The Indianapolis Colts selected former Georgia linebacker CJ Allen in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 53rd overall pick. The franchise posted a clip of the 21-year-old working out at rookie camp on Saturday.
“CJ in motion,” the caption read.
Thanks for the submission!
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Fans flocked to the comment section to share their reaction to the video.
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“I seen dads at a cookout move faster,” a fan said.
i seen dads at a cookout move faster
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“Dude moving like a Amazon package handler,” one fan commented.
“10 and 11 personnel going to have CJ in hell,” another fan added.
“he is still just as slow fjejxbjanxjzjd,” one fan posted.
“Did he just learn how to run today?” Another fan said.
“Delete this bro looks 40 years old,” one comment read.
As the Colts’ rookie minicamp got underway on May 8–10, 2026, Allen’s athleticism was a major talking point. Throughout the 2026 draft process, many scouting reports labeled the linebacker as an average athlete. Reports suggested he had slow lateral speed and slow change of direction.
Many argued that he often looked split-second late on film when reacting to zone passes or chasing down fast ball carriers.
CJ Allen reveals the story behind wearing No. 53 with the Colts
After wearing No. 3 throughout his standout career at Georgia, CJ Allen needed a new number in the NFL because Colts kicker Spencer Shrader already wore it.
Indianapolis assigned Allen No. 53, and at first, he saw it as a standard linebacker jersey. Later, he was selected with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft after the Colts traded down from No. 47.
The jersey also holds major franchise history as former Colts All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard wore No. 53 during his dominant run with the team. He won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 and earned three first-team AP All-Pro selections while wearing the iconic number. Allen now hopes to create his own legacy in Indianapolis.
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The former Georgia star appeared in 41 games with 30 starts from 2023-25, recording 205 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
His impressive 2025 campaign included 88 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, helping him earn First Team All-America and First Team All-SEC honors.
Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas remains on the field after suffering an injury during second-quarter action against the SMU Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. On Nov. 1, 2025, Thomas was hurt following a defensive stop as Miami’s defense battled through a physical road matchup in Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
It’s not unusual by any stretch of the imagination, but the Minnesota Vikings’ roster will feature about three dozen newcomers in 2026, joining the club from free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency.
Six free agents. Nine draft picks. Nineteen undrafted rookies.
The club has 90 players on the depth chart right now, a number that will be shaved to 53 in late August.
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Minnesota’s Newcomers Stretch across Every Roster Lane
Get to know the newcomers.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre reacts after recording an interception during fourth-quarter action against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, 2024. Pierre helped swing momentum late in the divisional matchup as the Steelers defense tightened in crunch time, celebrating the takeaway while teammates quickly gathered around him following the pivotal turnover. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
From Free Agency (6)
Newcomers: Johnny Hekker (P) Jauan Jennings (WR) Eric Johnson (DT) Kyler Murray (QB) James Pierre (CB) Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Murray obviously takes the cake here; he’s a two-time Pro Bowler with a better career-long EPA+CPOE than Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones, among others. He instantly makes the Vikings a playoff contender, showcasing no real weaknesses aside from his 5’10” height.
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Jennings signed on Thursday night, a cake-topper of the offseason. He’s the new WR3, replacing Jalen Nailor, who bolted for the Las Vegas Raiders in March. The new punter, Hekker, was once the best in football 8-10 years ago; now, he’ll hope to stay off a rookie from the third section of this article.
Pierre is Minnesota’s new CB3, a replacement for Jeff Okudah, who hasn’t signed anywhere in 2026. Van Demark is offensive tackle insurance in case something happens to Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill. Johnson, a defensive tackle, is a roster-bubble guy who may or may not make the 53-man depth chart in August.
From The Draft (9)
Newcomers: Caleb Banks (DT) | Florida, Round 1 Jake Golday (LB) | Cincinnati, Round 2 Domonique Orange (DT) | Iowa State, Round 3 Caleb Tiernan (OT) | Northwestern, Round 3 Jakobe Thomas (S) | Miami, Round 3 Max Bredeson (TE) | Michigan, Round 5 Charles Demmings (CB) | Stephen F. Austin, Round 5 Demond Claiborne (RB) | Wake Forest, Round 6 Gavin Gerhardt (C) | Cincinnati, Round 7
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Banks will define this class — no matter what. If he hits, to the tune of his All-Pro ceiling, the group can almost do no wrong. Golday arrives as an Andrew Van Ginkel-like defensive weapon, the first inside linebacker drafted by the Vikings in the first two rounds since Eric Kendricks in 2015.
