Leading up to kickoff of the 2026 NFL season, TeamFB7 is going in-depth on each team from its strengths and weaknesses to breakout players, intriguing rookies and overall predictions. Next up are the Minnesota Vikings.
The extent of J.J. McCarthy’s stifling impact on the Minnesota Vikings last season is about to be fully quantifiable if new quarterback Kyler Murray, released by the Arizona Cardinals and signed to a one-year deal, can return the team to the playoffs.
After all, this was a 14-win team two seasons ago with Sam Darnold providing functional QB play before the disastrous decision to let him leave for the Seattle Seahawks while putting a playoff-caliber roster in the hands of McCarthy (with Carson Wentz and undrafted QB Max Brosmer also way too significantly involved).
Is blaming it all on the poor quarterback play oversimplifying it?
No, it really isn’t!
Just look at these passing lines from the Vikings’ tri-ugh-virate last year:
McCarthy: 1,632 yards, 11 TDs and 12 INTs in 10 starts
Wentz: 1,216 yards, 6 TDs and 5 INTs in 5 starts
Brosmer: 328 yards, 0 TDs and 4 INTs in 2 starts
McCarthy ranked 33rd (and dead-last) in the 32-team NFL in passer rating (72.6) among only quarterbacks with enough playing time to qualify.
That says it all.
And yet, it doesn’t.
Look at the impact that abysmal quarterback play had on star receiver Justin Jefferson. After totaling at least 1,400 receiving yards in every full season of his career so far, Jefferson was held to 1,048 yards — which was less than he had in a 10-game injury-shortened season in 2023 (1,074). He also posted career-lows with 12.5 yards per reception (down from 14.9 the previous year) and just 2 touchdowns.
So, yes, it’s not at all crazy to think that merely upgrading to Murray (whom Arizona couldn’t wait to get rid of, even if it meant paying $35.5 million of his 2026 salary regardless) makes all the difference in restoring the Vikings to contender status.
Also, it needs to be said that Kevin O’Connell managed one of the great coaching jobs of last season to even get the Vikings to 9-8 with five straight wins to close the season. That included winning a game over the Lions despite Brosmer starting and throwing for only 51 yards.
Minnesota Vikings Reset
2025 Finish: 9-8, missed playoffs
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell, fifth season (43-25, 0-2 playoffs)
Hot Seat Meter (0-10): 0
Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips, fifth season (O’Connell is the offensive play-caller)
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Flores, fourth season
Best Offseason Move: Signing QB Kyler Murray
The Vikings get Murray on the veteran’s minimum $1.3 million this season with the Cardinals, as noted, paying the rest.
Look, Murray is a flawed quarterback who never lived up to full expectations in Arizona as a former No. 1 overall pick. But he’s far from the singular reason that franchise has floundered.
Murray has a respectable career TD/INT ratio of 121/60 and should revive Jefferson and the rest of the passing targets in Minnesota. And while he may never rush for 819 yards and 11 TDs like he did back in 2020, Murray did nonetheless put up 572 rushing yards and 5 TDs in 2024 after returning from a torn ACL. He will add another dynamic to this offense.
Worst Offseason Move: Drafting DT Caleb Banks No. 18 overall
Most draft analysts projected Caleb Banks to come off the draft board in the second round after a foot injury limited him to three games last fall at Florida and then he broke the same foot at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Instead, the Vikings reached to take Banks with the 18th overall pick.
He had an underwhelming preseason and looks to be a rotational player at best early in his rookie season.
Minnesota Vikings Roster Breakdown
Biggest Strength: Wide receiver
Jefferson is a two-time first-team and two-time second-team All-Pro in his six-year career and posted 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 TDs two seasons ago with Darnold at QB.
Jordan Addison posted lines of 70-911-10 and 63-875-9 his first two NFL seasons before dropping to 42-610-3 in 14 games last year.
