The Top 6 Items on Vikings Offseason To-Do List

NFL: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota’s unexpected competitive season ended rather quickly as the team couldn’t replicate the success from the majority of the regular season when it mattered most in the last two weeks, both times with trips to the divisional round on the line, losing back-to-back games against the Lions and the Rams.

Top 6 Items on Vikings Offseason To-Do List

Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo‐Mensah speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL’s single-elimination nature of the playoffs brings us directly into the offseason after thinking about the playoff picture throughout Monday. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has some work to do in the next few months.

These are the six major items on his to-do list.

1. Extend Kevin O’Connell

Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell walks onto the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Head coach Kevin O’Connell surely deserves some blame for the no-show of his players in the final stretches of the season, and his scheme was solved by the opposing defensive coordinators.

Still, he helped Sam Darnold to 35 passing touchdowns and the Pro Bowl before he returned to his previous struggles from his Jets and Panthers days. In addition to that, he has built a culture that players want to be a part of.

It’s his franchise at this point, and the Vikings need to make sure his contract doesn’t expire after the 2025 season. The litmus test is how many of the other teams with an HC opening would immediately hire him? The answer is all of them.

2. Hand the Keys to J.J. McCarthy

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Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) under center against the Las Vegas Raiders in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

A franchise with a broad history of re-tread quarterbacks, it’s time for a homegrown talent. Last April, the Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy as the tenth overall pick. McCarthy is a young, charismatic, and athletic passer who is supposed to become the next franchise quarterback.

Enough with the patchwork signal-callers. The Vikings need a veteran backup who can mentor the man during his age-22 season, but they don’t need a bridge starter. Build the offense for his skill set and see if he’s the long-term solution or not.

3. Fix the Interior OL

Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; The line of scrimmage between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

It’s been a problem for a decade now. The Vikings can’t fix the offensive line. If healthy, the two tackles are an elite duo, but the interior trio is still a mess. Playoff football is won in the trenches, and the Vikings can’t compete with the Philadelphia Eagles, or even the Los Angeles Rams, at the line of scrimmage.

At least two new starters are needed. Keeping Garrett Bradbury at center makes sense because he is at least a serviceable player and, as a veteran, can help McCarthy set the protections, but the two guards need to be upgraded.

4. Find an Interior Threat on the DL

Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The interior defensive line is another problem for the Vikings. While they had one of the best run defenses in the league, nobody in that DL room was able to pressure the quarterback. The best opponents sent help to the edges to limit Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard or got the ball out quickly.

The shortest way to get to the quarterback is from the inside, and collapsing the pocket always helps. The Vikings barely touched Matthew Stafford, and it cost them. The only defensive tackle drafted in the first round since Kevin Williams was Sharrif Floyd in 2013.

5. Improve Running Back Room

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) hands the ball to running back Aaron Jones (33) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Aaron Jones was hired to boost the production out of the backfield, and he surely did that compared to Alexander Mattison. While he was solid, he is 30 years old, and he will likely experience an age-related decline. He was also regularly banged up in his lone season in the Twin Cities.

Still, re-signing him to another one-year contract seems to be a decent move, especially when pairing him with another runner in the draft. Although he has already grown in that regard, O’Connell’s offense is still too dependent on the aerial attack, and he needs to find more balance.

6. Rebuild the Secondary

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) reacts with teammates after an interception by safety Josh Metellus (44) against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The secondary barely exists on the depth chart, as cornerbacks Byron Murphy, Shaq Griffin, Stephon Gilmore, and Fabian Moreau are all set to enter free agency. Safety Cam Bynum will join them, and Harrison Smith is expected to call it a career after playing his 200th game in purple.

That means versatile defender Joshua Metellus needs an entirely new starting lineup around him. The Vikings will likely keep some of the pending free agents, but it’s another area Adofo-Mensah needs to target in the draft and free agency.


Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt