Jeff Diamond Reacts to Vikings Schedule, Rodgers, Draft in Minny

I always qualify my schedule analysis by quoting Hall of Fame Coach Bud Grant, who said, “It’s not so much who you play but when you play them.” Meaning injuries, weather, a team’s momentum, and other factors will determine how tough a game becomes.

The Bills may be a juggernaut when the Vikings host them on Monday night, November 9. Or Josh Allen could be out injured and Buffalo struggling by then, whereas Jayden Daniels and the Commanders could be rolling and back to their 2024 final four form in Week 16.

And the Vikings could be playing in a windy snowstorm on their late-season visit to New England for a difficult short-week Thursday night game on December 10 against the defending AFC champs. And it could be extremely cold and windy at the Meadowlands on January 3 against the Jets (which I experienced several times on trips to play the Jets or Giants).

Diamond Breaks Down a Busy Week for Minnesota

What we definitely know is the two opening games — home vs. Green Bay on September 13 and at Chicago on September 20 — are key early divisional tests for a Vikings team that will likely be breaking in Kyler Murray as the starting quarterback and a lot of rookie draftees, such as first-round DT Caleb Banks (if he’s healthy). The Packers are likely to face Murray in his first Vikings start, but the Vikings will hope game-wrecking defender Micah Parsons is not yet back from his torn ACL suffered last December.

I think the Vikings need to split those two games at least, then get on a roll over the next four games (at Tampa Bay, home vs. Miami, at New Orleans, and home vs. Indianapolis).

Then comes a challenging four-game stretch that includes road games against division foes Detroit and Green Bay, the home Monday nighter against Buffalo, and the Mexico City game against the 49ers. That will be three 2025 playoff teams plus the Lions (who should return to the playoffs with their fourth-place schedule, one of the league’s easiest based on last season’s records).

The Vikings have six of their first 10 games on the road, including the neutral-site game in Mexico City. The better news is that five of the last seven games are at home, with seemingly very winnable games against Atlanta, Carolina, and Washington, along with tough divisional matchups vs. the Lions and Bears.

If the Vikings can get through the first 10 games at .500 or better, they’ll have an excellent chance to finish with between 10 and 12 wins. If it’s 10 wins, they should earn a wildcard spot. And in what’s expected to be a closely contested NFC North, I think 12 victories will win the division (the Bears won it last year at 11-6 when all four teams had winning records).

The Vikings’ schedule certainly appears not to be as difficult as last year’s, considering it’s a third-place schedule vs. a second-place schedule in 2025 and that they are crossing over to face the seemingly weaker NFC South and AFC East compared to last season against the AFC North and NFC East (again with the proviso that some teams not expected to contend always do and vice versa).  

It’s a mild surprise but fun for the team and fan base that despite missing the playoffs last season, the Vikings still landed four prime-time games — Monday November 9 vs. Buffalo, Sunday November 22 vs. San Francisco in Mexico City, Thursday December 10 at New England and Sunday December 20 vs. Detroit (as long as that game isn’t flexed to an afternoon game if the league feels there’s a more attractive Week 15 game).

There’s also a decent chance the regular-season finale at home against the Bears could be for the division title, in which case the game could be flexed to Sunday night.

I’ll make my season predictions in early September after I see how the team is coming together in training camp, especially during the joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens, which the Vikings will host on August 19-20 before their preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 22.  

On 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota

It’s a nice coup for Minnesota and the Twin Cities to be voted on by NFL owners to host the 2028 NFL Draft. It’s amazing to see how the draft has turned into an almost Super Bowl-like spectacle for a city to host, as we’ve seen in recent years in places such as Pittsburgh (over 800,000 people in attendance this year), Green Bay, Detroit, and Nashville.

It’s so different from my years working in the NFL, when all drafts took place in New Yo,rk and there was far less media coverage and fan interest.

I like the plan of the Minnesota Sports and Events (MSE) group in collaboration with the Vikings to have the main stage around U.S. Bank Stadium and have other draft-related events across the Twin Cities, including the possibilities of the Mall of America (which hosted activities during Super Bowl LII in 2018) and the Vikings Lakes development where the Vikings facility is located in Eagan.

This will be another great opportunity to showcase Minnesota and the Twin Cities in a positive light, especially in contrast to highly publicized negative events, such as George Floyd and its aftermath, and the recent ICE surge. We do have to hope for nice late-April weather for the local folks and the thousands of visitors attending outdoor draft events.

Kudos to Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, the team’s staff, and MSE for their work on the bid and for being awarded the 2028 draft, which will create tremendous economic impact for the state and Metro area.

Farewell Tour for Aaron Rodgers

The egomaniac QB has returned to the Steelers on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million with incentives. He’ll reunite with new Pittsburgh coach and Rodgers’ former Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

The 42-year-old Rodgers told the media this will be his final NFL season. I’ve had more than enough of his off-field antics (darkness retreats, stringing teams out before signing, etc.), and I say good riddance to Rodgers after this season.

Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond