Wrote about five Vikings X-factors for the upcoming season. QBs and rookies are too obvious, so no Murray or Banks.

I feel pretty strongly that these five guys can help make or break this season for Minnesota.

Story: https://t.co/0iGDaskyiL

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 4, 2026

5 Minnesota Vikings players who are X-factors for the 2026 season

These players could help make or break the Vikings’ success this fall and winter.

When it comes to the star players for the Vikings or any other team, you generally know what you’re going to get, pending good health. Justin Jefferson is going to be one of the best wide receivers in the game. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are going to be very reliable at offensive tackle. Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman are going to make things happen on defense.

What’s more interesting to think about, as the 2026 NFL season gets closer and closer, are the guys whose performance comes with a greater level of uncertainty. In sports, these have long been called X-factors. They’re players who could help a team reach great heights if they play up to their ceiling — or cause problems for the team if they struggle.

The Vikings have a bunch of these. Their greatest X-factor, without question, is new starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who comes with a wide range of outcomes that will have a major hand in determining how Minnesota’s season goes. But I like the parameters that ESPN’s Ben Solak used to determine one X-factor for all 32 teams in a recent article: No quarterbacks or rookies. Both categories are a bit too obvious. You don’t need me to tell you that Murray and first-round pick Caleb Banks are X-factors. Let’s dive a bit deeper than that.

Here are five non-QB, non-rookie players who could help make or break the Vikings’ season in 2026.

OLB Dallas Turner

Turner was Solak’s pick for the Vikings, and for good reason. You can’t talk about Minnesota’s upcoming season without talking about Turner, who has a great opportunity to have a year-three breakout that puts him in the star category and potentially cements a very lucrative long-term future for him with the franchise.

Turner, the 17th pick in the 2024 draft, has all the physical tools. He showed meaningful progress in the second half of last season, generating more quick pressures and recording 6.5 sacks in the final eight games. He did that largely while the Vikings were without Jonathan Greenard, who was traded to the Eagles this offseason. The opportunity is going to be there for Turner. If he delivers on the promise he showed last year and in training camp this summer, it’ll be a game-changer for the Vikings’ defense.

On the flip side, if Turner struggles to take that next step, the Vikings will miss Greenard quite a bit. They need to be able to generate edge pressure even when Brian Flores isn’t cooking up some sort of elaborate blitz.

Dallas Turner has 12 pressures, four sacks, and two forced fumbles over the past three weeks. He doesn’t turn 23 until February. pic.twitter.com/yXnSJowKuF

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 1, 2025

C Blake Brandel

To make it broader, the Vikings’ entire interior offensive line could be included here. Left guard Donovan Jackson, a first-rounder in 2025, is something of an X-factor heading into his second season. Same with right guard Will Fries, who stayed healthy but was fairly mediocre in the first year of a huge free agent contract. The Vikings need both of those players to take a step forward this fall.

But Brandel is really the one to watch, largely because his floor is lower than either of the guards’. A former sixth-round pick who has carved out a career with his versatility, Brandel is the leading candidate to be the weak link on the Vikings’ offense. He was adequate as a fill-in for the now-retired Ryan Kelly last season, but entering a season as the unquestioned starter comes with higher expectations. The accuracy of Brandel’s shotgun snaps to Murray was a bit of a concern during training camp. That can’t continue to be a problem when the snaps start mattering.

RB Jordan Mason

Running back isn’t viewed as a premium position in the NFL the way it once was. But it’s a position that matters, especially when you’re a team trying to break in a revamped run scheme. Mason, who joined the Vikings last offseason, has been a metrics and efficiency darling throughout his career, which began with the 49ers. He’s had two straight seasons with between 800-900 yards from scrimmage on around 170 touches. At 27, could this be the year he breaks out with 1,000-plus yards and 10 touchdowns?

Mason appeared to be slightly more trim and slightly more explosive during Vikings camp. He’s got the combination of size, burst, vision, and power to be a featured player in Minnesota’s new outside zone scheme, even as he enters the season in a 50/50 tandem with veteran Aaron Jones. If Mason can regularly get what’s blocked and create even more on top of that, he could lead an efficient Vikings run game that helps open things up through the air for Murray and Jefferson and company.

Jordan Mason extends the Vikings lead to two scores

WASvsMIN on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/PyNGFYGud8

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

CB Isaiah Rodgers

Rodgers, who was the Vikings’ first free agent signing last season, had one of the greatest individual defensive performances in NFL history — and that is not an exaggeration — in Week 3 last September. In a blowout home win over the Joe Burrow-less Bengals, Rodgers had an 87-yard pick-six, a forced fumble that he recovered himself and returned for a 66-yard touchdown, an additional forced fumble, and a pass breakup in the end zone. He earned a perfect 99.9 PFF grade for his outing.

