The biggest mistake Minnesota made....

[StickierBuns]

...was misplaying their hand with Daniel Jones. He was their ace-in-the-hole. There was a reason he was signed before the end of the year to the practice squad. I'm sure that JJM NOT being able to practice for so long rehabbing the knee injury and getting up to playing weight there were question marks. He's very young. I think if he could have run the PS team and get QB2 reps behind Uncle Sammy all year they wouldn't have felt that way. All the mental work in the world won't cut it against actual reps. He had none of those. Then they gave serious thought to Aaron Rodgers as the offseason/training camp went on but JJM started to get in a positive groove, showed he knew the offense and commanded it and that practice against New England I think put the nail in the coffin of bringing Rodgers aboard. Impartial observers thought he seriously outplayed Drake Maye during those. 

So it really was a confluence of things that worked to undermine the season, but even with those things having Daniel Jones as QB2 or he wins that job outright would have changed the Viking's season last year and they would have made the playoffs. Hell, they almost made them without him and all the turmoil. All the fans screaming over KOC's playcalling, the Wilfs, JJ's bad plays, not running enough, etc. and really by far the lynchpin for a subpar season were injuries and no Daniel Jones. Simple as that. The NFCN is oh so winnable. Hey, let the sunshine in....  

[MaroonBells]

...was misplaying their hand with Daniel Jones. He was their ace-in-the-hole. There was a reason he was signed before the end of the year to the practice squad. I'm sure that JJM NOT being able to practice for so long rehabbing the knee injury and getting up to playing weight there were question marks. He's very young. I think if he could have run the PS team and get QB2 reps behind Uncle Sammy all year they wouldn't have felt that way. All the mental work in the world won't cut it against actual reps. He had none of those. Then they gave serious thought to Aaron Rodgers as the offseason/training camp went on but JJM started to get in a positive groove, showed he knew the offense and commanded it and that practice against New England I think put the nail in the coffin of bringing Rodgers aboard. Impartial observers thought he seriously outplayed Drake Maye during those. 

So it really was a confluence of things that worked to undermine the season, but even with those things having Daniel Jones as QB2 or he wins that job outright would have changed the Viking's season last year and they would have made the playoffs. Hell, they almost made them without him and all the turmoil. All the fans screaming over KOC's playcalling, the Wilfs, JJ's bad plays, not running enough, etc. and really by far the lynchpin for a subpar season were injuries and no Daniel Jones. Simple as that. The NFCN is oh so winnable. Hey, let the sunshine in....  

It really is shocking when you think about it. Vikings were a half game from the playoffs and likely would've won the division if it weren't for that last second, 56-yard return in the Bears game. This despite what was probably the worst season of QB play in our history. 

Former GM Mike Tannenbaum said the other day that the Vikings are Super Bowl contenders if they get the QB right.

[StickierBuns]

It really is shocking when you think about it. Vikings were a half game from the playoffs and likely would've won the division if it weren't for that last second, 56-yard return in the Bears game. This despite what was probably the worst season of QB play in our history. 

Former GM Mike Tannenbaum said the other day that the Vikings are Super Bowl contenders if they get the QB right.

It really was. Between JJ's rough patches, old man Wentz and completely overwhelmed Brosmer....KOC almost pulled a huge rabbit out of his hat. I'm ok with others questioning JJM, I really am, but IMO he was playing much better at the end of the year. He's going to be The Man IMO. But he needs those reps....and more reps.

[purplefaithful]

I agree about Jones, it was either terrible execution, terrible vision or both.

[JR44]

I think once we let Darnold go, it was clear we were all in on JJM and Jones wanted to start so do not think he was going to stay here. Kwesi admitted to messing that up, but I still think Jones would have gone to where he felt he had the best chance to start. I feel by far the biggest mistake was not resigning Darnold. Not sure we will ever find out who made that call, Kwesi has been the fall guy for it, but I do not think the decision was made without KOC's buy in.

[StickierBuns]

And for the Kyler Murray lovers....yikes.

Nick Miller
@NicholasMMiller
Over the last three years, Kyler Murray has:

- Missed 41% of games either to injury or being benched

- 34 out of 34 in EPA in throws over 10 air yards

- 14.3% of throws from under center (MIN: 27.7%)

From 2022-2024 he ranked 41 out of 41 in EPA on throws over 25 yards

Career P2S: 19.5%

[medaille]

I don't get too worked up over things that we did the right thing, but they turned out not the best. I think you're still looking at trying to hope a failed QB can go all the way vs a young QB developing into their potential, and I think the young guy is the right long term choice if you can develop them.

For me, the biggest mistake is just KOCs scheme in relation to the QBs he had and it should be a preventable mistake. You've got to know who your players are and mold your scheme around them. For whatever reason KOCs scheme didn't work for Howell, JJM or Brosmer. It doesn't really work for when the OLine needs extra help. Sometimes a defense can just take it away, and there's no counter punch. I don't think its a bad scheme and needs to be wholesale replaced, but I think its the one thing that we can control that would make the most impact.

[purplefaithful]

I don't get too worked up over things that we did the right thing, but they turned out not the best.  I think you're still looking at trying to hope a failed QB can go all the way vs a young QB developing into their potential, and I think the young guy is the right long term choice if you can develop them.
For me, the biggest mistake is just KOCs scheme in relation to the QBs he had and it should be a preventable mistake.  You've got to know who your players are and mold your scheme around them.  For whatever reason KOCs scheme didn't work for Howell, JJM or Brosmer.  It doesn't really work for when the OLine needs extra help.  Sometimes a defense can just take it away, and there's no counter punch.  I don't think its a bad scheme and needs to be wholesale replaced, but I think its the one thing that we can control that would make the most impact.

I think KOC gets a (C-) at best for adapting the offense to the Qb - or to the reality of the OL for about 1/2 the season.
But he has to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater in 26. 
If the D stays studly? This is an offense with a healthy OL, the right triggerman and RB can be a North Division winner.

[JimmyinSD]

And for the Kyler Murray lovers....yikes.

Nick Miller
@NicholasMMiller
Over the last three years, Kyler Murray has:

- Missed 41% of games either to injury or being benched

- 34 out of 34 in EPA in throws over 10 air yards

- 14.3% of throws from under center (MIN: 27.7%)

From 2022-2024 he ranked 41 out of 41 in EPA on throws over 25 yards

Career P2S: 19.5%

I have never seen the fascination with Murray.

[MaroonBells]

And for the Kyler Murray lovers....yikes.

Nick Miller
@NicholasMMiller
Over the last three years, Kyler Murray has:

- Missed 41% of games either to injury or being benched

- 34 out of 34 in EPA in throws over 10 air yards

- 14.3% of throws from under center (MIN: 27.7%)

From 2022-2024 he ranked 41 out of 41 in EPA on throws over 25 yards

Career P2S: 19.5%

Murray is certainly not a perfect candidate, what with the injuries and the reputation of loving gaming more than the game. Still, if we're talking raw talent, none of the potential QB names being thrown around even come close to what Murray offers: Top-level arm strength, top-level accuracy, better mobility and escapability than anyone. 2X Pro Bowler with poor surrounds. I've read some say he may not be a fit schematically. I don't know what to think about that, but I have to imagine KOC is at least intrigued by the thought of such a raw talent dishing to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. 

Sometimes I think what the hell are we even doing? There's one obvious candidate here that likely won't cost a draft pick, and whose 2026 salary will be mostly paid by another team. Sure, it's a gamble, but the stake isn't very high and it could pay off huge.