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INDIANAPOLIS – After a while, the days and nights at the NFL Scouting Combine blend together.
Conversations with agents and team staff lead to steak dinners and drinks. The week lays the foundation for what is to come.
Here’s what we heard about the Minnesota Vikings in Indianapolis, from the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins to possible defensive improvements this offseason:
1. Cousins’ future remains uncertain
All Cousins needs is one: a team willing to go above and beyond in terms of dollars and guarantees. But does that team exist?
Weekend, The AthleticDianna Russini mentioned the Atlanta Falcons as a possibility for Cousins, and she’s right that “it makes all the sense in the world.” Owner Arthur Blank is 81 years old. The Falcons roster is ready to compete. But Atlanta has often been linked to Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
If Atlanta doesn’t pressure Minnesota, who will? The Las Vegas Raiders need a quarterback, but general manager Tom Telesco might consider his experience trying to win early in San Diego and how that affected the future. The Washington Commanders leadership may want to quickly alter the perception of the franchise, but the Commanders roster is less complete. There is no obvious answer and the clock is ticking.
The Vikings want Cousins back, but on their own terms. They believe his best option is to have exceptional weapons, a family system, and a city and locker room that have come to appreciate him for what he is. Whether Cousins agrees will likely depend on the gulf between the Vikings’ offer and that of another team. But again there has to be another team.
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2. Hiring McCown as quarterbacks coach is a multifaceted move
In 2015, Josh McCown met Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell on a recruiting visit to Cleveland. O’Connell had been hired as the team’s quarterbacks coach, and McCown, then a 35-year-old journeyman QB, was looking for a new NFL team. McCown was skeptical, but ten minutes into the conversation, O’Connell was doodling on the whiteboard and they were gelatinizing.
“A lot of recruiting is wining and dining,” McCown told me in 2022, “and that’s all well and good. But we were going to play football. I was encouraged because even though Kevin was a younger guy, I knew he was going to get better being with this guy. “This guy is sneaky.”
O’Connell felt the same. McCown landed with the Cleveland Browns and their relationship grew stronger. Trust is part of the reason O’Connell hired McCown as the Vikings’ new quarterbacks coach. The hiring takes some of the burden off of O’Connell.
It also transitions former quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara into a passing game specialist role, where O’Hara will prioritize game planning and third-down preparation. McCown’s presence is also helpful because he can relate to veterans and has experience working with highly touted recruits (Sam Darnold, Jalen Hurts, Bryce Young, etc.). Another facet to consider: McCown coached North Carolina’s Drake Maye, whom the Vikings adore.
3. The Vikings have done their homework on draftable QBs.
In the public sphere, analysts began projecting Jayden Daniels as a top-tier talent as he took college football by storm on his way to the Heisman Trophy. Some teams had similar reactions. An LSU staff member said Friday that the Vikings were one of the first teams to dive in, evaluate and express interest in Daniels.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. The Vikings have overhauled quarterbacks in the last two drafts. The first provided few surprising talents (Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback taken), and the 13-win season in 2022 left the Vikings with the 23rd pick and needing to mortgage significant future assets to land one of the elite . QB.
Most NFL evaluators have been watching USC’s Caleb Williams and Maye for a couple of years. Daniels’ rise has been different, but he hasn’t caught Minnesota off guard. It’s not yet clear if the Vikings will be willing (or able) to move heaven and earth to get one of the three.
4. Mattison’s move highlights his belief in place value.
The Vikings didn’t cut Dalvin Cook last year because they believe running backs don’t matter. They made the decision because they didn’t believe Cook’s value matched the contract his representatives were seeking.
Minnesota believed Alexander Mattison, along with a renewed commitment in the running game to block-first tight end Josh Oliver, could make the team more efficient on the ground.
The strategy failed. It didn’t help that the Vikings lost Justin Jefferson for two months, but Minnesota’s running game in 2023 mirrored that of 2022. It was mediocre. Mattison lacked burst. Second-year talent Ty Chandler shined, but setbacks in pass protection limited his use.
The Vikings will feature Chandler prominently in 2024. Minnesota could also use the NFL Draft or free agency to add a veteran presence to the room.
