Most Surprising & Underrated Offseason moves?
Minnesota Vikings
2025 record: 9-8
Mike Clay's 2026 projected win total: 7.5
Odds to win NFC North: +500
Strength of schedule: 11th-hardest schedule in NFL
Most surprising move of the offseason
It's a tie. The first was firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah 26 days after the regular season ended. He had a rocky tenure, and rumors swirled about a potential change late in the season. But once Adofo-Mensah appeared at a news conference Jan. 13 to preview the offseason, sources inside and outside the organization assumed his job was safe. But owners Zygi and Mark Wilf continued discussing his future and announced his firing Jan. 30. The timing forced the Vikings to rely on an interim front office structure during the key team-building months of February, March and April.
The second move was the trade of linebacker Jonathan Greenard. Teams planning a playoff push don't often trade a 28-year-old pass rusher, especially one who is also a key locker-room leader. But as they reset their finances following years of high spending, the Vikings were not willing to negotiate the contract extension Greenard wanted. They also decided against forcing him to play under the terms of his existing deal, which called for him to receive $19 million in 2026.
The offseason moves have elevated the QB position
It's debatable whether the Vikings have improved the team around their quarterbacks, but what is objectively clear is that the position itself is deeper and stronger than it was a year ago. The Vikings entered OTAs in spring 2025 with a depth chart that featured J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell and Max Brosmer. This spring, it will go like this: Kyler Murray, McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Brosmer. The upshot is that the Vikings' season is not tied to McCarthy's development. Either McCarthy will make a huge leap and beat out Murray in camp, or -- more likely -- the Vikings will have a proven veteran in Murray who could reach new heights in this offense. Re-signing Wentz for extra insurance demonstrates how serious the Vikings were about elevating their depth.
Most underrated move
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' longtime contract negotiator and salary cap analyst, took dramatic steps to reset the team's financial ledger while also preserving competitiveness. The Vikings aren't anyone's pick to win the Super Bowl, but typically when a team makes as big of a cut as the Vikings did -- their cash payroll could be roughly $100 million less in 2026 than it was in 2025 -- it can decimate a roster. But the Vikings managed to retain their core talent, including some key veterans, such as tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones Sr. via pay cuts -- and used free agency to acquire good players on relatively small deals. They will pay newcomers Murray, cornerback James Pierre and receiver Jauan Jennings a combined $13.63 million.
Move that will have the biggest impact next season
It's hard not to think about the possibilities of Murray in this offense. He'll provide an accurate and strong arm to the Vikings' downfield passing concepts, once he gets accustomed to an offense that likely will have him working under center more often than he did with the Cardinals. Murray will also offer a new element of escapability that coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't had in Minnesota, with the brief exception of Joshua Dobbs in 2023. Under O'Connell, the Vikings have been double-digit winners in the regular season when they have had solid, veteran quarterbacking. They were 13-4 with Kirk Cousins in 2022 and 14-3 with Sam Darnold in 2024. Murray more than fits the profile.
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