Jake Browning is picked off by Isaiah Rodgers for a @Vikings Pick-6!

CINvsMIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/4N3OaMpxdA

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

Outside of that game, he was…fine? Rodgers struggled a bit in the first half of the season, Bengals game aside, and then was better down the stretch. But that one game contained all of his interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries for the season, and half of his passes defended. Rodgers is a good coverage player who has ball skills and generally tackles well. If he can make more splash plays in year two, he can be a difference-maker in a Vikings secondary that is a bit of a question mark heading into the season.

DT Jalen Redmond

Although he isn’t well known outside of Minnesota, Redmond has already proven to be a very good football player and a great find for the Vikings’ previous regime, which signed him after a stint in the UFL. He was the best defensive tackle in a room that included former Pro Bowlers and big-name free agents Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in 2025. Redmond had six sacks, 12 total TFL, five passes defended, and 35 pressures.

One of the lone positives from last night was the play of Jalen Redmond. PFF credited him with 9 pressures, which ties Tom Johnson for the single-game record for a Vikings defensive tackle in the PFF era (since 2006).

Redmond has been phenomenal this season. pic.twitter.com/3hFQkj3FqB

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 24, 2025

The question with Redmond is if that’s the ceiling or if there’s another gear he can get to. He’s 27 years old but just entering his third NFL season. While much of the attention in the Vikings’ DT room is on rookies Banks and Domonique Orange (who are the replacements for Allen and Hargrave), can new defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen help Redmond emerge as a legitimate star in 2026? Given how quickly he’s ascended over the past two years, that feels like a reasonable possibility that would go a long way in elevating the already-lofty ceiling of the Vikings’ defense.

What's your Vikings record prediction this year?

Here's ours @BMTNSports: https://t.co/npTBJ5kocD

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 4, 2026

2026 Vikings record predictions, week-by-week picks from Bring Me The Sports

2026 is an even year. Under Kevin O’Connell, even years have gone pretty well for the Vikings, to the tune of a 27-7 regular season record. Minnesota’s floor under O’Connell and Brian Flores, when forced to play three or more quarterbacks in both 2023 and ’25, is hovering around .500. The ceiling is much higher. They hope all the pieces are in place for this to not only be a ceiling year, but one that features a breakthrough in the postseason.

Our staff at Bring Me The Sports have all made their record predictions, complete with week-by-week picks for all 17 games. Let’s dive in.

Will Ragatz: 11-6

I predicted the Vikings would go 11-6 this time last year, believing the coaching and roster were so strong that J.J. McCarthy just needed to play point guard and get the ball to his playmakers. He obviously couldn’t do that. But for as messy and wild of a ride as last season was, the Vikings still got to 9-8. They’ve now brought in a significant upgrade at quarterback in Kyler Murray, and their Vegas win total is still 8.5? I don’t get it. The defense looks as great as ever, and the offensive line should be better with a healthy Christian Darrisaw and a year two jump for Donovan Jackson. Even with a tricky schedule, this is an 11-win football team as long as they get decent health out of their key guys.

• Week 1: vs. Packers — W

• Week 2: at Bears — L

• Week 3: at Buccaneers — W

• Week 4: vs. Dolphins — W

• Week 5: at Saints — W

• Week 6: Bye

• Week 7: vs. Colts — L

• Week 8: at Lions — W

• Week 9: vs. Bills (MNF) — W

• Week 10: at Packers — L

• Week 11: vs. 49ers (Mexico, SNF) — L

• Week 12: vs. Falcons — W

• Week 13: vs. Panthers — W

• Week 14: at Patriots (TNF) — L

• Week 15: vs. Lions (SNF) — L

• Week 16: vs. Commanders — W

• Week 17: at Jets — W

• Week 18: vs. Bears — W

Joe Nelson: 14-3

Oh, so I’m the crazy one? No, you’re crazy. When Kevin O’Connell operates with a good quarterback, the Vikings win at an incredible rate. Thirteen in 2022 with Kirk Cousins. Fourteen in 2024 with Sam Darnold. Kyler Murray is no different, and with incredible weapons around him, the Vikings will lead the NFL in scoring. Couple the dynamic offense with Brian Flores’ defense, and you have the makings of the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a legitimate shot at the Super Bowl.

