The 2025 season is officially in the books. What do the Vikings need to attack this offseason?
Sam Darnold is a Super Bowl champion. It's easy to be frustrated by that as a Vikings fan or even a 49ers fan who had to watch their former quarterback lift their rivals to a Lombardi in their home stadium. Either way, the 2025 season has concluded, and the hard work begins with the NFL Combine two weeks away.
The rumors are flying about the happiness of the Vikings' wide receivers, the structure inside the building, the plan for the future, and, of course, the quarterback position and J.J. McCarthy.
ESPN's Kevin Seifert took part in the early 2026 NFL Power Rankings. The theme is labeling the offseason in three words. The Vikings sit at number 23, but Seifert used "QB and leadership" to describe Minnesota's offseason.
"The Vikings already had a big task ahead of them this offseason. At the very least, they need to upgrade their quarterback depth to give them a better hedge against J.J. McCarthy's performance and injury history than they had in 2025. But after firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Jan. 30, they'll have to address that need with an interim leadership structure led by Rob Brzezinski, their longtime executive vice president of football operations. Adofo-Mensah's replacement isn't likely to be named until after the 2026 draft, putting the franchise in an extended stretch of limbo."
I've been very vocal about being confused about Minnesota's plan after firing Adofo-Mensah after sending him to the Senior Bowl. Now, the Vikings will go to the combine to begin their evaluations and handle a draft without an actual general manager. Hiring a GM after a draft feels strange.
The quarterback position is its own monster. A report from Ian Rapaport about retired quarterback Derek Carr only throws another option into the world for Minnesota.
Rapaport mentioned the Bengals last season checking on Carr and notes New Orleans still has Carr's rights and would seek trade compensation, and the former Raider quarterback isn't looking to actively return.
"The amicable end to Carr's time in New Orleans, and the way the sides worked through any salary-cap issues add up to his tolled contract being an unlikely hurdle in the process. The Saints could ask for compensation in a trade, though the price surely wouldn’t be an unreasonable ask for a player who has no future in New Orleans."
"Carr doesn't seem to be actively chasing a return to the NFL. He's indicated he has enjoyed spending time with family and taking on various projects. But he surely knows the interest is there, and sources have said the right situation and coaching staff could lure Carr back onto the field."
Minnesota will add him to the list of players to check on.