Michigan Wolverines tight end Max Bredeson watches practice before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 6, 2024. Bredeson carved out a valuable role in Michigan’s offense with his blocking ability, toughness, and versatility during the Wolverines’ championship run under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Oragne is a nose tackle, and the Vikings haven’t had a pure version of one of those in eons. Tiernan is an offensive tackle, youth in the pipeline next to Darrisaw and O’Neill. Harrison Smith hasn’t resigned yet, and if he does not, Thomas will get a look as his replacement.
Bredeson is the new C.J. Ham; fans will love him. Demmings is a scrappy cornerback who could break out because Minnesota hasn’t drafted a corner with staying power since Xavier Rhodes — 13 years ago.
The new running back, Claiborne, will be something in the neighborhood of Nyheim Hines, Jerick McKinnon, or De’Von Achane, based on his size and play style. Gerhardt is a longshot bid for the Vikings’ center of the future.
From Undrafted Free Agency (19)
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Newcomers: Marcus Allen (CB) | North Carolina Da’Veawn Armstead (CB) | North Texas Dillon Bell (WR) | Georgia Jordan Botelho (OLB) | Notre Dame Tyreek Chappell (CB) | Texas A&M Monkell Goodwine (DL) | South Carolina Shaleak Knotts (WR) | Maryland Keli Lawson (LB) | Central Florida Tristan Leigh (OL) | Clemson Delby Lemieux (OL) | Dartmouth Kejon Owens (RB) | Florida International Tomas Rimac (OL) | Virginia Tech Marcus Sanders (WR) | Georgia Southern Cam’Ron Stewart (OLB) | Temple Jacob Thomas (S) | James Madison Brett Thorson (P) | Georgia Arden Walker (OLB) | Colorado Scooby Williams (LB) | Texas A&M Luke Wysong (WR) | Arizona
This list is obviously huge, and most of these men won’t latch on to the Vikings’ roster or anywhere in the NFL when it’s all said and done. Still, it’s important to note that wide receiver Dillon Bell could score a roster spot or practice squad invitation in late August.
Cam’Ron Stewart has some fans, and he’s 24, so he should be more game-ready than most. Jacob Thomas may be a dark horse of the practice squad. And most expect Brett Thorson to have an honest-to-goodness punter battle with Johnny Hekker this summer.
Georgia punter Brett Thorson kicks the football during drills at the NFL Scouting Combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 25, 2026. Thorson entered the pre-draft process after building a reputation at Georgia for consistency, hang time, and field-position control while handling punting duties for one of college football’s premier programs. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
DawgNation‘s Connor Riley on Thorson, “Thorson won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter and now he’ll be playing in the NFL. Thorson was a four-year starter at the University of Georgia. Thorson was one of the best punters in the country throughout his entire career, consistently pinning teams back deep.”
“He did suffer a knee injury that required surgery in December of 2024. Thorson missed the first game of the 2025 season but returned to play in Georgia’s final 13 games in 2025. He was named a First Team All-American for his play last season.”
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The Vikings have a rich recent history of empowering undrafted free agents. You can’t rule out players from the list without some summer diligence.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
McBride made the most of the opportunity while leading the Knicks to a record effort from 3 in the first half.
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McBride hit all four of his first-quarter 3-point attempts as the Knicks sprinted out of the gates with an 11-of-13 effort as a team from long distance. By halftime, McBride was shooting 6 of 7 from 3. And the Knicks were 18 of 29 as a team.
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New York’s 11 first-quarter 3s and 18 halftime 3s each tied NBA records for a playoff game. And the Knicks had an 81-57 lead while standing 24 minutes away from a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks entered Sunday with a 3-0 series lead and chance sweep the 76ers on their home court. They started the game zoned in on putting the series to bed.
Those words showed maturity but also the teenager’s high standards.
Corteen-Coleman perched herself next to England’s coaches on the balcony for much of her side’s chase. She believed her work for the day was done, but her most consequential moment was still to come.
