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The Burning Questions Still Facing the Vikings
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- The Burning Questions Still Facing the Vikings
The Burning Questions Still Facing the Vikings
Minnesota Vikings organized team activities (OTAs) are underway, and training camp will begin in two months. The franchise probably won't sign or trade for too many new players, but it also has some burning questions to resolve.
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to finish 8-9 or 9-8 and in last place in the NFC North ; the Vikings have a long way to go in beating the odds.
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Nevertheless, in the meantime, these are the burning questions facing the club, as the calendar turns to June.
Vikings Summer Checklist Starts with Smith, Banks, and Murray
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith patrols the secondary during a preseason matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. Smith has spent more than a decade as one of the NFL's most respected defensive backs, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and becoming a cornerstone of Minnesota's defense. Aug. 29, 2015. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports.
1. Will Harrison Smith Return?
Smith's situation has become somewhat of a mystery: no one knows what's happening.
The Vikings and their fans treated Week 18 of 2025 as if it were his farewell, and that remains the last concrete indication from the 37-year-old safety. He hasn't officially retired, nor has he re-signed with Minnesota.
If he chooses to return for Year No. 15, he would likely play a significant role in Brian Flores' defense , potentially logging over 400 snaps. The strange part? June is a day away, and the Vikings are still uncertain about whether their longtime safety will return. It's time for a verdict.
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2. Will Caleb Banks Play Week 1?
Minnesota selected Banks with a 1st-Round pick after a series of draft classes that left the franchise yearning for more young talent. The 2022 and 2023 drafts produced insufficient long-term prospects aside from Jordan Addison , so Banks cannot become another cautionary tale.
His medical history added intrigue to the pick. Banks injured his foot during Florida's 2025 training camp, played three games, declared for the draft, and then broke his foot at the NFL Combine in February. That injury, particularly for a large defensive lineman, led many draft analysts to drop him to Round 2.
The Vikings had a different perspective. They selected him in Round 1 , where he was projected to go prior to the injury concerns.
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Now, here's the key point: if Banks is ready for training camp in late July, Minnesota's gamble will appear much more reasonable. If he's not ready for the regular season, the optics will be horrid.
3. Will the Vikings Sign Another OLB?
The Vikings could convert DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to OLB and call it good. That may solve the OLB3 quandary. They could also groom rookie Jake Golday this summer for hybrid ILB-OLB duty, like Golday's teammate Andrew Van Ginkel . Promoting Bo Richter or Tyler Batty for more playing time is an option, too.
Veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd celebrates on the field after helping the Los Angeles Rams secure a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Floyd played a key role in the Rams' championship run and later became a notable free-agent option during multiple NFL offseason cycles. Feb. 13, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
If none of those move the needle, Minnesota must peek at the free-agent wire and decide if Joey Bosa , Jadeveon Clowney , or Leonard Floyd , for example. make sense for the budget.
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Which route will they travel?
4. Who Gets Extensions?
These players' agents can knock on the eventual new general manager's office door this summer and request contract extensions:
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Jordan Addison (WR)
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Blake Brandel (C)
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Blake Cashman (ILB)
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Jordan Mason (RB)
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Brian O'Neill (RT)
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Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
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Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
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Jay Ward (S)
It's a huge and eyebrow-raising list. O'Neill makes the most sense for an immediate extension; the deal he signed in 2021 is finally drawing to a close.
No matter how you dice it, though, the Vikings have about eight players who will want more money before too long.
5. Who Wins QB1?
The Vikings insist it's a genuine quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy . But sportsbooks suggest otherwise.
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Minnesota signed Murray in March to a one-year, $1.3 million contract, a modest amount since Arizona is covering almost the entire bill. McCarthy started last season, but injuries and erratic play turned his first year as QB1 into a rollercoaster.
Quarterback Kyler Murray signs his contract after joining the Minnesota Vikings during the 2026 NFL free-agency period. The veteran passer arrived in Minnesota following his departure from the Arizona Cardinals, adding experience and competition to the quarterback room as the Vikings continued shaping their roster for the upcoming campaign. Mar. 12, 2026. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Pro Football Network 's Abhimanyu Chaudhary noted on the battle this week, "As of now, Murray is widely viewed as the favorite to win the starting job. He brings the experience of 87 career regular-season starts, a proven track record as a dual-threat quarterback, and is also well-trained to give the right answers to the media. More importantly, he's stepping into Kevin O'Connell's offense, the same system that turned Sam Darnold into an MVP candidate before Darnold left and won Super Bowl 60 with Seattle ."
"With Justin Jefferson , Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings , and T.J. Hockenson surrounding him, Murray has the weapons to revive his career and potentially earn a lucrative long-term deal. McCarthy's path forward is less certain because if Murray takes the starting job and performs well, the former Michigan standout will face a choice of either accepting a backup role and waiting for his opportunity in Minnesota or pursuing a trade to a franchise willing to give him a fresh start."
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Publicly, the front office and coaching staff are framing it as a legitimate competition. While that may be valid behind closed doors, the betting market presents a different narrative, giving Murray approximately a 90% chance of securing the starting job.
Overall, this situation will dominate the next three months for the Vikings.
