The Minnesota Vikings have started OTAs, leading to speculation about how good they can be this year. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah put forth his 12 requirements for a championship foundation, and what all teams need, at minimum, to be Super Bowl contenders.
- 1 quarterback
- 3 offensive playmakers
- 3 quality offensive linemen
- 2 pass rushers
- 3 defensive playmakers
It’s an intriguing configuration. Let’s assume Jeremiah’s formulation is correct. In that case, how do the Vikings stack up?
Quarterback
Depending on who you ask, the Vikings haven’t had a franchise quarterback since Daunte Culpepper got injured. Maybe Kirk Cousins could be thrown in there. Or maybe they had one as recently as 2024, when Sam Darnold led the team to a 14-3 record in his only season in purple. Regardless of the past, Minnesota will have either J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray at the wheel this year, and the winner of the job will likely keep the role for the next several years, barring some epic collapse in 2026.
So is the position solved? It feels unlikely that both McCarthy and Murray will fizzle out, leaving the Vikings starting from scratch in 2027. Murray appears to be the leader in the clubhouse and has a strong chance to regain some form away from the soul-sucking Arizona Cardinals. Check the box.
Offensive Playmakers
The Vikings have two incredibly easy checkmarks here in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. However, the third and final check is more debatable.
At this point in his career, calling Aaron Jones a playmaker is a stretch. While he offers steady production and veteran leadership, not many teams are gameplanning against him. The same could be said for tight end T.J. Hockenson, who hasn’t been the same player since his knee injury and may not even be a part of Minnesota’s future after taking a pay cut this year.
Newly added receiver Jauan Jennings could be a conversation-starter. Still, his fit in the offense is largely unknown, and there’s no guarantee that he comes close to touching his production in San Francisco. Ultimately, most teams would love his size, blocking, and red zone threat. Check.
Quality Offensive Lineman
Like playmaker, two boxes are checked without hesitation thanks to the bookends of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
After that, the definition of “quality” would certainly need some parsing. Guards Donovan Jackson and Will Fries could be considered quality after decent seasons in their first year in Minnesota. On the other hand, Jackson ranked in the bottom half of guards according to PFF’s grades, and Fries allowed the most pressures on the Vikings front in 2025.
Blake Brandel, the projected starter at center, is a big wild card and is probably the least likely position to be considered quality. Ultimately, the Vikings get the nod here, as the referee deems Jackson and Fries each worth half a point to get Minnesota to the needed total of three.
Pass Rusher
A few weeks ago, this section would have been laughably easy. But after dealing Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s a bit trickier.
On the surface, it seems like a swift checkmark and a move to the next question, but a deeper look may reveal more questions. Andrew Van Ginkel has racked up 18.5 sacks over the past two seasons and remains a dynamic player for Brian Flores. He’ll be 31 this year, though, and it’s fair to question if his best days are behind him. Still, Van Ginkel’s value goes beyond just getting to the quarterback, and he’s one of Minnesota’s best despite his age.
On the other side, Dallas Turner will get his shot this year. Prominent NFL publications have predicted he’ll be a breakout player. His eight sacks last season led the team, but his 65.5 PFF grade, 63rd among edges, hints that he’s capable of more. He’s still good enough to wrap this section up for the Vikings, though. Just don’t ask who will play edge if either of these guys gets hurt.
Defensive Playmaker
Defensive playmaker is a fairly nebulous title, but let’s look at everyone not playing edge. Rookies Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jakobe Thomas, and Jake Golday have to be excluded, despite the excitement around the youngsters. There’s just no way to know which, if any, turn into stars. The Vikings could potentially be sitting on a goldmine, though.
One easy choice is Jalen Redmond, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2025. Another is Eric Wilson, who put up 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles as an off-ball linebacker. His window of elite play is rapidly closing, however, as he turns 32 in September.
The third missing piece is a little harder to identify with confidence. Blake Cashman is solid, but his stat lines won’t stand out. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was Mr. Playmaker – in Week 3, anyway. Outside of his stunning performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rodgers failed to generate a turnover the rest of the season. Byron Murphy regressed after his six-interception 2024 season. And the safety trio of Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and Theo Jackson were all very average in 2025.
It’s strange to say it, but if Harrison Smith returns, he would be the third player here. At 36, he still had a sack, a forced fumble, and two interceptions in 2025, and could easily replicate that again if the old man runs it back one more time.
Overall
Shockingly enough, the Vikings have a strong argument for meeting all of Jeremiah’s requirements for a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
✔ 1 quarterback (Murray)
✔ 3 offensive playmakers (Jefferson, Addison, Jennings)
✔ 3 quality offensive linemen (Darrisaw, O’Neill, Jackson/Fries) Judge Rules: acceptable
✔ 2 pass rushers (Turner, Van Ginkel)
✔ 3 defensive playmakers (Redmond, Wilson, Smith) Harry come back.