Ten runs were still needed when she emerged as the last batter to join Dean.
Crucially, she helped Dean run twos and, with solid defence, bettered her previous high score of one not out in The Hundred to finish unbeaten on three and sealed the win.
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“I am glad I looked calm because I definitely wasn’t,” she said.
“The main point for me was to keep it really simple.”
Corteen-Coleman did not, of course, complete the win alone.
Central was the role of Dean, who admitted to exposing her team-mate more than she intended by taking singles early in the over, but otherwise played the situation well.
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Much has been made of Dean’s ability to hold her mettle in chases. There has been some success but failure too – notably in the Mankad ODI at Lord’s in 2022 and the second ODI of the Women’s Ashes last year.
This time, standing in as England captain for the first time, Dean dragged her side over the line.
If England’s training camp with the army last week was supposed to develop leaders, this was Dean’s Passing-Out Parade.
“I have worked on having that calmness and being ready in any situation but that mainly came from Deano,” added Corteen-Coleman.
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“If I came out and she was panicking I would have been under the pump.”
Corteen-Coleman emerged with the words of coach Charlotte Edwards in her ears. She told her to back her strengths and keep a clear mind.
That was backed up by Dean in the middle.
“She came out with good clarity,” said Dean.
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“I said, ‘Yorkers have been successful for them so they will probably look to get under your bat’.
“We decided getting forward was the best option.
“Tilly is really proactive with her thinking. She has a good cricket brain.”
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) pitches against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins recalled Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday and optioned fellow left-hander Kody Funderburk to the affiliate.
Rojas will be making his second stint with the Twins this season. He made his major league debut on April 22 and allowed two hits and three walks over two scoreless innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets.
Rojas, 23, is 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in six appearances (two starts) with St. Paul.
Funderburk, 29, is 1-1 with one save and a 2.81 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season with Minnesota. He has pitched in 96 games for the Twins since 2023 and owns three saves and 20 holds.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz scans the field during second-quarter action against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL International Series game at Croke Park. On Sep. 28, 2025, Wentz operated Minnesota’s offense during the overseas matchup as the Vikings continued expanding the NFL’s global presence with another showcase event in Dublin. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings are less than 12 weeks from training camp, when roster battles will take center stage. In the meantime, the rumor mill remains ablaze, and we chronicle the most important ones each weekend.
Minnesota’s latest rumor batch centers on quarterback depth, rookie patience, and a wide receiver idea that faded fast.
This week’s edition is scattered across the board in terms of positional importance.
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The Wentz Update Leads a Practical May Rumor Batch
The Purple Rumor Mill for May 10th, 2026.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) wraps up Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during first-half action on Oct. 23, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Wentz later returned to Minnesota in a familiar backup role, providing veteran quarterback insurance behind the Vikings’ revamped depth chart entering 2026. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Rumor: Carson Wentz’s shoulder is healed, and he’s 100% ready to go.
Talking to KFRY-TV’s Luke Gamble on Tuesday, Wentz said he was all set for 2026: “Physically, I feel great. Shoulder’s more or less behind me now. It wasn’t fun by any means, but surgery went well, and rehab’s gone really well too. So for me, it’s behind me. I’m healthy, and I’ll be ready to roll.”
Wentz’s October shoulder injury made a May return seem realistic, and he is now back.
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Should the Vikings need Wentz in 2026 — ideally, they won’t — he is healthy enough to step in. It’s the primary purpose of his deal. Minnesota doesn’t require him to threaten anyone’s job or spark a quarterback controversy; they need him prepared in case unforeseen circumstances affect the depth chart.
Following Wentz’s re-signing, some fans speculated he could displace J.J. McCarthy or lead to a trade. Such notions never really made sense, as there is ample room for all three quarterbacks on the current depth chart: Kyler Murray as QB1, McCarthy as QB2, and Wentz as QB3. McCarthy has not been traded, and Wentz was never re-signed to create such drama.
Overall, Vikings fans praised Wentz for his toughness. When he returned this offseason, the reaction was largely positive because his role was clear: a proven veteran securing the QB3 spot, remaining ready, and providing the Vikings with an additional layer of protection at quarterback. Can’t go wrong.
