VikingsTerritory chronicled the main losers from the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason last month; now, it’s time to look at the bright side and identify the winners. You can read about the losers here.

While the purple team didn’t quite go on a spending spree like the 2024 and 2025 offseasons, a handful of clear offseason winners still emerged. Players are ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = player who won the offseason the most).

Dallas Turner Headlines the Summer Momentum List

5. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DL

When the Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard during the draft, it created an opening for another outside linebacker to see playing time in 2026, with most fans assuming the club would draft one or sign a veteran free agent. Minnesota ended up picking Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, who was listed as an inside linebacker on most draftboards while signing no major EDGEs from free agency.

Fast forward to OTAs and minicamp, and Ingram-Dawkins evidently plans to switch positions from DT to OLB, or at least be deployed in a hybrid capacity. If the experiment works, he can snatch more snaps throughout the regular season and become an instrumental defender for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The Vikings don’t need to sign Von Miller, Jadeveon Clowney, or Leonard Floyd if Ingram-Dawkins is the real deal at OLB.

4. Brian Flores | DC

If Flores fully expected to earn a heading coach job in January or February, then, of course, he didn’t win the offseason. Yet, as Flores’s lawsuit against the NFL continues to tunnel through the legal system, he probably knows a head coaching gig is a long shot.

So, what happened for Flores in the offseason? Only the Vikings’ most defensive draft in franchise history: Minnesota drafted four defensive players in the first three rounds. That marked the most defensive players the team has ever selected in Rounds 1-3 of a single draft.

Before the start of Round 4, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski handed these rookies to Flores:

• Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
• Jake Golday | LB, Cincinnati
• Domonique Orange | DT, Iowa State
• Jakobe Thomas | S, Miami

New toys. Theoretically, all of those could’ve been offensive players. They were not.

3. Justin Jefferson | WR

Jefferson notched 1,048 receiving yards in 2025, with 2 touchdowns. Is that good? Absolutely. Is that good for Jefferson? Absolutely not.

The 27-year-old averages over 1,500 receiving yards over 17 games, so the 1,048 yards last year felt like a letdown and a downturn. Minnesota’s quarterbacks struggled, cycling through J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Jefferson experienced no stability, and three passers showcased their limitations.

How did the Vikings respond? By signing Kyler Murray in March, a man who does not have major issues distributing the football to premium playmakers. If the Vikings’ main goal this offseason was to keep Jefferson happy, signing Murray was the best realistic option.

They nabbed Murray for $1.3 million.

Jefferson also has the advantage of fellow wide receiver Jauan Jennings joining the depth chart as the WR3. Jennings is the most promising Vikings WR3 addition in decades and should free up defenders for Jefferson to further cook. If opposing defenses prefer to double-team Jefferson, they must deal with Jordan Addison and Jennings.

2. Blake Brandel | C

Brandel saw action at center in 2025 when Ryan Kelly missed nine games due to concussions. He improved each week, so much so that head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips want to see more. Minnesota could’ve signed about four decent centers in free agency or drafted four in the first few rounds of the draft. It did nothing. Brandel is their man.

Usually, Brandel is in line for jack-of-all-trades duty entering a regular season. He’s that versatile and is suddenly one of the longest-tenured Vikings on the roster. This go-around, Minnesota decided he has the chops to be a starting center.

It’s also worth noting that Brandel’s contract expires at the end of the regular season.

1. Dallas Turner | OLB

Drumroll: After patiently waiting behind Andrew Van Ginkel and the aforementioned Greenard for two seasons, Turner has climbed the depth chart to achieve the role of an undisputed starter. There is no one else on the Vikings’ roster who can limit Turner’s snaps, as was the case in 2024 and 2025.

Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded the whole kitchen pantry to nab Turner in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft; now it’s time for him to strut his stuff. Turner has played well in his first two seasons, but it always felt abbreviated because folks knew Van Ginkel and Turner had the advantage of depth chart placement.

Those days are over. In 2026, it’s The Dallas Turner Show.

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

Christian Lundgaard is on the search for a new team in the NTT IndyCar Series. On Monday, Arrow McLaren announced that Lundgaard will not return to the organization in 2027. This comes after Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist joined McLaren. So, where is Lundgaard likely to go for the 2027 campaign?

Lundgaard has emerged as the “definitive favorite” to replace Dixon in the No. 9 car at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2027, as reported by FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass. This would be an outstanding landing spot for the McLaren driver, who would become teammates with four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou.

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There aren’t many better seats in IndyCar than Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 9 car, and Lundgaard appears to be the heavy favorite to take it over. It was a very disappointing development for Lundgaard to be pushed out of McLaren; however, he could earn one of the most coveted seats on the IndyCar grid for 2027.

