Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Who Do You Want To See At The Combine? -

There are a lot of players I want to see at the combine. I wonder how many will run and work out though?

I really like Sonny Styles and Makai Lemon (I know – homer). Since I am a huge USC fan and watch every game, Lemon just kept making plays even when the defenses knew he was the main target. When I watched Ohio State, Styles was consistently making plays too. Considering the success of Nick Emmanwori, Styles probably does not make it to 18. I doubt Lemon does too. According to the consensus big board, there will be some big defensive tackles available. I wonder if Flores wants a fatso early in the draft though. There are a lot of fatties in the draft.

2026 NFL Combine Key Dates (Tentative):
Feb 23-25: Prospect Arrival, Interviews, Medical Exams
Feb 26 (Thu): DL, LB, K (On-field workouts)
Feb 27 (Fri): DB, TE (On-field workouts)
Feb 28 (Sat): QB, RB, WR (On-field workouts)
Mar 1 (Sun): OL (On-field workouts)

Which NFL Draft prospects are headed to Indy? Here’s the full 2026 combine list

I know that the main topic is the QB position. It is going to be that way until they do something and it will still be that way all off season.

I am firmly in the Aaron Rodgers camp. I said it last year too. He would be a perfect mentor for JJ on and off the field. Rodgers takes meditation to a whole nother level.

Ai question – “aaron rodgers meditation techniques”

Aaron Rodgers uses a variety of alternative and ancient meditation techniques to maintain mental clarity, ranging from daily mindfulness habits to intensive multi-day isolation retreats.

1. Darkness Retreats (Sensory Deprivation)

Rodgers famously uses darkness retreats to facilitate deep introspection and decision-making.

The Process: He stays for multiple days (typically four nights) in a 300-square-foot underground cabin completely devoid of light, sound, or electronics.
Technique: Practitioners sit in silence on a meditation mat, dealing with their internal thoughts without outside stimulation.
Purpose: The sensory deprivation is intended to stimulate the production of DMT (a naturally occurring hallucinogen) to reach moments of profound self-realization and presence.

2. In-Game Mindfulness and Breathing

Rodgers applies meditation directly to his performance on the field.

Pre-Field Breathing: He uses specific breathing techniques before taking the field to regulate his nervous system.
Performance Focus: Broadcasters have noted him working through calm breathing cycles during games to remain non-reactionary under pressure.

3. Habit Tracking and Daily Practice

To maintain consistency, Rodgers uses a formal habit tracking technique.

Accountability: He tracks approximately 35 daily activities, including daily meditation sessions, to ensure his actions align with his goals.
Morning Routine: He frequently pairs morning meditation with yoga stretches to “headspace” himself for the day.

4. Plant Medicine Ceremonies (Ayahuasca)

Rodgers describes Ayahuasca not as a drug but as “applied and planned medicine” that involves guided meditation.

Setting: These occur in intentional, ceremonial environments (often in South America) facilitated by shamans.
Technique: The practice requires total surrender to the experience, often while lying on a mat in a dimly lit space, listening to sacred songs (icaros).
Goal: He credits these ceremonies with helping him overcome a fear of death and increasing his capacity for self-love.

5. Ayurvedic Cleansing (Panchakarma)

He has participated in a 12-day Panchakarma cleanse, an Ayurvedic practice from India.

Integration: This technique focuses on balancing mental and physical energies through a strict diet and silent reflection.
Outcome: Rodgers reported a heightened sense of gratitude and reduced stress following the cleanse.

I think #1, 4, & 5 would be very useful for JJ

Minnesota Vikings News and Links

NFL Insider Says All Top Available QBs Want to Go to Minnesota

“My sense right now, from asking around, is all the top quarterbacks that will be, or could be, available, Kyler Murray, Geno Smith, this is the place they want to go. It is Minnesota,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Friday on NFL Live.
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Fowler noted the presence of star receiver Justin Jefferson and head coach Kevin O’Connell as key contributing factors in why veterans want to come to Minnesota. That is not groundbreaking news, considering Jefferson, despite a down season in 2025, is still widely viewed as the best receiver in the league. O’Connell has also helped produce some of the best performances of veterans’ careers, including Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.

How Realistic is Kyler Murray as a Vikings QB Target This Offseason?

