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3 Vikings Roster Areas Are about to Face Extreme Attention
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- 3 Vikings Roster Areas Are about to Face Extreme Attention
Caean Couto
The Minnesota Vikings' offseason is in full motion, evidenced by the termination of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nine days ago. Things are changing. The club will embark on free agency in one month and the NFL draft in April. Expect three roster areas to get love and garner all the attention.
Minnesota's offseason hinges on stabilizing the secondary and clarifying the QB room, with free agency and the draft both in play.
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There is a litany of depth roster teams, as many teams encounter in February, but these are the biggies.
Three Vikings Roster Areas Drawing Special Attention in 2026
It's a three-horse race for Minnesota's paramount roster need.
Arizona Cardinals defensive backs Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker go through pregame warmups in Glendale, with the scene set on Sept. 19, 2021, as Arizona prepared to face Minnesota while the duo loosened up, communicated alignments, and set coverage expectations ahead of the interconference matchup at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK.
1. Safety
Who's Under Contract in 2026:
The 2025 campaign might have been the end of the road for Harrison Smith , and if so, the Vikings will need an immediate replacement, mainly because Lewis Cine didn't work out four years ago.
In theory, Brian Flores might be able to get by with Metellus, Jackson, and Ward. That just doesn't feel likely , though. From free agency or the draft, Minnesota needs a Smith replacement if he walks away.
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It's also worth mentioning that Smith could return one more time with Flores back in the saddle as defensive coordinator, allowing Minnesota to push the safety timeline in 2027.
SKOR North 's Judd Zulgad noted on Smith this week, "There remains no word on Smith's plans, and that leaves the door ajar for the recently turned 38-year-old to continue playing. What could influence him? Many veterans will tell you that at the end of the season — and the few weeks that follow — that they give thought to walking away.
"This is a brutal sport, and the nearly constant in-season grind makes retirement seem attractive. Those same veterans will acknowledge that as they get into the offseason their minds drift toward what they love about the game. The camaraderie that comes from being in the locker room, the thrill of competing on game day, the ability to play a kids' game into their 30s."
Who the Vikings Could Target:
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Dane Belton (NYG)
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Reed Blankenship (PHI)
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Nick Cross (IND)
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Andre Cisco (NYJ)
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Alohi Gilman (BAL)
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Jalen Thompson (ARI)
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Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Rookie, Toledo)
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Dillon Thieneman (Rookie, Oregon)
The Athletic 's Alec Lewis recommended Thompson this week: "If Harrison Smith retires, safety will be one of the team's primary needs for 2026. Thompson is similar to Mays. He's only 27 and has played for the Arizona Cardinals since 2019. He has the smarts to man the controls for Flores' defense, and his athleticism would help the Vikings stick with receivers on the back end."
"There are plenty of enticing free-agent safeties. The Los Angeles Rams ' Kamren Curl feels like a perfect player for Flores' system, but Minnesota might be priced out of a rangy ball hawk like him."
2. Cornerback
Who's Under Contract in 2026:
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Vikings fans have yearned for a productive young cornerback from the draft since the days of Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander — guys drafted a decade ago. In fact, various Vikings general managers have swung and missed on virtually all cornerbacks in the draft, to the tune of eight and hopefully none counting.
The purple team limped into 2025 with an extremely skimpy CB room , got away with it, and will probably take measures to get deeper at the roster spot in 2026. Remarkably, Murphy Jr. and Rodgers didn't miss a single game in 2025.
New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott secures a fourth-quarter interception at MetLife Stadium, with the play occurring on Oct. 9, 2025, as Flott undercut the route and took away a throw intended for Philadelphia wide receiver Jahan Dotson during a tense late-game sequence as momentum swung sharply in the final minutes. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
Who the Vikings Could Target:
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Montaric Brown (JAX)
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Cordale Flott (NYG)
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Greg Newsome II (JAX)
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Alontae Taylor (NO)
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Jaylen Watson (KC)
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Tariq Woolen (SEA)
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Aveion Terrell (Rookie, Clemson)
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Brandon Cisse (Rookie, South Carolina)
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Colton Hood (Rookie, Tennessee )
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Jermod McCoy (Rookie, Tennessee)
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Mansoor Delane (Rookie, LSU)
3. Quarterback
Who's Under Contract in 2026:
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This one is for all the marbles. Minnesota will likely enter 2026 with McCarthy somewhere on the roster, but he's no longer guaranteed a starter's job "just because."
McCarthy has played in 30% of Vikings games since joining the team in 2024. That isn't enough. He's officially injury-prone. And in his first season as a starter, he played about five good games, missed seven due to injury, and played poorly in the other five contests.
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. brings down Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Soldier Field, with the contact happening on Sep. 8, 2025, as Chicago's interior pressure collapsed the pocket and ended the play during first-half action amid early drives, crowd noise, and shifting protection calls on a critical snap. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images.
Whether it's a competition this summer or just an insurance policy, Kevin O'Connell will add a quarterback or two from this list:
Who the Vikings Could Target:
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Mac Jones (trade)
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Will Levis (trade)
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Drew Lock (trade)
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Davis Mills (trade)
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Jalen Milroe (trade)
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Kyler Murray (trade)
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Spencer Rattler (trade)
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Anthony Richardson (trade)
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Tua Tagovailoa (trade)
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Jameis Winston (trade)
NFL free agency gets underway in four weeks.
