Two voices offer three game-changing wishes for the Vikings' defense, quarterback, and offense to secure playoff contention by 2026.
This episode of Purple Insider features Matthew Coller and Manny Hill laying out their “three wishes” — essentially the biggest fixes they believe Minnesota needs to make to become legitimate playoff contenders by the 2026 season. The conversation opens with coaching carousel context, including the New York Jets interviewing Vikings defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Dante Jones and what it would mean if Minnesota loses key defensive architects in back-to-back moves.
A major throughline is the importance of defensive continuity. Manny emphasizes that retaining Brian Flores is a priority given how strong the defense looked down the stretch in 2025. If Flores leaves for a head coaching job, the discussion shifts to how critical it becomes to land a credible replacement who can keep the scheme, player development, and weekly game plans operating at a high level. Coller adds that losing Dante Jones as well would amplify the challenge, potentially disrupting both coaching infrastructure and defensive performance.
From there, the episode turns to quarterback solutions. Coller floats the idea of trading for “M. Jones” as a realistic swing that could stabilize the offense, elevate the team into playoff range, and still leave room for JJ McCarthy to develop with real competition in the building. Manny counters later with a higher-upside option — Kyler Murray — arguing that an elite playmaker can raise the team’s ceiling immediately, even if it creates complicated questions about McCarthy’s timeline. They tie the QB discussion back to a bigger offensive issue: under Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota has consistently been among the league’s most-sacked teams, so philosophy and protection need to evolve to keep the quarterback healthier.
The final set of wishes is roster-building driven: cap restructuring to open free-agency flexibility, upgrading the offensive line — specifically at center — and adding a true explosive young running back who changes games. Coller closes with a structural offensive fix: hiring a trusted analyst to give O’Connell blunt, high-level feedback on play-calling and weekly plans, aiming to sharpen decision-making and reduce self-inflicted offensive volatility.