Vikings Ranking: The 5 Worst Decisions in Minnesota’s 2025 Season
The Vikings ranking is an ongoing effort on Sunday morning. So far, there has been a consideration of passers on the trade market, the best draft picks of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era, free agents fits, and breakout candidates. What were the worst mistakes?
Rolling into the 2025 regular season, there was optimism in the Twin Cities for where the Vikings were going. Reality arrived and the optimism ended up being unfounded. Minnesota finished the year at 9-8 and then ventured forward into a new front office that had subtracted Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Consider the key miscalculations on the way toward failure.
Vikings Ranking
5 Worst Decisions of 2025 for Minnesota
Bad Decision No. 5 — A Trio of Trades
Undoing the decisions on a trio of trades would have helped. Consider these moves:
- Adam Thielen, a 5th, and a 7th for a 5th and 4th
- Harrison Phillips and a 7th for a pair of 6ths
- Mekhi Blackmon for a 6th
The veteran receiver did essentially nothing as a Viking. Much better would have been signing a free agent (K.J. Osborn, for instance, was available at the time) for the league minimum rather than trade picks and forfeit cap space for Thielen.
Worse yet, losing Phillips and Blackmon did leave the Vikings in a poorer spot on defense. Phillips, in particular, would have been a nice part of the mix for the Vikings.
Bad Decision No. 4 — Poor Drafting Still an Issue
The Vikings moved into the 2025 NFL Draft with very few selections. Coming to the Twin Cities were:
- LG Donovan Jackson, 1st Round
- WR Tai Felton, 3rd Round
- DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, 5th Round
- LB Kobe King, 6th Round
- TE Gavin Bartholomew, 6th Round
Do note, as well, that QB Sam Howell got added via trade during the draft. The depth passer was part of the move down the board, going from No. 142 down to No. 172 in exchange for Howell (who was later traded). King is no longer a Viking and Bartholomew missed his entire rookie season due to injury. Still much that remains uncertain, though the impact in 2025 was modest outside of Mr. Jackson.
Bad Decision No. 3 — Spending Too Much Money (On the Wrong Players)
The chance at surplus value was intriguing. Veteran DTs Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave could have found the fountain of youth, revitalized by working from within Brian Flores’s defense. Instead, each was solid enough without being spectacular.
Pricey players such as Aaron Jones, Jonathan Greenard, Byron Murphy Jr., and others played good football but not excellent football. Likewise, Ryan Kelly wasn’t the difference maker since he was hurt too often. Expensive RG1 Will Fries was just okay. Too much money went toward players who were fine rather than fantastic.
Bad Decision No. 2 — Not Understanding the Justin Jefferson Urgency
Possessing a Hall of Fame receiver who is in his prime means that the time to win is now. Instead, the Vikings gambled and lost.
Mr. Jefferson isn’t going to be traded. Not yet, at least.
If the Vikings continue hanging out in mediocrity, then there will be no more Justin Jefferson on the roster. At some point, he’ll probably push for a trade and/or the team will need to embrace a true rebuild. Burning up a year of his prime is a tough pill to swallow.
Bad Decision No. 1 — Failing to Beef Up QB Position
Sam Darnold ended up doing something special. The Vikings could have kept him but decided not to do so. Daniel Jones could have been an excellent option, but he slipped away.
A pile of passers could have been added last March — Mac Jones, Jameis Winston, Drew Lock, and so many others — but the decision was to continue marching along with just Brett Rypien alongside Mr. McCarthy. Not a good decision. The QB failure was the main thing to sink the season.
