The biggest potential free agent for the Purple, however, is quarterback Kyler Murray, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. Most observers have the Vikings as the odds-on-favorite to land him. (But, at press time, Murray was scheduled for a visit and a physical at TCO Performance Center, and no signing had yet been announced.) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Reports from ESPN surfaced this week that the first two cuts/trades are imminent: defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and running back Aaron Jones. Both are old (33 and 31, respectively and expensive ($21,453,382 and $14,550,000 in cap hits, respectively). That is a start, but there is plenty more to do. While the Vikings are known to be over the cap, potential trade partners, if they exist at all, will be more likely to wait until March 11, when teams have to be under the cap, and see which players are cut and become more affordable. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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During the NFL offseason, it is time to look forward, backward and sideways (and in this case we look at the Minnesota Vikings). There is always plenty to look forward to, as this is the season of speculation designed specifically for Purple prognostication. And, as far as the Vikings are concerned, there is a great history of individual performances, near misses and more than an odd or exceptional win/loss to discuss. The Vikings are an infinitely fascinating franchise if not ultimately a successful one (where success is often only defined by winning the Super Bowl). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Congratulations to Sam Darnold—let’s just get that out here right away before too much lamenting and self-loathing over what could have been cloud one of the best football reclamation stories in league history. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Kwesi was relieved of his duties on January 30. And while the disappointing 2025 campaign was not all his fault, by any stretch of this imagination, plenty of blame can be laid at his feet. Since becoming the GM in 2022, Kwesi has produced uneven drafts at best and woefully unproductive ones annually. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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The Vikings are out of the Super Bowl this season. We have known this for some time as they were eliminated long before the regular season ended. But some former Vikings made it: former Vikings quarterback and current Seattle Seahawk Sam Darnold will face off against New England Patriots Garrett Bradbury (C) and (WR) Stephon Diggs (the first two players were Vikings last season, the latter, Diggs, stills holds a spot in the recent memory of Vikings fans with his TD catch of the Minneapolis Miracle). So, what does Purple Nation think of this? Who will they cheer for? They can’t all lose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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With a winning record of 9-8 this season, the Minnesota Vikings finished just one-half game out of the playoffs this season. (The Green Bay Packers made it ahead of them thanks to their tie in Dallas.) But you would hardly know it given the wailing and gnashing of teeth regarding how the 2025 season went for the Purple. Injuries derailed them and spotty quarterback play cemented an early end to their season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Vikings need to get a more veteran QB in house to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season. So, who could it possibly be? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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The good news: The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers 16-3 in the season finale; they finish the season on a five-game winning streak and outside the basement of the NFC North Division; and quarterback J.J. McCarthy returns from injury to get the win and help finish off a 9-8 season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said before the game against that Detroit Lions that he wanted his team to be the Grim Reapers and wield a death knell to the visiting Lions’ playoffs hopes. And while they did that with a 23-10 victory, a more appropriate guise would have been The Grinch (in the first act of that famous holiday program), as the Vikings defense took away all the Lions’ holiday cheer by creating six turnovers—and giving none of them back. Quarterback Max Brosmer, filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy, suffered seven sacks in the game but did not turnover the ball on his way to his first victory as an NFL signal caller. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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