The Vikings’ Sam Darnold decision made at least some sense, largely due to the team’s fondness for compensatory picks and the young lad taking over the QB1 job. But, to be sure, Minnesota’s front office picked wrong, contributing to firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Seattle signed Darnold to a three-year contract for a touch above $100 million. Doing so now looks like a stroke of genius since the Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl victory. The Vikings, meanwhile, finished outside of the final tournament as a 9-8 team, a modest record that was primarily due to the quarterback spot being so poor. Is there any upside to uplift from the wreckage of that decision?

The Vikings’ Sam Darnold Decision and the New Lineman

Letting Darnold slip away involved getting onto the comp picks board. Better yet, the Vikings earned the top compensatory pick. These extra draft selections start seeing daylight at the end of the 3rd, meaning the best one hits at No. 97 overall. Minnesota got that draft selection.

Backup offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan ended up being the choice at that spot. Many praised the move. After all, the draft prophets and prognosticators believed that Mr. Tiernan would get chosen earlier, meaning Minnesota got some nice value by taking the Northwestern tackle who is believed to be an NFL guard.

On the NFL’s website, Lance Zierlein argued that Tiernan should have gotten scooped up in the 2nd or the 3rd. Snagging him with a draft choice that has been tacked onto the very end of the 3rd represents nice bit of value for the Vikings.

“Highly experienced college tackle who is likely to kick inside due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection,” Zierlein writes. “Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard. Feet feature good initial quickness and he takes excellent angles on the move. He often finds early positioning advantages as a base blocker but lacks the anchor and play strength to consistently fortify/sustain. Leaky edges in pass pro will be less concerning with smaller spaces to patrol, while his punch timing and lateral quickness provide advantages. ‘Solid’ feels like the ceiling for Tiernan as a guard/swing tackle who can eventually elevate into a starting role.”

Since the pick took place, Caleb Tiernan has been forced to defend his (supposedly) short arms. And, in fairness, there’s some merit in the topic. Holding off a pass rusher like Danielle Hunter or Aidan Hutchinson is easier if the offensive tackle offers similar length as those fantastic pass rushers. The trenches are a hand battle, folks.

Writing off Tiernan, though, would be foolish. Or, at least, insisting that he’s guaranteed to be a guard just doesn’t make any sense. The massive lineman may have shorter arms than desired, but Tiernan is a hulking 6’8″ and 325 pounds. So, too, is he a very good athlete who has a brain in his head. Oh, and he appears a touch tired of defending his arms, possibly putting a bit more motivation into his work.

No doubt, the Vikings’ Sam Darnold decision was a brutal one. Quite possibly, the miss here is the single most consequential decision in Adofo-Mensah getting canned. Seattle got a franchise passer who is good enough to win a Super Bowl; Minnesota got a late-3rd that got sunk into an offensive lineman. At the end of the day, that franchise-level miss can’t be held against the kid.

Caleb Tiernan will be looking to prove his value sooner rather than later. Doing so will mean lessening the sting for what was an awful misstep from the Minnesota Vikings. He has expressed admiration for Brian O’Neill and noted his enthusiasm about learning from Minnesota’s right tackle.

The rookie lineman is 23.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already creating enormous anticipation among football supporters and betting audiences across the United States.

With the tournament expanding to 48 teams and matches scheduled across North America, interest is building far earlier than in previous editions. Fans are closely tracking squad development, coaching changes, and qualification campaigns as sportsbooks release early markets on likely contenders.

Established football powers remain at the center of discussion, but recent international performances have also shifted expectations heading into the tournament. From European giants to South American champions, several nations are attracting significant attention from bettors evaluating which teams could thrive on football’s biggest stage.

Spain: Proven Quality In Major Tournaments

Interest has intensified as analysts evaluate how Spain could benefit from North American conditions and travel schedules during the tournament. Many fans monitoring futures markets are comparing Spain’s trajectory to other leading contenders while also reviewing broader tournament trends and early USA World Cup odds ahead of kickoff in 2026.

France: Champagne Football On Display

Argentina: Looking to Be The First Defending Champions

England: A Rebuild Bearing Fruit

The USA, Mexico, and Canada: Underdog Interest

Soccer narratives point out that the United States enters the event with a talented generation of players competing in Europe’s top leagues, creating optimism around the team’s potential on home soil. Mexico remains one of the most supported national teams in North America and consistently attracts strong betting activity during major tournaments. Canada has also emerged as a rising football nation after recent international progress and improved squad depth.

A tournament’s commercial success is also often linked to how far the host nation advances into the knockout stages, making the performances of the United States, Mexico, and Canada particularly significant in 2026.

Extended runs from any of the three teams would likely sustain fan engagement, television audiences, and overall betting activity deep into the competition. With packed stadiums and major regional support expected throughout the event, the host nations are positioned to remain among the most discussed and heavily followed teams in 2026 World Cup betting conversations.

Why These Teams Will Dominate the 2026 Conversation

The Minnesota Vikings have a full roster entering the summer, filling out the 90-man depth chart with an extra wide receiver last week: undrafted free agent Terrill Davis.

Davis brings Division II production, Big 12 experience, and a long-shot path into Minnesota’s crowded receiver room.

Minnesota certainly didn’t need extra pass-catchers, but one extra in Davis won’t hurt for training camp.

A Late-Spring Wide Receiver Flier in Minnesota

Get to know a little about Davis.