• Week 1: vs. Packers — W

• Week 2: at Bears — L

• Week 3: at Buccaneers — W

• Week 4: vs. Dolphins — W

• Week 5: at Saints — W

• Week 6: Bye

• Week 7: vs. Colts — W

• Week 8: at Lions — L

• Week 9: vs. Bills (MNF) — W

• Week 10: at Packers — W

• Week 11: vs. 49ers (Mexico, SNF) — W

• Week 12: vs. Falcons — W

• Week 13: vs. Panthers — W

• Week 14: at Patriots (TNF) — L

• Week 15: vs. Lions (SNF) — W

• Week 16: vs. Commanders — W

• Week 17: at Jets — W

• Week 18: vs. Bears — W

Adam Uren: 9-8

A boring prediction? Yes. Realistic? I think so. While the Vikings should have improved at quarterback, a tough schedule in the middle of the season is going to put them on the brink, and leave them too much to do to make the playoffs in a tough NFC North. At the same time, I would argue that most games should be close, and far less depressing than last year.

• Week 1: vs. Packers — W

• Week 2: at Bears — W

• Week 3: at Buccaneers — L

• Week 4: vs. Dolphins — W

• Week 5: at Saints — L

• Week 6: Bye

• Week 7: vs. Colts — W

• Week 8: at Lions — L

• Week 9: vs. Bills (MNF) — L

• Week 10: at Packers — L

• Week 11: vs. 49ers (Mexico, SNF) — L

• Week 12: vs. Falcons — W

• Week 13: vs. Panthers — W

• Week 14: at Patriots (TNF) — L

• Week 15: vs. Lions (SNF) — W

• Week 16: vs. Commanders — W

• Week 17: at Jets — W

• Week 18: vs. Bears — L
  

Jonathan Harrison: 12-5

Even numbered year. Veteran QB brought in from free agency. Cue another big season for the Vikings. Is this the once-every-decade run to the NFC title game? Possible, but I’m not willing to project that at this moment. The Vikings have the pieces to go on a run, but everything hinges on the quarterback play. Does Kyler’s body hold up all season? Can he mesh with Kevin O’Connell’s offense? Can O’Connell adapt enough to get the most out of Kyler? None of the other questions surrounding the team matter unless Murray plays well. I tend to think he will and the Vikings will have a good season because of it.

• Week 1: vs. Packers — W

• Week 2: at Bears — L

• Week 3: at Buccaneers — W

• Week 4: vs. Dolphins — W

• Week 5: at Saints — W

• Week 6: Bye

• Week 7: vs. Colts — W

• Week 8: at Lions — L

• Week 9: vs. Bills (MNF) — L

• Week 10: at Packers — W

• Week 11: vs. 49ers (Mexico, SNF) — W

• Week 12: vs. Falcons — W

• Week 13: vs. Panthers — W

• Week 14: at Patriots (TNF) — L

• Week 15: vs. Lions (SNF) — L

• Week 16: vs. Commanders — W

• Week 17: at Jets — W

• Week 18: vs. Bears — W

Tony Liebert: 10-7

Kevin O’Connell has helped turn around the careers of Sam Darnold and (perhaps) Daniel Jones, and there’s no reason why he can’t help do the same for Kyler Murray this season. The pieces are there for Murray to have one of the best seasons of his career, and Minnesota’s ceiling will be decided by what that means. While I do think Murray is uber-talented, it’s hard to believe that his ceiling is enough to take Minnesota out of the wild card range. I think the Vikings will flirt with being a “contender” all season, but a few mistakes here and there from Murray will hold them back from reaching their full potential.

• Week 1: vs. Packers — W

• Week 2: at Bears — L

• Week 3: at Buccaneers — L

• Week 4: vs. Dolphins — W

• Week 5: at Saints — W

• Week 6: Bye

• Week 7: vs. Colts — L

• Week 8: at Lions — L

• Week 9: vs. Bills (MNF) — L

• Week 10: at Packers — W

• Week 11: vs. 49ers (Mexico, SNF) — W

• Week 12: vs. Falcons — W

• Week 13: vs. Panthers — W

• Week 14: at Patriots (TNF) — L

• Week 15: vs. Lions (SNF) — W

• Week 16: vs. Commanders — W

• Week 17: at Jets — W

• Week 18: vs. Bears — L

#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell on what it would mean to bring Minnesota a Super Bowl:

“We have the greatest fans in the NFL… it would mean everything. It’s what I think about every day when I wake up, and think about it right before I go to bed. Some nights, stay up all night… pic.twitter.com/HnNqVsV9JG

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 4, 2026

I think the reason for the wide disparity of predictions is because the world has seen two wildly different Viking teams the last 4 seasons. 

