Friday Mailbag: We are almost there, folks

With just days to go before free agency starts, Vikings fans get in their last questions about the offseason approach

Photo courtesy Minnesota Vikings

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By Matthew Coller

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, we are only a few days away from finally having answers to the questions we have been answering since the Vikings season ended. Honestly, we all need those answers because the speculation has reached the point of absurdity. So, for one more dash of absurd speculation, off we go to your questions…

Bradley P… With the Vikings brass being so tight lipped why should we believe the reports they want to sign Darnold. Wasn’t the same thing said about Cousins?

It was, yeah. With pretty much every situation where something was in progress with a player, the team seems to have told the “insiders” that they want the player back. At some point or another, I recall somebody with a national platform saying that the Vikings were interested in keeping Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Dalvin Tomlinson and Danielle Hunter etc.

They also said they wanted to extend Jefferson and Hockenson and they did that. The tea leaves are pretty tough to read.

You would have much more luck just using your common sense. The fact that the Vikings were asking around about tagging and trading Darnold and that they went out of their way to give a very positive update on JJ McCarthy’s health would still have me leaning toward them going in the McCarthy direction.

The other common sense thing is: If Sam can go play for the Steelers and be their clear-cut guy, why would he stick around in a spot where the team and fans are enamored with the young kid?

I have always seen an argument for Sam coming back for a year but if we are talking about just reading the room, the conclusion would definitely be McCarthy in this instance.

Eldon… Question on Darnold and I know it's probably old but if it's the Wilf's pushing for him back would you be worried? I would worry a bit because I do understand why you might bring him back even if it's more of an open contest with McCarthy, but I think if Darnold starts the moment he stumbles fans will be calling for JJ and if it was the Wilfs it might not take much for KOC to yank him and honestly as much as I want McCarthy I don't want to see Darnold yanked like that.

The way I understand it, the Wilfs listen to arguments for the different approaches and then come to a decision. I don’t get the sense that they push for things in the same way as other owners who supersede the leadership. If KOC and Kwesi are on the same page about where to take the QB situation, I think the Wilfs would go along with them. They have earned the trust as a leadership with the success they have had.

I agree with you that if Darnold comes back and even starts slow in the first two weeks, the calls for JJ are going to be overwhelming. I do think that should be part of the consideration in the decision both for Sam and the team. They better believe that Darnold has a great chance to lead them to an NFC Championship if they bring him back.

GM… regarding Daniel Jones, I would not be surprised whatsoever if he signs elsewhere for more money than we can pay him, with a chance to resurrect his career. Backing up a second year, first round draft pick won’t do anything to resurrect his career.

I’m with you. It did help Sam Darnold to play a backup role with a good team for a year and maybe Daniel Jones will think that he could benefit from the same thing but if he has multiple offers to legitimately compete for a QB1 spot, he should take them. There’s no telling if he is going to have those same types of offers a year from now.

CJ M… Crystal Ball 🔮 (Whoooooaaaahhhh): JJ McCarthy is the Week 1 starter. What is the best opening slate (Weeks 1-4) he could face on the Vikes’ schedule of 2025 opponents?

We don’t know exactly how much some of these teams are going to improve but right now I would go with home vs. Atlanta, on the road against the Giants, home against the Bears and road vs. the Chargers (pseudo home game).

Every time I pull up the opponents for 2025… yeesh. Not saying they can’t compete with all these teams, there’s just a lot of teams that are projected to be good.

Here’s where their opponents rank in Super Bowl odds: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 27, 31

Only three teams in the bottom third of the league.

A lotta stuff changes before then though…

Wade M…So far, it has seemed that this regime tends to value draft picks to a lesser degree than proven players, but that can come at the cost of having a dearth of young, inexpensive depth that can be developed. Certainly, their focus upon UDFAs has somewhat helped in that regard, but is there any indication that they have a plan to bolster their future drafts?

The things about using their draft picks to acquire proven players is that they have been in a position where it makes sense, either because have have been in a 13/14-win season or because of the future salary cap or because of the special circumstances of last year’s QB situation.