Davis to Vikings

Vikings.com’s Lindsey Young wrote Thursday, “The Vikings have added a rookie wide receiver, announcing Thursday they’ve signed Terrill Davis out of Oklahoma State. Davis played 12 games for Oklahoma State in 2025 after transferring from Central Oklahoma. He totaled 29 catches for 373 yards (12.9 average).”

“In his final season for Central Oklahoma, he led all NCAA players regardless of division with 1,609 receiving yards en route to earning Division II All-America honors from the AFCA, The Associated Press and other outlets. Davis didn’t start playing football until his senior year at Choctaw High School (Oklahoma), when he opted to give it a try because basketball gymnasiums were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Most signings like this don’t amount to much, but for a team that once cultivated Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham out of nowhere, Davis to Minnesota cannot be ignored.

The Scouting Report

Davis, a late-blooming receiver in college, stands out for his impressive production. Before transferring to Oklahoma State, he dominated Division II at Central Oklahoma, accumulating 109 catches, 1,609 yards, and 15 touchdowns. He then seamlessly transitioned to the higher level of competition in the Big 12, where he recorded 29 receptions for 373 yards, showcasing his ability to perform at that level.

Davis’s playing style suggests he is more of a raw talent than a finished product. He possesses sufficient speed to stretch the field. An Oklahoma State film review lauded his speed, vertical leap, and strong hands on difficult downfield catches, but also noted occasional drops on easier balls.

His Central Oklahoma bio highlighted his speed to create separation, dependable hands, and ability to make plays after the catch. At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, and with a reported 4.65 40-yard dash, he may not be a pure speed demon, but he demonstrates good athleticism and a notable ability to win contested catches.

Ultimately, Davis is a raw, competitive, and productive prospect whose athletic potential warrants development. He projects as a practice squad candidate with significant upside rather than as an instant-impact player, and his unique collegiate journey makes him an intriguing prospect.

Our Janik Eckardt on Davis: “He wouldn’t be the first basketball player to make the transition. Even some elite NFL players, like Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, started out on the court. Those are mostly tight ends; Davis is not. The youngster joins a receiving crew that is set at the top with top stars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, as well as recent signee Jauan Jennings.”

“Tai Felton, a third-rounder from the 2025 draft, has shown his worth on special teams and should have a roster spot secured. Unless any rookie can unseat Myles Price from the return jobs, he’ll also be on the team. That’s either the entire WR room or the Vikings keep a sixth, who would be found throughout the summer.”

The Full WR Crops

Minnesota has a full house at wide receiver. After landing Jennings from free agency earlier this month, it doesn’t need more pass-catchers.

Yet, with the Davis addition, more youth is in the developmental pipeline:

When the final roster is announced at the end of August, the Vikings will likely keep about five or six of the players from the list — probably Jefferson through Price.

Probably Eyeing the Practice Squad

Davis’s trajectory? Well, he’s not another Jalen Redmond in the making. Hardly anybody is; it’s what makes Redmond special.

Still, Davis can gaze at the 2026 practice squad as his goal. Often, the Vikings will keep up to 4-6 wide receivers on that section of the depth chart, one call-up away from Sunday action. Men like Jeshaun Jones know the drill. There’s no reason to believe Davis can’t follow suit.

Davis will turn 23 this summer. Next up for the Vikings are organized team activities (OTAs) on May 26, with Davis included.

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

Mohamed Salah’s social media post asking for Liverpool to return to playing “heavy metal football” is discussed on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show.

Former England captain Rooney says he would have the forward “nowhere near the stadium” for Liverpool’s final Premier League match.

READ MORE: Liverpool must return to heavy metal football – Salah

A major championship has been vacated at Pro Wrestling NOAH. 33-year-old wrestler Mayu Iwatani has confirmed that she has vacated the GHC Women’s Title.

The GHC Women’s Title was introduced in 2024. Kouki Amarei became the inaugural champion. In early 2026, Iwatani won the title by defeating Takumi Iroh at Marigold First Dream.

At NOAH Magic Monday, Iwatani confirmed she would be vacating the GHC Women’s Title due to a fractured toe, which has kept her out of action since mid-April. The 33-year-old wrestler confirmed that she will aim to regain the title once she gets the green light to return to action.

“I really wanted to compete today, and I tried so hard to make it in time for WRESTLE MAGIC, but I have a fractured big toe, so I’m truly sorry… I will be relinquishing the GHC belt. It feels so bitter. I will definitely come back for this belt once I return! For now, just for a little while, we’ll have to say goodbye,” she said. [H/T: Fightful]

Former Women’s Champion IYO SKY opened up about her match with Mayu Iwatani

IYO SKY and Mayu Iwatani shared the ring at Marigold Grand Destiny 2025. The Genius of the Sky briefly spoke about the match and talked about using the Locomotion German Suplex.

The former WWE Superstar stated that she had to push herself beyond physical and mental limits to get past Iwatani.

“No, I don’t do them like that anymore. I haven’t done it even once in America, have I? Three consecutive German suplexes?; Mayu probably didn’t want to take it, so she might have resisted desperately, but I had no choice but to throw her! It became a match where I pushed myself beyond my physical and mental limits.”

Iwatani is best known for her tenure with World Wonder Ring Stardom. The 33-year-old held the Artist of Stardom Championship with SKY, formerly known as Io Shirai, and Takumi Iroha. Iwatani and SKY also held the Goddesses of Stardom Championship twice.