Hiring Josh McCown as quarterbacks coach should take some pressure off Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
5. Don’t be surprised if they spend on defense.
How many new defensive starters do the Vikings need?
Begin the thought experiment on the defensive line. Minnesota’s two starting running backs in 2023, Danielle Hunter and DJ Wonnum, are impending free agents. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard is sure to hit the market. One could argue that Minnesota could also upgrade Harrison Phillips’ spot. And we haven’t even reached the second level.
Off-ball linebacker has at least one obvious hole, as veteran Jordan Hicks will also be a free agent. Ivan Pace Jr. showed countless flashes, but even he might be a better fit as a situational pass rusher.
Then there is secondary school. The Vikings could benefit from an upgrade at one outside cornerback spot: Akayleb Evans’ position. Safety is less of a need, but Harrison Smith’s retirement could leave another void.
A conservative projection could leave the Vikings needing to find six new defensive starters. At worst, it could mean eight. Any pre-draft or free agency projections should start here. The Vikings will likely allocate the majority of their nine draft picks to this unit. Expect them to also pursue experienced free agent options and spend the majority of their non-quarterback and non-extension money on these positions.
6. The departures could force the Vikings to get creative in attacking the rim
There is a realistic world where the Vikings lose Hunter and Wonnum. Only Patrick Jones II, Andre Carter II and potentially even Marcus Davenport (at a deep discount) would remain at one of the sport’s most important positions.
Multiple sources around the league expect Hunter to find a longer-term deal worth more than $20 million in average annual value elsewhere. The Vikings refrained from signing Hunter to a massive contract last offseason. CEO Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Tuesday spoke hesitantly about the upcoming negotiations.
“It’s not just about this season but next season,” Adofo-Mensah said. “The players have their needs. “We will go to the table and try to resolve it and see if we can talk about a way to find an agreement to reach a middle ground.”
Wonnum’s price will be much more palatable than Hunter’s, but his 2023 production likely means another team will overpay the athletic and seemingly rising 26-year-old. In short, the Wonnum market is expected to be strong.
If both players are lost, the already weak pass rush will be depleted even further. Drafting a stud like Alabama’s Dallas Turner could help fill the void. Signing a mid-level candidate like Jonathan Greenard would make sense. Minnesota could also explore the trade market, but teams that might be willing to move high-end options (Los Angeles Chargers with Khalil Mack; Philadelphia Eagles with Haason Reddick) will want premium draft capital in return.
7. The 2022 draft remains a frequent point of discussion.
You can’t talk about the Vikings’ situation without looking at their 2022 draft class. Team personnel, agents and other league executives will point out that previous drafts left the cupboard empty. Still, Minnesota’s class of 2022 is surprisingly lacking in talent.
Hindsight bias tends to creep into these discussions, but reality is what it is. First-round pick Lewis Cine, second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr., third-round pick Brian Asamoah and others have not developed into entry-level players, much less backups.
Had the Vikings made their 2022 draft class, they would have more resources, money and flexibility to spend on ancillary players who could help Minnesota on the margins.
8. NFLPA coaching staff rating is no coincidence
First, the positive: The Vikings ranked second in the NFL Players Association’s annual report. Players raved about the property, facilities, O’Connell and more.
Now for the negative: Minnesota’s coaching staff received a “B” grade. This coincides with the decision the Vikings made this offseason to fire former athletic trainer Uriah Myrie.
“There were some things that, in the dialogue I had (with the players), I felt were below the standards that we tried to set,” O’Connell said.
The change increases Tyler Williams’ role. Williams, whom O’Connell brought in from the Los Angeles Rams to reshape the Vikings’ performance approach, is already the vice president of player health and performance. His voice will weigh even more.
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Other fast hitters
• Kicker Greg Joseph is a free agent. The Vikings have the third-lowest field goal percentage over the past two seasons and the fourth-worst extra point percentage. Expect Minnesota to explore outside options.
• Defensive coordinator Brian Flores leads the draft’s efforts on defense. His opinion was important last offseason, and this year he is carrying the vision of the direction of the defense.
• A team source thought out loud about 2025 and the idea of having $100 million in cap space even after major extensions. That degree of flexibility is at the forefront of many team members’ minds.
(Top photo by Danielle Hunter: Brad Rempel/USA Today)