In 2022, they wouldn’t have traded for TJ Hockenson if it wasn’t a situation where they had to take a swing at winning with all of those veteran players in their last years as Vikings. Last year, they probably wouldn’t have traded for Cam Robinson if they were a .500 team. They would have more compensation picks if they were a rebuilding team. They haven’t had an opportunity to sell off parts at the deadline or get extra picks for guys leaving. The league makes it harder for teams that win.

The Dallas Turner trade is a very unique situation because that draft pick was seemingly acquired so the Vikings could trade up for a QB if they needed to do that. Remember, they were calling the Patriots non-stop trying to pick in the top 3 and there were reports that JJ McCarthy might go in the top five. So that’s not something that’s going to happen again.

When you think about the cap space that they’ll have with the rookie QB contract advantage, it might be favorable to trade uncertain picks for players in their prime if they have that opportunity. Everybody loves draft picks but hoping that somebody hits versus getting immediate, more predictable production makes sense if money isn’t an object.

I’m certain that they will try to acquire more picks going forward, especially with trades down this year if they can pull them off. But if they don’t, they’ll need to continue to farm the UDFA market and find guys like the Theo Jacksons and Trent Sherfields of the world who fit into roles.

Gary A…What's happening with a contract extension for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?

I’m not sure. There was one year where Zimmer didn’t sign his until right before camp so maybe it’s just on the back burner. Ben Goessling wrote that he was told there shouldn’t be any big concern. There were a few folks from other teams asking me what’s going on. I think I said before that if we got to the Combine and there was no extension that I’d be raising an eyebrow. It’s raised. But this formula has worked really well over the last three years so unless there’s a disagreement about power, you’d think ownership would want to keep this leadership together. Who knows. It could just be on hold as they work through this QB and free agency stuff.

Florian K… What are some of the silliest takes/rumors/clickbait you've heard regarding the Vikings?

Daniel Jeremiah set the bar pretty high when he suggested that Cousins come back if Darnold leaves. I can’t see Kirk returning to a team that let him go, no matter how much he likes KOC. He takes stuff like that pretty personally.

Any suggestion the Vikings are going to trade JJ McCarthy falls under this category. It’s a heck of a way to get attention though. In a world where utter BS is constantly rewarded, I do wonder many subscribers would I have on Purple Insider if I peddled crap that like that constantly. Purple Insider Insiderer! Purple Insider Draft Scout! Put me on TV to say the Vikings are trading Justin Jefferson and KOC and Malik Willis is the No. 2 overall pick! I’ll make up trade rumors for all 32 teams! I’ll compare all prospects to Hall of Famers, I promise! I’ll ask whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan is the GOAT!

I just can’t do it.

David H…What if anything should we read into the fact that KAM hasn’t been extended?

Right now, I’m keeping in mind that it’s only March and there’s plenty of time to work it out. But it would be weird to have a GM run the draft without having an extension. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

Evan…Did you go to Jared Allen’s HOF presser? If not, what’s one question you would love to ask him? If you did attend, what’s your favorite thing you learned from him about having a HOF career?

So, I was going to go and then my house had a major plumbing issue. We’re talking flooding basement, corroding pipe, multiple plumbers down there putting a new lining in. Not exactly the “welcome home” from the Combine that I wanted.

Had I been there, I probably would have asked about what he felt made him great. I’m always curious about players’ own explanations for what set them apart.

Mark T… Matt, I just heard the Commanders maybe releasing Jonathan Allen, which could help in not using pick 24 for DT. If that is the case, who do you think we should pick OG, OC, CB or RB, based on the supply of those positions?

Allen as a cheap signing would make some sense. I wouldn’t make a major investment and I definitely wouldn’t pass on drafting a DT if he signed. We’re talking about an older, descending player. Supposing they don’t need a DT by the time the draft rolls along, I would lean toward the position that is the most shallow at No. 24. They can very likely get a great RB prospect in the middle rounds but I don’t see as many cornerbacks. They need some more youth there to build around. Guard would be the other one. If you’re looking for a true difference maker, they probably have to be an athletic freak. You get those guys at the top.

