Bold predictions, by design, are supposed to be headline-grabbing, outlandish, and a little weird. And with the Minnesota Vikings’ summer operations mere days away, it’s time to get some of those on record.

Minnesota’s summer will bring clarity, drama, and probably at least one roster move that feels uncomfortable.

The Vikings will feature a new general manager and quarterback in 2026; here’s a look at some predictions for the summer.

Early and Bold Vikings Predictions Are Here

Putting these hot takes on record.

1. Brett Thorson Clears

Did Thorson hold field goals and extra points in college? He did not. Is that a problem? It is.

Still, Thorson might’ve been the best punter in college football last year, depending on the eye of the beholder, and the Vikings can’t just cut a guy like that because they employ an old specialist (Johnny Hekker) who used to be really, really good.

Thorson will prove his punting talent supersedes Hekker at training camp, and special teams boss Matt Daniels will have all summer to figure out the holding situation.

2. Vikings Sign Leonard Floyd

On April 24, the Vikings executed a trade, sending Jonathan Greenard and a 7th-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for two third-round selections (one in 2026 and one in 2027).

The deal rocked Minnesota’s OLB setup. With Greenard, Minnesota’s EDGE room boasted considerable talent. His departure leaves Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner as the primary pass rushers, but it also highlights a notable lack of depth. A single injury could quickly create a precarious situation at the position.

So, the Vikings likely need to acquire an OLB3, with free agency presenting the most apparent solution.

Floyd emerges as a strong candidate, fitting the ‘familiar face’ profile. His existing connections with Minnesota’s coaching staff are a significant advantage, particularly when pursuing free agents late in the spring. Kevin O’Connell could conceivably reach out to Floyd directly, bypassing the usual complexities of late-stage free agency negotiations.

O’Connell and Floyd won the Super Bowl together in Los Angeles five years ago.

3. Garrett Bradbury Arrives via Trade

The New England Patriots traded Bradbury to the Chicago Bears in March for a 5th-Round pick. Six weeks later, the Bears turned around and drafted Iowa center Logan Jones, who will be 25 during the regular season. Second-round centers should start sooner rather than later, and 25-year-old 2nd-Round centers should be ready Week 1.

That puts Bradbury on the bench or on the trade block if Chicago doesn’t get weird with its offensive line plan.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are on track to start Blake Brandel at center, and while he might play just fine, converting a tackle turned guard turned center to a new spot rarely works out for the long haul, unless the guy is young.

Needing a better center solution, Minnesota will ship a 6th-Rounder to Chicago for Bradbury, even if trading with Chicago violates NFC North taboos.

4. The QB1 Camp Battle Is Window Dressing

Last summer, the Vikings hosted no quarterback battle at training camp. Months later, they regretted it and even fired their general manager in January as a result.

In 2026, the club is advertising a quarterback battle, but it will be abundantly clear through a few days of training camp that the QB1 job emphatically belongs to Murray. In fact, by September 1st, folks will look back and consider the possibility of McCarthy ousting Murray from the top spot as a laughable take.

Murray is faster, more accurate, has a stronger arm, and has more experience than McCarthy. The quarterback competition won’t be a sham, but Murray will prevail with the snap of two fingers.

5. Rookie Gavin Gerhardt Emerges

Gerhardt may not start Week 1 — that’s reserved for Brandel — but by the time training camp ends, fans will have a warm and cozy feeling about Gerhardt.

Minnesota very vividly needed a center during the draft; the coaching staff even told reporters before the event that the draft had several intriguing options. Then, the Vikings drafted zero centers until Round 7.

They seem to have big plans for Gerhardt. When the regular season rolls around, Gerhardt will either be tapped on the shoulder to start or be the immediate backup center if Brandel misses a game or two.

A to Z Sports‘ Tyler Forness noted on Gerhardt after the draft, “This is an interesting pick. Gerhardt is a four-year starter who has played 3,374 snaps for the Bearcats. He’s a decent athlete with experience at the position, and it offers the Vikings another option at center.”

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Ahead of the commencement of the 2026 French Open Tournament, Naomi Osaka co-hosted the first-ever ‘Black Party’ alongside Taylor Townsend. The list of attendees included Coco Gauff, Gaël Monfils, Asia Muhammad, and Chris Eubanks.

The Japanese star has frequently used her platform to voice her opinions on racial justice, diversity, and inclusion in sports. Her ‘Black Party’ is symbolic and meaningful, given it’s a rare sight. She also shared a brief message, reflecting on the time when she felt isolated because there weren’t many Black tennis players.

She further stated that since the Black players are usually underrepresented, they support and understand each other because they share similar experiences.

“Growing up, there weren’t a lot of tennis players I could look up to that looked like me. Being a minority in a sport like tennis is very isolating but the positive is that you keep tabs on everyone that … being blunt, is black. There’s a fellowship, a camaraderie that doesn’t need words to describe. You just feel at peace knowing that there’s another person who has experienced similar things to you and you feel less alone,” the quote read.

“The black party (RG edition) 🖤 Side note: my first time ever co-hosting a dinner/party and let me tell you, no better company to share time with.”

Gauff and Townsend reacted to the glimpses of the party shared by the four-time Grand Slam champion, with the former adding a series of hearts. Townsend wrote:

“Just the beginning🖤✔️🗝️”

Osaka will kick off her French Open run against Laura Siegemund.

Naomi Osaka makes her feelings known about Gael Monfils retirement

Naomi Osaka made her feelings known about Gael Monfils during the ongoing French Open. The Frenchman is expected to compete in his last Roland Garros before retiring at the end of the 2026 season. He has been a home favorite in France and has received a wildcard entry for this year’s edition.

Ahead of the main draw, the tournament arranged a farewell celebration, “Gael & Friends,” which was a star-studded affair with Osaka, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Elina Svitolina, and Alexander Zverev participating. When asked to reflect on the Frenchman’s retirement, Naomi Osaka said:

“For me, what the player represents has always been important; on the women’s side, we’ve always had Venus and Serena, so I’m very grateful to them. On the men’s side, I’ve always admired Gael and Tsonga for a long time; they were very important, obviously generating a wave of black French players that are emerging now. They were an inspiration, I know that for sure. Regarding Gael, I love his way of being, he’s a cool guy.” (via puntodebreak.com)

Monfils will take on Hugo Gaston in his first faceoff at the 2026 French Open.