The Top 5 Vikings Questions as the NFL Offseason Kicks into High Gear

The Vikings questions are plentiful, spilling out into all sorts of possibilities that go beyond the scope of the piece offered here.

Anyone who watched Head Coach Kevin O’Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chat with the media could see that there’s urgency in needing to arrive at various solutions. Both leaders did a nice job of balancing vague, political responses with genuine, revealing insight, leaving several questions unanswered but with some hints and clues.

The Top 5 Vikings Questions

Question No. 1 — When is There Coaching Clarity?

All eyes are on Vikings DC Brian Flores.

Getting a shot to be the head coach for either of the Ravens or the Steelers isn’t much of a surprise. Both teams value strong leadership; Flores is a strong leader. The fit makes sense. But a sideways move to be the Commanders’ DC? That one would sting.

Also note that assistant head coach Mike Pettine is retiring, defensive backs coach Daronte Jones is generating DC interest, and safeties coach Michael Hutchings is already hired away.

Oh, and Kevin O’Connell left the door ajar for firing a coach or two in his portion of the presser, suggesting that he has yet to arrive at firm conclusions on some ways he could pivot.

Question No. 2 — Who Gets Added to the Quarterback Competition

Ideally, the kid will get healthy and figure it out.

After getting chosen at No. 10 in the 2024 NFL Draft, J.J. McCarthy has experienced more than his fair share of adversity. Losing an entire season to a meniscus injury before then losing ample time due to an ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand (albeit minor) isn’t excellent.

Can he stay healthy? Can he play well?

Both of the team’s top leaders spoke openly about needing to welcome competition. Several veteran options could theoretically fit that profile. Expect a strong QB2 to be added, someone who could do well as the QB1. Think Kirk Cousins, Malik Willis, Jameis Winston, and/or various other options.

Question No. 3 — How Does the Budget Get Sorted Out?

Soon and very soon, the Vikings will need to save money. Some pain is going to arrive.

Starting center Ryan Kelly appears to be a goner. A great player, Kelly can’t stay healthy. So, too, could the Vikings say goodbye to running back Aaron Jones, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

Players such as linebacker Eric Wilson, receiver Jalen Nailor, and linebacker Ivan Pace could be too pricey to keep. Offensive tackle Walter Rouse may yet get traded away.

So much of the reason why the Vikings are struggling financially is the byproduct of drafting so poorly. That reality brings us to the next point.

Question No. 4 — Can the Franchise Get Out of Its Own Way?

Drafting well would feel like an oasis after far too long in the desert.

Since 2022, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has led the Vikings through some awful drafting. Many decisions — FA deals, extensions, UDFA pickups, and the like — have aged well, but the drafts have largely been brutal.

There has recently been some bad trading — Adam Thielen, Harrison Phillips, Sam Howell — alongside some bad free agent deals from 2025 (Kelly, Hargrave). Goodness, Minnesota just cut Nahshon Wright in the 2025 offseason, who went on to become an impact starter for the Bears. Generally speaking, giving away a starting corner to a division rival is frowned upon in football circles.

Other franchise foibles that have little to do with Adofo-Mensah, such as the recent arrest involving receiver Jordan Addison, also come to mind. So, too, did Coach O’Connell choose poorly when looking to adjust McCarthy’s mechanics on the fly, setting the kid up to fail.

As a whole, Minnesota needs to get out its own way.

Question No. 5 — Is Success in 2026 Realistic?

Pretty soon, there needs to be real results for the current iteration of the Vikings to keep getting chances. The front office, coaching staff, and roster could all get gutted if 2026 is modest.

The leadership’s self-stated goal is to build a team that’s in the playoffs on a yearly basis. Doing so involves being competitive enough to consistently overcome a tough NFC North before then taking a crack at the league’s best teams in the one-and-done final tournament.

So far, that goal has been elusive.

Kevin O’Connell is 0-2 in the playoffs. Both losses featured the defense getting trampled. Even worse, Justin Jefferson has yet to do anything of note within the playoffs. These trends can’t continue.

I’m the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]purpleptsd[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.