Evan… Thoughts on signing Tyler Lockett as WR3? We need a big, physical WR3 that can run short routes. Speedy is a deep threat (like WR1 and WR2). There’s like 20 FA WRs. If not Lockett, who could the Vikings bring in to fill that role? What’s your reaction to Joey Bosa getting cut by the Chargers?

Well, Lockett is 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, so he’s not your big guy. He can run routes and we have seen guys like him have success later in their careers. Even Adam Thielen was pretty good with Carolina last year. I do agree that WR3 should be a priority. I might look at a Greg Dortch, who’s a quick YAC guy who shouldn’t be all that expensive but maybe getting the older guy who can still get open is the way to go.

I’m not surprised by Bosa getting cut. He’s really struggled to stay healthy. It’s a brutal game.

GT3 Jeff…. I am one of the 5% that wants Darnold back in purple nextseason. I think it is not a stretch to say a full slate of preseason games and a regular season as a backup would do McCarthy a lot of good. Maybe even get him a game or two during the regular season like Mahomes did in KC in year 1. So, sign Darnold to a $30M-ish APY contract pushing the cap hit a few years out and then make the decision in early 2026 on which QB to keep. This seems like a good risk management approach for 2025 and should leave a high value trade asset in 2026.

The thing about the Darnold conversation is that everyone who lays out their logic for wanting him to return sounds pretty rational. With him back in the mix and the addition of free agents and draft picks, you could reasonably project the Vikings to be in a group of NFC teams who would be considered to be competing for the Super Bowl.

Call it the Eagles, Commanders, Lions, Packers Rams, Vikings group. They wouldn’t be the favorite but they are in that discussion. The aim when KAM and KOC took over is to be in that discussion and they are there. I can’t make that sound like a terrible thing. In 2023 the Eagles got upset in the playoffs and came back. In 2017 Jared Goff had a terrible playoff game and made the Super Bowl the next year. Football is weird like that.

Not to mention that we know QB development is important. You lose very little by playing it safer.

I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do, just that the Darnold people aren’t raving lunatics (not accusing any Kirk fans of this, of course!).

Where the rubber hits the road with fans is that they were long promised the savior young franchise QB who they can build around for many years to come. It’s not somebody else’s guy who was left behind. He’s yours. The Vikings haven’t had that since Daunte Culpepper.

That’s what still makes it to believe Darnold would come back. He has to know that McCarthy is the QB the fans and organization wants long term. If he was 34, that’s fine. At 28, it doesn’t make a ton of sense for him to stay in somebody else’s house.

@skiyouMeeko mailbag ?: Who is one <27 yr old FA and one >30 yr old FA you think Vikings should sign? And not position many have focused on but who could be WR 3 options?

There are a lot of under-27 safeties who are good. Jevon Holland, Trevon Moehrig, Talanoa Hufanga etc. DT Milton Williams is also under 27. The guy I might pick is Saints corner Paulson Adebo. He’s a playmaker. Brash guy. Brings a different type of play to the room. In 2023 he was top-15 in man coverage grade by PFF.

As far as over 30, the most practical is BJ Hill. He’s still a totally solid all-around player. Kevin Zeitler would also make the list. If I’m taking a bigger swing, Khalil Mack. Just rotate the heck out of pass rushers and get after that passer.

You’re right about WR3. I like what Jalen Nailor did last year but they could get more versatile in terms of finding an underneath type receiver. I don’t know if a Tyler Lockett type would sign on a team with Justin Jefferson, so you’re likely looking down the line a little bit more there like Demarcus Robinson or Dyami Brown. Maybe KOC can convince Keenan Allen that his QB in Minnesota will get him the ball. He looked like he still had it when I watched back the Bears games, it’s just that Caleb never saw him.