And the Vikings upgraded at No. 3 WR, letting Jalen Nailor leave in free agency while signing former 49ers standout Jauan Jennings (career-high 77-975-6 in 2024 and then 55-643-9 last season).
Biggest Weakness: Running back
The Vikings had the 10th-fewest rushing yards in the league last year (108.3 YPG). Certainly, the residual impact of a moribund passing attack is partly to blame, but the combo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason just isn’t very exciting in 2026.
Jones, turning 32 years old later this season, is far removed from his Packers prime and averaged a career-low 4.2 YPC last year with 548 rushing yards and 2 TDs in 12 games, while Mason rushed for 748 yards and 6 TDs on a respectable 4.8 YPC while his 159 rushing attempts were the most of his four-year career.
It remains to be seen if he can handle a heavier workload, but he may need to for this rushing attack to improve.
Honestly, this isn’t even that weak of a weakness — it’s just not as exciting a group as the rest of the offensive skill position players or the solid defensive units.
Most Intriguing Rookie: DT Caleb Banks
By default. None of the Vikings’ rookies are expected to be in starting roles this season. Linebacker Jake Golday, the second-round pick out of Cincinnati, is intriguing but he’s behind two entrenched veterans in Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson.
The Vikings need Banks to emerge as a factor in the middle of the defensive line. Whether he will or not is hard to say and we laid out the reasons for concern, but he nonetheless has the best chance to help this team based on need and opportunity.
Breakout Player: EDGE Dallas Turner
Dallas Turner, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama, had 8 sacks in his second NFL season with 6.5 of those coming in the final eight games last year.
The Vikings traded away veteran Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles in the offseason, so Turner will be one of the starting edge rushers along with Andrew Van Ginkel.
MVP Pick: QB Kyler Murray
If it wasn’t clear, we’re big believers that O’Connell will revive Murray’s career and get the most out of the dual-threat QB, who has never had this much offensive talent around him.
2026 Minnesota Vikings Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| Week 1 (Sept. 13) | vs. Green Bay Packers | 4:25 p.m. |
| Week 2 (Sept. 20) | at Chicago Bears | 1 p.m. |
| Week 3 (Sept. 27) | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4:05 p.m. |
| Week 4 (Oct. 4) | vs. Miami Dolphins | 4:05 p.m. |
| Week 5 (Oct. 11) | at New Orleans Saints | 1 p.m. |
| Week 6 | BYE WEEK | |
| Week 7, Oct. 25 | vs. Indianapolis Colts | 1 p.m. |
| Week 8, Nov. 1 | at Detroit Lions | 1 p.m. |
| Week 9, Nov. 9 (Monday) | vs. Buffalo Bills | 8:15 p.m. |
| Week 10, Nov. 15 | at Green Bay Packers | 1 p.m. |
| Week 11, Nov. 22 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 12, Nov. 29 | vs. Atlanta Falcons | 1 p.m. |
| Week 13, Dec. 6 | vs. Carolina Panthers | 4:25 p.m. |
| Week 14, Dec. 10 (Thursday) | at New England Patriots | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 15, Dec. 20 | vs. Detroit Lions | 8:20 p.m. |
| Week 16, TBD (Flex Game) | vs. Washington Commanders | TBD |
| Week 17, Jan. 3 | at New York Jets | 1 p.m. |
| Week 18, TBD (Flex Game) | vs. Chicago Bears | TBD |
Minnesota Vikings Season Prediction And Parting Thoughts
Season Prediction: 10-7
The NFC North figures to beat up on each other, but the Vikings have as much chance as any of the four teams to come out on top.
Minnesota ranked third in total defense (282.6 YPG) last season and gave up the seventh-fewest points (19.6 per game).
Veteran safety Harrison Smith signed back on at the end of the preseason for his 15th season with the team to solidify the secondary of what overall a pretty balanced defense at all three levels.
Add in the expressed confidence in Murray to elevate the offense, and this should be a much different Vikings season in 2026.
