6 Summer Surprises That Could Rock the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have already revealed a few surprises this offseason, including firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah three and a half weeks after the regular season ended and signing Kyler Murray for $1.3 million. So, what’s next?

The following list highlights surprises that could reasonably occur. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most surprising possible development).

Vikings’ Depth Chart May Not Be a Finished Product

6. Ivan Pace Jr. Gets Released

When Minnesota began the offseason, the off-ball linebacking situation looked murky. Eric Wilson was scheduled for free agency, Pace Jr. was not guaranteed to return, and rookie Jake Golday had not entered the roster orbit. The depth chart revealed Blake Cashman — and that was pretty much it.

Then, of course, Wilson re-signed, along with Pace Jr., and the Vikings used a 2nd-Round pick on Golday from Cincinnati.

There’s a world where Pace Jr. may not make the 53-man roster, believe it or not, if Golday is ready for action in Week 1. Minnesota benched Pace Jr. early in 2025, and the cap hit to drop him this summer is quite low: $0 added in dead money.

The Vikings could also rather easily sign a veteran linebacker like Bobby Okereke or Devin White while releasing Pace Jr., who struggled to tackle last season.

5. Vikings Trade for Another RB

Minnesota could explore the RB trade market. Trey Benson, for example, is a prime candidate. The Arizona Cardinals now have Jeremiyah Love, James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Benson in the same backfield, creating a challenging situation for distributing carries. Benson, like fellow 2024 draftee Jonathon Brooks, has also dealt with injuries.

By his third year, Benson would ideally be vying for a more prominent role. Instead, Arizona acquired another back and retained Conner. Teams typically avoid such a crowded backfield for players they view as future stars. If the Cardinals are open to discussions, the Vikings should inquire for a 6th-Round pick or so.

Jaylen Wright presents another intriguing possibility. With Frank Smith, formerly Miami’s offensive coordinator, now serving as Minnesota’s assistant head coach, a connection already exists. Wright is currently Miami’s RB2, but the arrival of Ollie Gordon this summer could alter the depth chart. If Wright finds himself as the RB3, a new environment might be beneficial.

His speed is a major asset, with a reported 4.38 40-yard dash time. Through two seasons, he has accumulated approximately 600 scrimmage yards and recently turned 23. Like Benson, Wright could be gettable for a late-round pick.

4. Another WR Signed — Like Deebo Samuel or DeAndre Hopkins

The Vikings signed Jauan Jennings to complete their deepest WR corps since the days of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. But why not more firepower if the price is right?

Samuel is unsigned through three months of free agency. Hopkins already stated publicly in March that he’d love to play for the Vikings with Kyler Murray at the helm. Minnesota could opt for an embarrassment of riches at WR, enabling “no excuses” for Murray or J.J. McCarthy in 2026.

3. Extra TE Enters the Mix — Like Michael Mayer or Darren Waller

Mayer remains buried on the Las Vegas Raiders’ depth chart because Brock Bowers is just too good. He doesn’t get the targets that most envisioned when Las Vegas spent 2nd-Round draft capital on him in 2023. Mayer needs a fresh start, and Minnesota’s TE1, T.J. Hockenson, is on tap for free agency next March.

Waller is a free agent with ties to the aforementioned Smith from his time in Las Vegas and Miami. Signing Waller would cost next to nothing and provide the Vikings’ offense with a sweet redzone target.

2. Rookie CB Charles Demmings Wins a Starter’s Job

The summer hype train has already left the station regarding Demmings — and it could be real. The 5th-Rounder has the physical tools to shine in the NFL, and Minnesota is long overdue for a cornerback that it organically drafted to work out. The last one to succeed was Xavier Rhodes or Trae Waynes over a decade ago.

The Vikings’ roster is also ripe for a cornerback to emerge. Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre are good or decent defensive backs, but none are shutdown corners. If an unsung cornerback wants to take flight out of nowhere, Minnesota’s depth chart is prime territory.

1. J.J. McCarthy Does the Unthinkable by Upsetting Kyler Murray

Perhaps McCarthy really did improve his mechanics from January to June. It’s not inconceivable for a quarterback in his third year to take the next step. It really isn’t.

Murray remains the heavy favorite to win the QB1 job, but the Vikings could face a champagne-problem reality in August and September — what if McCarthy just looks too damn good to leave on the bench? Murray would not be fond of signing with the Vikings and immediately getting pushed to the QB2 spot on the depth chart, but that doesn’t really matter if McCarthy looks like the real deal.

Not long ago, McCarthy was considered the unabashed QB1 in Minnesota, taking the cake over 2025 offseason options like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Jones.

Maybe McCarthy was just a bit late with his maturation and development.

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