Rumor: Caleb Banks could be a dark horse to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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ESPN’s Ben Solak sized up the Rookie of the Year stakes last week, and regarding Banks, he wrote: “No defensive tackle has won Rookie of the Year since Aaron Donald in 2014, and the only other tackle to do it this century was Ndamukong Suh. Banks is that sort of talent and an enticing bet accordingly. But he has a foot injury that’s impossible to overlook.”
“He also plays in a Brian Flores defense that doesn’t allow defensive tackles to play the sort of unhinged, penetration-oriented style that leads to sacks. Sure, the Vikings spent an early pick on Banks — but as head coach of the Dolphins in 2019, Flores used the No. 13 pick on Christian Wilkins, and he had two sacks as a rookie. It’s hard to see the path for Banks.”
Florida Gators defensive tackle Caleb Banks (88) celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 29, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Banks later climbed into first-round NFL Draft territory because of his athleticism, disruptive traits, and upside as an interior defensive lineman. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images.
Second-round linebacker Jake Golday also got some love: “Golday is an off-ball/on-ball tweener who will be stuck behind established starters at both positions: Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner at outside linebacker; Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman at inside linebacker.”
“He will undoubtedly have flashy plays in subpackages, but he simply will not see enough snaps — barring injury — to contend for this award.”
Rumor: Deebo Samuel might’ve made a lot of sense as the Vikings’ WR3.
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Bleacher Report‘s Bradley Locker walked through the NFL’s top 1o free agents last week. On Samuel, he nominated the Vikings and wrote, “The Vikings put an emphasis on retooling their impressive defense in the draft, grabbing Caleb Banks, Jake Golday and Domonique Orange with their first three picks.”
“However, Minnesota could use more at receiver after losing Jalen Nailor to the Raiders. Samuel’s effectiveness has taken a step back over the last two campaigns, but he still finished 2025 with a 70.3 PFF receiving grade and 1.66 yards per route run.”
Minnesota later signed Samuel’s former teammate, Jauan Jennings.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30, 2024, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Samuel remained one of the NFL’s most versatile offensive weapons, blending wide receiver production with physicality and backfield usage in San Francisco’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images.
Locker added, “Further, Samuel’s 6.5 yards after the catch per reception was fourth among wideouts with 95 or more targets. Next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Samuel could help fill Nailor’s void in the slot while infusing more juice after the catch and overall creativity for Kevin O’Connell.”
Samuel would be in play for Minnesota if the Jennings contract didn’t come together. But now, the Vikings don’t need another popular wideout and cannot afford one. If any free agents are signed in the next couple of months, Minnesota might want an extra outside linebacker after Jonathan Greenard left the team via trade. Players like Jadeveon Clowney. Joey Bosa, and Leonary Floyd might make sense.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
The final round of the 2026 Truist Championship begins Sunday at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Sunday, including full Truist Championship TV coverage, streaming details and complete Round 4 tee times.
How to watch Truist Championship on Sunday
Alex Fitzpatrick heads into the final round of the Truist Championship with a one-shot lead at 14-under.
His third-round 64 — a career low for him — was less a surge than a continuation of what’s been building since his breakthrough win at the Zurich Classic alongside his brother, Matt Fitzpatrick. That victory secured his PGA Tour status through 2028 and opened doors to the season’s biggest stages.
While he is still chasing his first individual PGA Tour victory, Fitzpatrick has already proven he can close — winning earlier this year on the DP World Tour at the Hero Indian Open. Now he stands on familiar ground heading into the final round.
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You can watch the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship on TV via CBS and Golf Channel, with Golf Channel opening the coverage at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long. The GOLF App will carry a simulcast of Golf Channel’s Sunday TV coverage. You can stream CBS’s Sunday coverage on Paramount+.
Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship.
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Get ESPN+
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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How to watch on TV Sunday
CBS and Golf Channel will provide final-round TV coverage of the 2026 Truist Championship. Golf Channel’s Sunday telecast runs from 12-3 p.m. ET, followed by CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET.
How to stream online Sunday
You can stream the final round of the 2026 Truist Championship via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage beginning on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, in addition to featured group and hole coverage. You can also stream a live simulcast of Golf Channel’s final-round TV coverage on the GOLF App and CBS’s Sunday coverage on Paramount+.