Mike T… One question I've heard this week (post no tag) is: Might Sam be willing to go "compete" for a starting position? The Colts have been mentioned. If the market isn't what he hoped, returning here to compete with JJ? However, McCarthy said on Rich Eisen's show that he just WANTS the opportunity to compete for the starting job. Kirk was always very resistant to ANY newcomer threatening his role. (The money representing that 'I'm the guy" and won't be challenged) Yet competition is what fuels this league! It feels incongruous that a professional athlete doesn't WANT competition. I understand feeling threatened... that you might lose your job, but don't we WANT the most competitive athletes starting for our team? The politics of sports tends to shield players from the very thing we want to watch them do which is compete! (Note the Timberwolves starting lineup questions all year) Why do you think it is that highly paid athletes are so thin-skinned? What am I missing?

In theory, I understand what you’re saying. But if you were Kirk Cousins and a team paid you $45 million to be the leader of the franchise, you would be pretty darn shocked when they brought in a flashy new toy. I’ll probably paraphrase Kirk forever on this: It’s not about the competition, it’s about what the competition represents. Do you want to be looking over your shoulder thinking you’re going to get benched at every mistake? Do you want the locker room to be split? Do you want to feel like some coaches want you, some coaches want the other guy? Do you want the fans to cheer PENIX PENIX every time you throw a pick?

If you’re Sam Darnold, how is it a favorable situation to have everyone in the stadium sitting on the edge of their seat ready to boo you if you make a mistake? Or to throw 35 TD and lead a 14-win team, only to have to come back to camp with your leadership undermined. There’s so much more to it than players wanting to compete.

Some athletes are thin-skinned but I don’t think any of us could imagine what it’s like to be at the top 0.000001% of the world at your sport and have fans and media screaming at the top of their lungs that you’re terrible as Sam did from 2018-2022 and from Week 18-19 this year. Do you want more of that or less? Because if Sam comes back and JJ is the golden child, it’s not going to be less.

Matt D…Theo Jackson just signed a deal for 2 years, 12.6m. Think that’s more than Metellus got. Do you think he starts at that number? Might be another nice buy early and buy low contract from the guy they don’t seem to want to extend.

So Ben Goessling reported that it’s a 3-year deal running through 2027. He said the first two years are guaranteed. Last year when they gave RFA Blake Brandel a similar extension, it was a sign that he was going to get an opportunity.

We don’t know what’s happening with Harrison Smith yet, so it doesn’t have to be a lock that Cam Bynum is gone but I do think that someone is going to pay Bynum a lot and with Jackson in the mix the Vikings can save some money there. I also think it went unnoticed that Jay Ward had a good year on special teams and might be ready to get on the field a little next year too.

Jackson is a promising player who the team has been really high on for two years, they just haven’t been able to get him on the field. This is a sign that when they find a guy who fits their system and culture, they’re going to bet on him, even if they don’t have it all figured out yet, just like Metellus.

Steve G… I think there’s a lot of untapped potential in Darnold that KOC didn’t explore as in run capability with designed QB runs. Sure, It might be because KOC didn’t want to see Darnold get hurt but with JJ backing him up I can to see that opening up. I think KOC sees making a case for two good QB’s. Especially when Darnold seems put emphasis on the game and not the money. What do you think? Get a RB in the draft and adding a serious running dimension to the QB room with two QB’s?

He was also dealing with an ankle thing all year that happened against the Texans, I think. In Carolina in 2022 they used him to run sometimes but I have a tough time seeing him ever being an impact running QB. He’s a good athlete and occasional scrambler like Herbert, Burrow, Stroud.

There is definitely a case to be made that improved offensive line, running game and Year 2 in the system could result in him playing better (even if winning 14 games is a ridiculously high bar). It’s another example of folks talking about Darnold and sounding pretty logical about the whole thing.

If I’m just taking a guess, I’d say that if Darnold was dead set on coming back and wanted to do it at a serious discount, KOC would make it work and manage McCarthy from a mental perspective. But what are we really talking about here? Like 2-year deal with essentially one year guaranteed and an inevitable QB competition? The only way to see that as possible is if nobody wants to pay Darnold or the teams that offer him contracts are only the screwball teams like the Browns and Giants.

Dan… The Bears just got two starting guards without spending very much draft capital. I might need some help processing my feelings.