If Murray ends up elsewhere, the Vikings might be a logical landing spot. They need a quarterback, and O’Connell had a lot of success in 2024 with another former top draft pick in Sam Darnold. Murray is undersized, but he’s undeniably talented. For his career, he’s completed 67 percent of his passes for over 20,000 yards with 121 touchdowns, 60 interceptions, a 92.2 rating, and 6 yards per rush.
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The key question — and one that’s difficult to know the answer to — is how interested O’Connell would be in Murray as a quarterback in his specific offense. Can the 5’10” Murray make the intermediate throws over the middle of the field that KOC loves to dial up? Can he stand in the pocket and deliver throws under pressure, or would he be too quick to bail on the pocket and look to scramble? Can he thrive in play-action concepts from under center?

Vikings Get Major Kyler Murray Update Amid QB Questions

Among those quarterbacks facing the possibility of a career move: Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals. SKOR North’s Phil Mackey reported on February 12 that he’s heard Murray “would be interested in playing for the Vikings,” an invitation for Minnesota to pursue the former No. 1 overall pick — which involves a game of chicken with the Cardinals.
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However, the Cardinals are not cornered into shipping him off for a Day 3 pick. They could stomach taking on some of his salary to sweeten a deal for a second- or third-round pick — which would be a tough price for the Vikings to match due to their investment in McCarthy.

Vikings, Chiefs, Raiders named possible landing spots for QB contemplating unretiring

“One team that will definitely kick the tires on Derek Carr is the Minnesota Vikings. It has already been reported that the organization will be in search of a veteran QB to compete with and/or mentor JJ McCarthy next season. Coach Kevin O’Connell is one of the most respected in the game for his work with QBs. Playing for him and a chance to start would definitely appeal to the 34-year-old QB,” he said of Carr to Minnesota.

“Carr and the Raiders had an ugly breakup three years ago. It was a moment that the QB never wanted. However, the team is under new management and has Tom Brady as part of their ownership group,” Burgos said of Las Vegas. “They are a lock to use the No. 1 pick in April on Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. It would be in his best interest not to be rushed into a starting job. So it’s not impossible that the team looked to mend fences and asked Carr to be a mentor to Mendoza. Returning to finish as a Raider on his terms would be a feel-good story.”

Vikings, 10-Time Pro Bowl QB Share Mutual Interest in Teaming Up: Report

The organization faces a critical choice on how, and with whom, to move forward at the quarterback position alongside the obvious presence of third-year signal-caller JJ McCarthy in the position group and competing for the starting role throughout training camp.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has indicated that the team will acquire competition for McCarthy, and Darren Wolfson of KSTP reported on Thursday, February 12 that mutual interest remains between some of the franchise higher-ups and veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, whom the team courted for a time last summer before committing all-in to McCarthy in his first year as a starter.

“It wasn’t universal across the board at TCO Performance Center not to sign Aaron Rodgers,” Wolfson said on the SKOR North podcast. “And so, my sense is there’s still at least some relatively loud voices in Eagan that would be open-minded, minimum, if not pounding the table, but certainly open-minded to that possibility.”

“I still think in the end it’s a long shot that he actually ends up here,” Wolfson continued. “Now, is there interest from his side, those close to him? Yeah, I think that remains. There would be all sorts of interest in coming here to Minnesota.”

Vikings Legend John Randle Issues Blunt Warning to J.J. McCarthy

After struggling in the playoffs, though, Minnesota let Darnold leave and instead handed the starting quarterback job to McCarthy on a silver platter. In 2025, McCarthy ended up struggling with injuries again, but even when he was on the field, he looked awful, as he completed just 57.6% of his passes, while also throwing 12 interceptions and just 11 touchdowns.

“If I was the GM, I would definitely give him competition. I’m bringing in competition for him,” Randle said on “Purple Daily.” “I would tell him, ‘Last year, you had your chance. We gave it to you. But you didn’t prove that you could really handle it, so we’re gonna bring somebody in who’s definitely gonna give you competition.’”

Lunchbreak: ESPN’s Tiers of Offseason Overhauls; NFL.com Ranks Prospects by Positions

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on Thursday placed Minnesota and the 17 other non-playoff teams into six categories that characterize the amount of work to be done by each this offseason, and he explained reasons why. The half-dozen tiers: “No need to panic”; “A few moves away”; “Sneaky good trajectory”; “Somewhere between contention and reset”; “In the middle of a rebuild”; and “Full-blown overhaul.”

Three organizations — the Ravens, the Lions and the Chiefs — have the best outlooks and potential to rebound in 2026 based on Fowler’s ranking system. The main commonality is a perennial Pro Bowl QB.

Minnesota finds itself in the second tier, which is both encouraging after a 9-8 finish and unsurprising after narrowly missing out on the conference’s No. 1 overall seed in 2024 by losing at Detroit in Week 18.

