Ten BIG questions...1 obvious one

How can the Vikings re-ignite Justin Jefferson and company?

Justin Jefferson and his former LSU teammate, the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, remain the best receivers in the NFL.

But Jefferson needs a reliable QB. Of the 37 quarterbacks with 100 passes thrown to receivers last season, McCarthy (59.7%) and Vikings backup Carson Wentz (62.1%) had the worst on-target percentages in the league, per SIS; Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward tied Wentz at 62.1%.

O’Connell wants the Vikings offense to return to its explosive ways, which have historically been through intermediate and deep passing (as opposed to yards after the catch). Jefferson has an improved supporting cast with receiver Jauan Jennings replacing Jalen Nailor in the No. 3 role. The Vikings’ receiver depth also includes intriguing young options in Tai Felton, Myles Price and undrafted rookie Dillon Bell.

Jefferson can do his part by staying healthy and practicing after missing much of last year’s training camp due to a hamstring strain.

Can the Vikings pay Brian O’Neill?

Right tackle Brian O’Neill is the longest-tenured Vikings player on the roster, entering Year 9 in the final season of his contract. Naturally, O’Neill decided to attend but not fully participate in the offseason program until mandatory minicamp, which is typical for players seeking new contracts and wanting to protect their health.

With new GM Nolan Teasley in place, extension talks are expected to pick up with O’Neill. That could happen soon with the first camp practice scheduled for July 29 and the first padded session on Aug. 3.

Will Harrison Smith return?

O’Connell has left the door open for safety Harrison Smith, who has yet to formally announce his retirement after 14 Vikings seasons. But coaches are already well into plans to move on should Smith decide to golf instead.

Jakobe Thomas arrives as a third-round pick with a history as an aggressive, in-the-box defender. Jay Ward took steps forward last season and is a candidate to start alongside Josh Metellus. Theo Jackson is coming off a career-high 530 defensive snaps and remains in the mix.

But if Smith retires, replacing his intellect and communication may prove the most difficult. The Vikings’ brain drain this offseason also included secondary coach Daronte Jones exiting for a promotion in Washington. Jones and Smith combined to make some pretty nasty pre-snap coverage rotations that confused quarterbacks.

Is this the year the run game packs a punch?

The run game continues to be a major offseason emphasis for O’Connell, who saw decent efficiency at 4.5 yards per carry last season.

But Vikings backs combined for only 10 rushing touchdowns and ranked 26th in explosive plays (20-plus yard gains). O’Connell has talked up the addition of coach Frank Smith, who coordinated the Dolphins offense for the past four seasons under former head coach Mike McDaniel, the ex-49ers run game guru.

Fresh schemes could help ignite a run game that returns Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason as the top duo. But rookie running back Demond Claiborne, the sixth-round pick, could be the new spark; Claiborne ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.

Fullback C.J. Ham retired after 10 years. Max Bredeson, a rookie fifth-round pick, takes Ham’s spot on the depth chart. Jennings, the former 49ers receiver, could be just as much of a factor blocking for the wide-zone runs that Smith brings from Miami to Minnesota.

Will Dallas Turner and these edge rushers be enough?

Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, steps into a starting role vacated by the Vikings trading Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia. The Vikings opted not to invest much money in pass rushers during interim GM Rob Brzezinski’s brief tenure. They will continue to lean on Brian Flores’ aggressive system, which loads the line of scrimmage with six, seven or eight defenders and unleashes a league-high blitz rate.

Turner will need to step up against the run. He will get chances to rush the passer after finishing with a team-high eight sacks last season. But the value of an edge rusher to Flores also lies in versatility. Among 123 edge rushers to play 20% of the team’s passing downs last year, Andrew Van Ginkel and Turner actually rushed the passer the least (56.2%) and fifth least (75.6%) in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Coaches will judge Turner’s progress by more than his sack total.

Young edge rushers Bo Richter, Tyler Batty and Chaz Chambliss should also get opportunities to earn a rotational spot barring a veteran free-agent addition like Jadeveon Clowney.

Will the rest of the D-line emerge?

The Vikings’ pivot to young defensive tackles — with first-round pick Caleb Banks and third-round pick Domonique Orange helping to replace veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave — is another bet on the system and coaching development.

Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins could lead that group. Banks, the 18th overall pick, is expected to be ready to participate when training camp opens next week, O’Connell said this spring. The rookie was held out during OTAs due to a broken bone in his foot that required two surgeries, the most recent in March.

Is Blake Brandel the center of attention?

Three centers split time last season: Brandel (363 snaps), Ryan Kelly (323) and Michael Jurgens (309). Team evaluators showed confidence in Brandel, the versatile 29-year-old blocker who also played left tackle, left guard and right tackle for an injury-plagued line in 2025, by not adding a proven center this offseason. He snapped to both Murray and McCarthy during spring practices and is the presumed starting center for the first time in his career.

Can Will Fries turn it around?

Right guard Will Fries played a team-high 989 offensive snaps (98.8%) over every game last season, taking pride in gutting through knee and calf injuries. But he didn’t bring the Pro Bowl polish commensurate with the five-year, $88 million deal signed 16 months ago.

“Will’s going to get better,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said entering the season finale in January. “He’s shown the ability to really move people. ... He can pass pro, but once again he’s got to get connected. He’s got to keep using his hands and using his punch. He’s an ascending player still, and I think we haven’t seen the best of what Will Fries has to offer.”

What the Hekker?

Ryan Wright left the Vikings to sign a four-year deal with New Orleans. He earned a $3.5 million average that currently ranks fifth among NFL punters. That’s in line with Wright’s production. He ranked fourth last year with a career-best 44.5 net yards per punt, helping provide long fields for the Vikings’ top-10 defense.

His replacement is 15th-year veteran Johnny Hekker, who signed for the veteran minimum ($1.3 million). The Vikings guaranteed nearly all of Hekker’s salary. It’s been four years since Hekker had a season like Wright’s 2025, but the Vikings may just need good enough plus a steady holder for kicker Will Reichard. Hekker has been around long enough to complete 15 of 26 passes on fake punts for 193 yards and a touchdown. He also made his only field goal attempt, a 20-yard boot, for the Rams in 2018.