows the intent of where we’re at to have him as our defensive coordinator,” O’Connell continued. “He’s kept no secrets about his desire to stay here doing that role, as well. But I think it’s important that he totally commits to going through this process, especially the head-coaching process, and putting his best foot forward — which I know he will.”
O’Connell later added: “Based upon my conversations […] I have a lot of confidence we’re going to be able to get something done with him as our defensive coordinator.”
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No 3. Darrisaw and the OL
Minnesota used 26 (26!!) offensive line combinations during the 2025 campaign.
“I think the lineup we thought we’d have played 83 snaps together? … That’s not what I expected,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I stand up here, partly, because I’ve been accountable my whole life, and I don’t think you run from opportunities to get better; so I always want to make sure I’m doing that. But you can also point out context that might be an outlier — and what would it look like if they did have the ability to play together?
“It’s something we’re thinking about, and you’re trying to make sure you don’t let the outlier kind of thing rob you of the lesson,” he added. “That’s really how I would try and phrase it.”
Adofo-Mensah was asked specifically about Christian Darrisaw, who returned this past season from an ACL tear but continued to experience setbacks. He noted “time is on our side” with Darrisaw now being more than a year removed from the initial injury.
“Another year of rehab, strengthening, things like that,” the Vikings GM said. “But we’ve seen how important he has been to our play. So when we’re addressing things in the draft or free agency, we have to be mindful of that.”
Adofo-Mensah emphasized making sure the team has ample depth at the left tackle position.
“I don’t want to say ‘insurance,’ but we’re always trying to have a roster aspiration as a GM, that when that first guy goes out, the next guy comes in and is as good as [the starter],” he said. “Is that reality? No. But that’s the mindset we’ve got to take, and that’s a position we’ve probably got to be more mindful of.”
Note: Kwesi continues to baffle with his ramblings. Like this “you don’t let the outlier kind of thing rob you of the lesson”. What lesson? Then he says this “that’s a position we’ve probably got to be more mindful of” when talking about a backup to Darrisaw. Was he not “mindful” when he signed Skule?
Jordan Addison’s legal team ‘confident’ he’ll be ‘exonerated’ after arrest
According to Hillsborough County Jail records, Addison was arrested by Seminole Indian Police at 3:46 a.m. local time on Monday and booked into the county jail at 7:33 a.m. He was released at 2:40 p.m. Monday after posting a $500 cash bond.
Addison was booked for probable cause trespassing in an occupied structure or conveyance on the 5200 block of Orient Road, which is the site of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The alleged crime is a first-degree misdemeanor.
“On Jordan’s behalf, his legal team has already initiated the investigation, identified witnesses, and we are reviewing the viability of a claim for false arrest,” Younger & Associates said on social media. “He looks forward to the legal process and upon full investigation, we are confident Mr. Addison will be exonerated.”
Addison’s arrest hit the news cycle just before Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were scheduled to address the media for their annual season-ending press conference.
O’Connell said it was “premature” for him to speculate on Addison’s arrest, while Adofo-Mensah delivered a more nuanced response.
“Jordan is unique because 99% of the days that Jordan Addison is a Viking, he’s a joy to be around,” Adofo-Mensah said. “He’s incredibly intelligent, confident, responsible. And then it’s like all of us: What are you like on those 1% of days? Is it the type of thing that draws attention or not? Obviously that’s something we have to consider when you’re talking about long-term ramifications of a contract extension and different things like that, or letting somebody like Jalen Nailor leave.”
Over the past few months, I have been vocal about the Vikings making one trade this offseason: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. Our Colts beat writer Destin Adams linked the two teams on Monday, and it makes all the sense in the world.
“The Vikings have their own former first-round pick who hasn’t panned out the way they were hoping, in J.J. McCarthy,” Adams wrote. “His struggles on the field and string of injuries caused Minnesota to miss the postseason, and the team will have to consider bringing in competition at QB for next season.
“Richardson is set to make just $11 million on the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. Due to the Colts having to take on part of his salary to trade him, his new team would owe him less than $6 million next year.
“The Vikings won’t find a more cost-effective option to compete with McCarthy. It’s also pretty well known at this point that Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was a big fan of Richardson during his draft process. The two even shared a touching moment after the Colts played the Vikings in 2024.”
Note: The headline could lead someone to believe that this is more than just two goobers dreaming up trades. Apparently, the Vikings are “linked” to Richardson just because these bozos thought of a trade. As a long time clown myself (I prefer Homie the Clown), I do like to dream of trades.
Trade Offer
Vikings send: 2027 conditional fourth-round pick that can turn into a second via play time incentives
Colts send: QB Anthony Richardson and a 2027 seventh-round pick
What are 3 realistic trades the Minnesota Vikings could make in 2026?
Vikings receive: QB Mac Jones | 49ers receive: : Vikings’ 2026 3rd-round pick (97th overall)
Vikings receive: Patriots’ 2026 2nd-round pick (60th overall) | Patriots receive: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Vikings’ 2027 7th-round pick (through Philadelphia)
Vikings receive: Ravens’ 2026 3rd-round pick (80th overall) | Ravens receive: WR Jordan Addison
Note: The Mac Jones trade idea is being bandied about and I do not recall any of these folks giving a reason as to why the 49ers would trade their backup QB. What will they do for a backup QB after trading Jones. I suppose they can do it because they get a 3rd round pick but if they have playoff aspirations then they probably want to keep Jones. On the other hand, selling high and getting a 3rd round pick now while signing some other QB as a backup may appeal as well because Jones may not fetch a 3rd round compensatory pick.
Cap Space Work
2026 Cap : (-$46,383,588) – this changes almost daily
Trade Hockenson and a 6th to the Broncos for a 4th
Cut Jones
Cut Hargrave
Cut Kelly
Extend O’Neill 3 yr 69M
Restructure Jefferson (max)
Restructure Darrisaw (max)
Extend Redmond 2 yr 23M
Extend Wright 2 yr 6M
Give Zavier Scott & Bo Richter the ERFA tender
Sign RB Kenneth Gainwell 2 yr 10M
Sign CB Eric Stokes 2 yr 16M
Cut Smith (retires) Post June 1
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Updated 2026 Cap : $18,104,182
2027 Cap : $3,825,291
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In 2027 the team could cut Allen and Metellus and try to trade Greenard which would result in …
2027 Cap : $45,370,291
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What free agents would you target with about 18M in cap space?
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Broncos
Sent: TJ Hockenson, 6.194
Received: 4.108
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Trade Partner: Jaguars
Sent: 2.49, 4.108
Received: 2.56, 3.100, 4.124
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PICK: 18 Mansoor Delane CB LSU 6’1″ 187
PICK: 56 A.J. Haulcy S LSU 6’0″ 222
PICK: 82 Connor Lew IOL Auburn 6’3″ 303
PICK: 97 Max Klare TE Ohio State 6’5″ 243
PICK: 100 Nick Singleton RB Penn State 6’0″ 226
PICK: 124 Drew Allar QB Penn State 6’5″ 235
PICK: 161 Brian Parker II OT Duke 6’5″ 305
PICK: 234 Aiden Fisher LB Indiana 6’1″ 231
PICK: 240 Xavier Nwankpa S Iowa 6’2″ 215
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