Fowler offered a couple of takes on the Vikings, who 1) currently have negative 2026 cap space, and 2) could be awarded one or more compensatory picks in the NFL Draft. Firstly, Fowler explored why there is real hope for a quick turnaround; and then he outlined why the process might take longer than hoped.

Optimistically, he wrote:

2026 cap space: minus-$59.1 million
Top free agent: Jalen Nailor
Projected 2026 draft picks: 10

The hope for a quick turnaround: Kevin O’Connell’s 43-27 record through four seasons suggests the Vikings will be in the thick of the NFC North race yet again. The defense is among the league’s most physical and opportunistic. The offense is still full of playmakers, and the offensive line should be healthier.

Why it might take longer than hoped: The quarterback position remaining a huge question entering the fifth season of this regime is concerning. It looks like Minnesota will add a veteran to compete with J.J. McCarthy. Several benched starters have resurrected their careers recently — including Sam Darnold with this franchise — and Minnesota offers a stable environment. But this is the one area holding the team back from major progress. That and an offensive line that couldn’t stay healthy.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL secured a huge win on Friday after latest report

On Friday, that lawsuit got significantly stronger, after an arbitrator ruled that Flores, along with Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, deserved their time in open court, and it will move from arbitration to open court.

“The court’s decision recognizes that an arbitration forum in which the defendant’s own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law,” said attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb. “It is long overdue for the NFL to recognize this and finally provide a fair, neutral and transparent forum for these issues to be addressed.”

This is a massive win for Flores, because the entire point of the lawsuit was to call them out for their hiring practices. If the case was kept in arbitration, it would have been a major win for the NFL, as none of the information would have become public. Because it is going to open court, it will go to the discovery phase, meaning both sides will have to share evidence, and it will become public record.

Part of the reason why Flores brought upon this lawsuit was from a text message that Bill Belichick sent him to congratulate Flores on getting the New York Giants job. He was about to go into his interview, and the text was not meant for Flores, but rather Brian Daboll, who was also a longtime assistant of Belichick.

Last January, his lawsuit got stronger from an Albert Breer report that the Jacksonville Jaguars hid the fact that they wanted to hire Liam Coen so they could “satisfy the Rooney Rule.”

“The Jaguars had emphasized to Coen’s camp how important it was that the visit stay under wraps, which could explain why the coordinator kept his plans from the Buccaneers. In the wake of firing Baalke, and in addition to a healthy financial offer, the Jags offered Coen a chance to effectively pick his general manager—an opportunity exceedingly rare for a first-time head coach. In fact, one colleague told Coen that Kyle Shanahan’s hire in San Francisco was the only such offer for a first-timer he could remember like the one Coen had in front of him.

“The secrecy over the visit did serve two theoretical purposes. One, obviously, it would preserve the Tampa offer for Coen, which, again, was contingent on the OC not visiting Jacksonville. Two, it allowed the Jaguars to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Going into Thursday, the Jags only had one minority candidate in for an in-person interview—Saleh’s first was in-person. They needed two to comply, so Graham was slated to come Thursday for the other. But the Jags didn’t want word of their plans getting out, which could cause Graham to cancel.”

Vikings Buzz: Flores Wanted Kwesi Gone

In fact, just days after Flores’ return became official, the biggest news of the MN Vikings offseason broke — the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

But maybe there was more to the timing between Flores extension and Adofo-Mensah’s firing? Well, that’s the “buzz” coming out of TCO Performance Center, according to longtime local insider Charley “Shooter” Walters (Pioneer Press), who’s hearing that Flores “wasn’t a fan” of the Vikings’ former GM.

There’s buzz that the reason it took so long for the Vikings to re-sign Flores ($6 million a year) is that he wasn’t a fan of Adofo-Mensah.
Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

“what positions are considered strongest in the 2026 nfl draft in the first three rounds”

Early projections for the 2026 NFL Draft indicate that Offensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, and Defensive Line/Edge are the strongest position groups likely to dominate the first three rounds.

Strongest Position Groups (Rounds 1–3)
Offensive Tackle: Considered one of the deepest units, this class features high-end talent like Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah), both often projected as top-10 selections. Scouts highlight this group for its rare blend of massive size and athleticism, with prospects like Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Monroe Freeling (Georgia) expected to go early.

Wide Receiver: This group is expected to be significantly stronger than the 2025 class, with multiple potential top-10 picks. Key names include Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), and Makai Lemon (USC).

Defensive Line & Edge Rusher: The 2026 class is rich in impact defenders. Arvell Reese (Ohio State) and David Bailey (Texas Tech) are consensus top-10 prospects. The interior is also strong, led by Peter Woods (Clemson) and Kayden McDonald (Ohio State).