Are the 2026 Vikings the team that won 13 games in 2022? And then followed that up with an MVP-like half-season from Cousins before he was hurt? And then followed that up with a 14-win season in 2024? 

Or is it the team who won 7 games in 2023 and then needed a 5-game win streak at the end of last season to pull out a winning record?

We don’t know which team we’ll get, but it seems a little ridiculous to argue that this year’s team, now with a proven QB, is somehow closer to the injury-ravaged teams of '23 and '25 that were forced to use 7 QBs.

I think this roster is capable of putting up 12 to 14 wins. Whether they do or not will depend on injuries. 

MaroonBells wrote:

it seems a little ridiculous to argue that this year’s team, now with a proven QB, is somehow closer to the injury-ravaged teams of '23 and '25 that were forced to use 7 QBs.

Ridiculous, egregious & disingenuous...

Predicting the NFC North: Vikings, Bears, Lions leave Packers in the dust

Story by Joe Nelson

• 23h •

7 min read

Have you recently scanned the rosters of the teams in the NFC North? Three of them are stacked on both sides of the ball, while the cheeseheads in Green Bay leave a lot to be desired.

It really does look like a three-horse race in the North. Green Bay has a solid foundation with quarterback Jordan Love, but who is going to help him move the ball on offense? Josh Jacobs is on the NFL’s exempt list amid legal accusations, and the receiver room is filled with guys who haven’t been able to stay healthy.

Defensively, Micah Parsons is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and the Packers are likely combating the elite wideouts of the North with Keisean Nixon and rookie Brandon Cisse as their top two cornerbacks. Good luck with that.

I have the Vikings finishing 14-3 this season. It might be overly optimistic, but the defense is legit, and Kevin O’Connell’s offenses have been dynamic when the quarterback play is above average. Look no further than the 13-win team in 2022 and the 14-win team in 2024.

As good as I think the Vikings are, I don’t think the Bears and Lions are far behind. To help tell the story, I’ve ranked each team by position group (4 points for first place, 3 for second place, and so on). You’ll notice that Green Bay comes in last five times. That, folks, is a recipe for disaster.

QB: Bears, Lions, Vikings, Packers

Yeah, I think Kyler Murray is better than Jordan Love, largely because he has a better supporting cast. Jared Goff is terrific when given time to throw to his skill guys, and Caleb Williams is a potential MVP candidate this season.

RB: Lions, Vikings, Bears, Packers

Jahmyr Gibbs might put up prime LaDainian Tomlinson-like numbers for Detroit, while Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason give Minnesota a strong 1a and 1b at running back.

The Bears are right behind Minnesota with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

Green Bay, with the unproven Marshawn Lloyd as their No. 1 back, could be in serious trouble.

WR/TE: Vikings, Lions, Bears, Packers

Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings give Minnesota the best WR trio in the NFL. If T.J. Hockenson can regain his form from two years ago, the Vikings will be impossible to slow down.

Detroit is nearly as loaded with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta.

The Bears, with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, have a lot to prove at receiver. But Colston Loveland could be one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL.

The Packers boast Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden at receiver, and Tucker Kraft, who has to prove himself at tight end after suffering a torn ACL last November. Watson, who had 35 receptions last season, is their leading returning receiver.

OL: Bears, Vikings, Lions, Packers

Chicago should be strong again with Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright up front. Bradbury gave Minnesota fans nightmares for years, but he’s been really good since leaving the Vikings.

Minnesota could leap to No. 1 in this category if they stay healthy. Christian Darrisaw has to prove that he’s as good as he was pre-2024 knee injury, and that’s the biggest key to the line this season. Donovan Jackson might be a mauler in Year 2 at right guard, while Will Fries and Brian O’Neill can dominate the right side. If Blake Brandel can handle starting at center, the Vikings will be in good shape.

Penei Sewell moves from right tackle to left tackle, and rookie Blake Miller is starting at right tackle. The middle features Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, and Tate Ratledge. It could be good, but a lot depends on Ratledge and Miller on the right side.

The Packers are in trouble unless Jordan Morgan and Aaron Banks are good at left tackle and left guard, respectively. PFF ranks Green Bay’s line 28th going into the season, which is another reason their offense could struggle to score points.

DL/EDGE: Lions, Vikings, Packers, Bears

Detroit is menacing with Aidan Hutchinson, but they have decent options behind him on the edge in 2025 second-round pick Derrick Moore and former Viking D.J. Wonnum. Tyliek Williams, their 2025 first-round pick, and Alim McNeil are a nice 1-2 punch on the D-line.