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Roma fullback Devyne Rensch was on the scoresheet tonight as he helped lead the comeback against Parma to secure three crucial points at the Tardini.
After the match, Rensch discussed the importance of this victory.
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“What a crazy match, Parma is a good team, the most important thing was to win, a goal and the penalty make me even happier but I’m happy for the team. Now we’re focused on the derby.”
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“Top 4? We’ve fought all season, we’ve always believed in it all together, we put a lot of effort into training even if it doesn’t show. We deserve it.”
Two weeks ago, Jeeno Thitikul arrived at the Chevron Championship and admitted she hears all the noise about her inability to win a major championship. The then-No. 1-ranked player in the world called it the “challenge” of her career to finally get it over the line at the biggest events.
Two days later, Jeeno Thitikul missed the cut at Memorial Park as Nelly Korda went on to win her third major and reclaim the top spot in the Rolex Rankings. Thitikul took a week off after her early exit in Houston and returned to action this week to defend her title at the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul has always approached her career with great perspective, that of someone who learned the game at a driving range in Ratchaburi, Thailand, a small town not far from Bangkok that doesn’t have its own course. Someone who has already achieved more than she thought possible. Thitikul wants to win a major, but she is also content with everything she has already accomplished in the game. There’s pressure to win a major because that’s a dream of hers, but not because she needs validation from others.
“I don’t think I have to prove anything to like even other players or people or myself, because like what I have I already proved for a long, long time,” Thitikul said on Friday at Mountain Ridge Country Club. “ It’s just a certain time that golf seems easy for you. Then I have a certain time [where] golf is so hard for me, which is Chevron, it’s one of the weeks that I feel like, ‘What did I do wrong?’ … I’m like, ‘What did golf do to me right now?’ And then coming to this week, didn’t expect anything, to be honest. ”
Thitikul won earlier this season in Thailand but has been struggling with her game since the LPGA returned to America in March. After bowing out of the Chevron early, Thitikul spoke with her coach about the issues with her swing, primarily her iron play, and they decided to attack her title defense at Mizuho with a new mentality.
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Try less.
“When you put the work [in] and don’t see the results, sometimes you are really disappointed,” Thitikul said earlier this week at Mizuho. “He said, ‘Maybe, don’t try.’ Then, if you don’t try, maybe you don’t expect anything.”
That mindset shift freed up Thitikul this week in West Caldwell, New Jersey. The 23-year-old opened with rounds of 67 and 69 to take a three-shot lead into the weekend. Celine Boutier closed the gap to two after the third round, but Thitikul put the tournament away on Sunday. She birdied the second and third holes while Boutier bogeyed three straight to fall out of contention. While Boutier faded, Ruoning Yin made five birdies on the front nine to get within one of Thitikul, but bogeys at 11 and 16 stalled her championship run, and Thitikul punctuated her title defense by pouring in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 13 under and win by four.
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In the end, trying less got Jeeno Thitikul where she wanted to go.
“It helped me a lot,” Thitikul said of her new mindset after the win. “I just stayed in my bubble, stayed on what I can do. [If] golf is not going to be good, then golf is not going to be good. My life is not changing. I think what I have to think about is just what I can control.”
As is always the case with Thitikul, the title glow was quickly consumed by questions about when her major breakthrough will come. With the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera a month away, Thitikul’s mind and game appear to be shaping up at the right time.
That’s something Jeeno Thitikul wants. But it’s not something the World No. 2 will stress over. If her major victory comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, Jeeno Thitikul will be just fine.
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“Yeah, that’s always been a dream,” Thitikul said of winning a major. “I will say dream, not goal, to be able to win a major. But I don’t want to put anything on my shoulders right now. I just took all of it out. I just play golf.
“Whether I win a major or not, I think I’ve got enough.”
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange brings down Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara during fourth-quarter action at Kinnick Stadium. On Sep. 7, 2024, Orange continued showcasing his power and interior disruption skills while helping the Cyclones pressure Iowa’s offense during the rivalry matchup in Iowa City. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have completed free agency and the draft this offseason, and regarding the roster right now, what you see is what you get. The club may make or move or two before it’s all said and done before Week 1, but the depth chart is full. Therefore, it’s time to peek at the most improved roster spots.