Running Back: While typically a lower-value position, the 2026 class features “superstar potential”. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) is ranked by many as a top-five overall player, and Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) is also expected to be a high Day 2 or late Day 1 pick.

Prior to the moves below, the Vikings are projected to be roughly $48.2 million over the cap (total liabilities of $351.7 million).
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Action Category : Player / Detail : 2026 Cap Savings
Cuts :
Ryan Kelly (Pre-June 1) : $8.3M – $12.1M
Javon Hargrave (Pre-June 1) : $10.5M – $11.0M
Aaron Jones (Pre-June 1) : $7.2M – $7.8M
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Restructures :
Justin Jefferson (Max) : $17.0M – $19.6M
Jonathan Allen (Max) : $10.0M+ (Est.)
Christian Darrisaw (Max) : $10.0M
Jonathan Greenard (Max) : $12.0M – $13.2M
Will Fries (Max) : $5.0M+ (Est.)
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Total Savings Generated: $80M – $90M
Initial Deficit: (-$48.2M)
Carryover Amount: +$22.5M
Available Cap Space for Free Agency: $56.2 Million
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2027 Cap Space Projections
The 2027 salary cap is projected to rise to approximately $325 million. While the 2026 restructures “kick the can” and increase 2027 hits by about $20 million, the team maintains massive flexibility through potential veteran cuts.
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Baseline 2027 Cap Space
Before additional moves, the Vikings are projected to have $63.4 million in space for 2027.
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2027 Space After Additional Cuts
If you choose to move on from Allen, Greenard, and Metellus in 2027 (releasing them after the 2026 season):
Cut Jonathan Allen: Saves $22.5 million.
Cut Jonathan Greenard: Releasing him in 2027 would provide significant “off-ramp” relief, as he has a high 2027 cash payout ($19M).
Cut Josh Metellus: Releasing him after 2026 incurs essentially no dead money, saving his non-guaranteed 2027 salary.
Total Estimated 2027 Cap Space: $88.4 Million (after executing these three cuts).
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Free agent signings
2026 Free Agency Signings & Cap Hits
The following estimates assume standard backloaded structures (low Year 1 base salary + signing bonus) to maximize immediate space.
Player : Contract Terms : 2026 Cap Hit (Est.)
Connor McGovern (C) : 4 yrs, $74M (+1 void) : $10.5M
Kamren Curl (S) : 4 yrs, $60M (+1 void) : $8.2M
Devin Bush (LB) : 3 yrs, $36M (+1 void) : $6.4M
Jalen Redmond (DT) : 2 yrs, $12M : $4.5M
Kader Kohou (CB) : 2 yrs, $8M : $3.0M
Ryan Wright (P) : 2 yrs, $6M : $2.5M
Otito Ogbonnia (DT) : 2 yrs, $5M : $2.0M
Andrew DePaola (LS) : 2 yrs, $3.5M : $1.5M
Total 2026 Spending : : $38.6M
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Note: Since these 8 players displace lower-cost players from the “Top 51” cap count, the net impact on your cap is roughly $31.8 million.
Remaining Cap Space Summary
Cap Space Before FA: $56.2 Million
Net Cost of Signings: (-$31.8 Million)
Remaining 2026 Cap Space: $24.4 Million
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Effect on 2027 Cap Space
The 2027 cap increases due to the scheduled raises in these new contracts. Additionally, your previously planned cuts (Allen, Greenard, Metellus) will help offset these costs.
2027 Cap Impact Category : Net Space Change
2027 Projected Space (Pre-FA) : $88.4 Million
FA Contract Escalations (Year 2 raises) : (-$18.5 Million)
2026 Restructure Carry-forward : (-$20.0 Million)
Adjusted 2027 Cap Space : $49.9 Million

Trade Partner: Eagles
Sent: 1.18, 3.97
Received: 1.23, 3.68, 4.137
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Trade Partner: Jaguars
Sent: 2.49
Received: 2.56, 4.124
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23 DL Caleb Banks Florida | 6’6” 330
56 S A.J. Haulcy LSU | 6’0” 222
68 RB Jadarian Price Notre Dame | 5’11” 209
82 CB Devin Moore Florida | 6’3” 198
124 OT Dametrious Crownover Texas A&M | 6’6.7” 331
137 EDGE Max Llewellyn Iowa | 6’5” 263
161 WR Josh Cameron Baylor | 6’1.2” 223
195 LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr TCU | 6’1.5” 233
234 RB Adam Randall Clemson | 6’2 5/8” 233
240 IOL Logan Taylor Boston College | 6’7” 312