Dallas Turner might lead the league in sacks if the preseason hype about him is real. That makes Minnesota even more dangerous, especially with Andrew Van Ginkel and newly signed edge rusher Kyle Van Noy in the mix. Up front, Jalen Redmond blossomed into a stud last season, while rookies Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange have a chance to make the Vikings elite.

Green Bay gets a lower profile here because Parsons is starting the season on the PUP list. While he’s out, it’s up to Lukas Van Ness and the little-known Barryn Sorrell to bring pressure. At D-tackle, Devonte Wyatt is a stud.

Chicago’s pass rush is led by Montez Sweat, but there isn’t a lot behind him off the edge. Austin Booker has to make a jump to give them more pass-rushing juice. On the D-line, Gardy Jarrett and Neville Gallimore are projected to start after the Bears traded Gervon Dexter. That ain’t great.

ILB: Bears, Packers, Lions, Vikings

I like the Bears with Devin Bush alongside T.J. Edwards. That’s arguably two of the 25 best inside linebackers in the league.

I really like Green Bay’s starters with Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin, but only if Frankly can return to his pre-2025 form. Last year, Franklin posted a career-worst 38.0 PFF grade.

Detroit might have the best inside linebacker in the division with Jack Campbell, but Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes have more to prove, in my opinion.

The Vikings are last in this category, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. It’s just a product of the other teams having really strong inside linebackers. Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson are solid starters, and Minnesota has no reason to worry with them on the field.

CB: Bears, Vikings, Lions, Packers

Chicago has a high-end duo at cornerback with Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson. They’re a big reason why the Bears led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season. They’ll be even stronger if Kyler Gordon returns from the PUP list.

I like the Vikings by a hair over Detroit with the trio of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre. Chuck Demmings might jump Pierre for playing time, but that’s a good problem to have.

Detroit signing D.J. Reed gives them a shutdown corner to pair with Rock Ya-Sin, who is a serviceable No. 2 cornerback. Keith Abney at nickel could be good, but he’s a rookie who has yet to prove anything against NFL talent.

Green Bay is in trouble here. Keisean Nixon and rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse as the top two corners is a problem, especially if Cisse isn’t a star.

S: Packers, Bears, Vikings, Lions

Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams are an elite safety duo, and the Packers are going to need them to play at their highest level yet because of the concerns at cornerback.

Chicago looked great with Cobe Bryant and first-round pick Dillon Thieneman at safety, but Bryant’s season is likely over after undergoing knee surgery. That leaves the rookie and Xavier Woods as the starters, and that could be problematic.

The Vikings could be fine if Harrison Smith returns. Then they could pair him and Josh Metellus, with Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, Jakobe Clark, and Jacob Clark rounding out the depth.

Detroit could jump to the top of this list if Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph eventually return from injury, but right now they’re last with projected starters Avonte Maddux and Chuck Clark.

Special teams: Vikings, Bears, Lions, Packers

This is a big deal. Minnesota has the best kicker in Will Reichard, and rookie punter Brett Thorson performed very well in the preseason. With Myles Price being a dynamic return man, the Vikings are in good shape.

Tory Taylor gives the Bears an elite punter, and Cairo Santos is decent enough as a veteran kicker. Adding Kalif Raymond, who spent the past five seasons in Detroit, as an elite return man could swing games in Chicago’s favor.

Detroit has a solid kicker/punter duo with Jack Bates and Jack Fox, while the return game is TBD with Tom Kennedy, Jacob Saylors, and Jabari Small.

Green Bay has a terrific punter in Daniel Whalen, but putting games on the foot of rookie sixth-round pick, kicker Trey Smack, is risky business. I do like Skyy Moore as a reliable kick and punt returner for the Packers.

Final record predictions

If I award 4 points for a first-place ranking, 3 points for second, 2 points for third, and 1 point for fourth in my position group rankings, the Bears win the tally with 27 total points, followed by the Vikings (25), Lions (23), and Packers (15).

But that doesn’t necessarily equate to wins. The schedule matters, and Minnesota plays an easier schedule than Chicago and Detroit. That plays into my 14-3 prediction for the Vikings, which includes road losses to Chicago, Detroit, and New England.

Minnesota wins the NFC North outright. But how far behind will the Bears, Lions and Packers be?

I honestly believe the Bears and Lions will both finish 11-6 and find a spot in the playoffs.

What about Green Bay? Their season will spiral out of control during a brutal mid-season stretch of games against Tampa Bay, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Carolina, New England, Minnesota, and the L.A. Rams. They might lose all of those.

When it’s all said and done, Green Bay will be staring up at everyone else wth a 5-12 record.

1. Vikings 14-3

2. Bears 11-6

3. Lions 11-6

4. Packers 5-12