Minnesota’s offseason plan becomes clearer when ranking where the roster actually improved.
Truth be told, this exercise is pretty straightforward.
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The Biggest Jump Starts at Quarterback and Defensive Tackle
Ranked from medium improvement to the most, here’s the list.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) celebrates after a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 13, 2022, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jennings later emerged as a frequently discussed trade or free-agent target for teams seeking dependable wide receiver depth and physicality. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images.
4. Wide Receiver
Notable Newcomer(s): Jauan Jennings Dillon Bell
Some might argue this should be higher, and the case for that contention would be sound.
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On Thursday night, the Vikings signed Jennings, a transaction that gives Minnesota its best wide receiver trio since Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. The purple team has employed other decent WR3s since — like Bernard Berrian, Jerome Simpson, K.J. Osborn, and Jalen Nailor — but none are quite like Jennings.
Jennings is a willing blocker and just what the doctor ordered for Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Had the Vikings not lost Nailor to free agency, this spot might’ve ranked at No. 2 on the list.
Bleacher Report‘s Adam Wells on Jennings: “Jennings isn’t a burner who runs past cornerbacks, so he will need to maintain that aggressive style of play that has not always endeared him to other players around the NFL.”
“The Vikings will be more than happy to have Jennings’ aggression, attitude and swagger on their offense as they look to put together a roster capable of competing for a playoff spot in 2026.”
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3. Offensive Tackle
Notable Newcomer(s): Caleb Tiernan Ryan Van Demark
Perhaps planning for the future or strictly picking “the best player available,” Minnesota added Northwestern’s Tiernan in Round 3 of last month’s draft. Of course, the club has Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill ready for LT and RT duty, but Tiernan inserts youth into the pipeline.
Van Demark has played 43 games in his career and can be considered this year’s Justin Skule or David Quessenberry.
In the last few years, the Vikings lean on one veteran OT as a contingency plan. Now, they have two.
2. Defensive Tackle
Notable Newcomer(s): Caleb Banks Domonique Orange
Out with the elderly, in with the babies — was the Vikings’ mantra at defensive tackle this offseason.
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Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) pressures Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) during third-quarter action on Oct. 28, 2023, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Banks later climbed into the NFL Draft’s first-round conversation because of his size, explosiveness, and disruptive defensive traits in the SEC. Mandatory Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
The club released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who landed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, respectively. In March, fans wondered if Minnesota would roll with Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. The answer? An emphatic hell no.
Minnesota spent two of its first three picks on interior defensive linemen in the draft. Banks is the almighty gamble, coming off a foot injury, and most think big humans with bad feet isn’t a straightforward outcome. Still, if Banks’s foot heals and stays 100%, he has an All-Pro upside.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted this week on Banks’s foot injury: “Minnesota isn’t planning to rush Banks back from the most recent procedure on his fractured fourth metatarsal. The team also believes its top player health and performance staffers, Tyler Williams and Matt Duhamel, are at the forefront of recovery around the NFL.”
“Also important in the Banks discussion is the coaching component of his development when he does return from injury. All young players need different coaching personalities to maximize their skill set. Banks is different, according to Florida defensive-line coach Gerald Chatman, in that he responds to intense challenge and urgency.”
On Orange, he’s a nose tackle, and players from that position are just easier to scout for some reason or another. For the trajectory of the long-term roster, Banks and Orange instead of Allen and Hargrave is seismic.
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1. Quarterback
Notable Newcomer(s): Kyler Murray
You don’t have to be the almighty Murray stan to appreciate the Vikings’ value during his onboarding. Minnesota paid $1.3 million for Murray; the Arizona Cardinals are paying Murray to play for the Vikings. That is not spin. That is the truth.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) rolls outside the pocket while scanning downfield against the Buffalo Bills on Sep. 8, 2024, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Murray later joined the Minnesota Vikings, immediately becoming the favorite to lead Kevin O’Connell’s offense entering the 2026 season. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images.
Over the course of a 17-game season in his career, Murray averaged these numbers:
3,997 Passing Yards
30 Total Touchdowns
11 Interceptions
67.1% Completion Rate
623 Rushing Yards
Last year, J.J. McCarthy produced 11 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His team still finished 9-8.
Murray at $1.3 million might be the best value in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
;)
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