More: Marcus Ericsson linked to Indy 500 winning organization for 2027

This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Christian Lundgaard’s most likely IndyCar team for 2027 revealed

Rain or Shine guard Gian Mamuyac during a game against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Coach Yeng Guiao is hopeful that Rain or Shine can ink up Gian Mamuyac and Andrei Caracut to long-term deals by the time the team’s campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup comes to a close.

Both Mamuyac and Caracut’s contracts were set to expire this month, but Guiao bared that they were automatically extended until the end of the season-ending conference as per league rules.

“We still have a few things to work on with Mamu and Andrei’s contracts,” Guiao said after the Elasto Painters clobbered the shorthanded Macau Giant Pandas, 139-98, in a tune-up game held Tuesday inside the exclusive Acropolis subdivision in Quezon City.

READ: PBA: Rain or Shine rewards Clarito with fresh three-year pact

Rain or Shine’s Andrei Caracut shoots against Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“But I’m hopeful that we can settle those [contracts] in the next few days or weeks at the most. But because of the automatic extension that the league allows, there’s no problem for this conference.”

Rain or Shine had been holding out hope that the two would remain with the team, especially after coming off a semifinal series loss to Barangay Ginebra in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Mamuyac is said to be receiving offers to play overseas, though Rain or Shine has already laid out a three-year offer in order to keep its elected team captain in the fold.

The Elasto Painters, however, have yet to put out a concrete offer for Caracut, who, apart from his playmaking role, has emerged as one of the team’s most popular players given his social media presence.

READ: PBA: Guiao gives props to Ginebra, proud of Rain or Shine semis stint

“I think both offers are very fair,” Guiao said. “It’s also a three-year contract. So that’s also something that they’re fairly secured with the term of the contract. But it’s really up to them.

“We love Mamu. We love the time we spend together. We think he benefited from us, we benefited from him. I think he won’t be at a disadvantage with our proposal, so maybe they’re already thinking about it.

“Andrei’s details have yet to be straightened out. We have the next four to five months to still be able to do that,” added Guiao.

Rain or Shine opens its third conference campaign on Saturday against Blackwater in Rodriguez, Rizal, and Guiao doesn’t see the uncertainty of both players as a distraction, citing their “professionalism” and being “high-character players.”

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–For the first time in eight years, the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will increase its fees for the handicapping system, not for bloated income, but to basically make every golfer in the country a stakeholder, with the funds collected to help finance the National Team and host of world-class events, among others.

Members of the NGAP board of trustees passed this measure in a resolution recently, with the new rate, P100 a month, to be collected starting this month.

READ: PSC, NGAP open golf courses to youth 

It is indeed a far departure from the P500 annually the golf body charged before, but under the leadership of new president Al Panlilio, all stakeholders can be assured that collections from hereon will go directly to all of the NGAP’s undertakings, foremost of them the PH squads and the elite tournaments.

The new leadership is also encouraging all golfers to use the NGAP app, which will also see constant improvements moving forward with the help of the stakeholders as the country’s governing agency for the sport continues to upgrade NGAP services to be in line with the modern times for all of the country’s golfers.

Panlilio, the former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president, and his board have buckled down to work, appointing people tasked to lead key committees, like Miko Alejandro, who was given the responsibility of overseeing the National Team compositions and how the squads are prepared for major international events.

“We are answerable to the golfing community whenever our national team performs,” Panlilio said. “So we are going to make sure–with the help of every golfer in the country–that they are equipped well and prepped in the best way to represent our country.”

Teaching and coaching will also get a boost from the NGAP, as it will help fund courses that will improve the techniques of those who teach the game, even as the integration of technology into the local golf landscape will also get a shot in the arm, as this will enable golfers without club affiliations to have legitimate handicaps.

“(Your) NGAP is committed to aligning Philippine golf with global standards,” Panlilio wrote in his letter to the PH golfing community. “At the heart of everything we do is a simple goal: to grow the game of golf in the Philippines.”

AB de Villiers on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sports Exchange Podcast (left) and Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter AB de Villiers has revealed that Virat Kohli tried to convince him not to retire from franchise cricket before he stepped away from the game in 2021.Speaking on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sports Exchange Podcast, de Villiers said Kohli made an effort to change his mind, but he had already decided it was the right time to move on. “Yes. He tried,” de Villiers said when asked if Kohli tried to stop him.The South African great retired from international cricket in 2018 after helping his team beat India and Australia at home. He continued playing franchise cricket, including for RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), before retiring from all forms of the game in 2021.“I walked away from international cricket exactly when I wanted to (2018). We had beaten India and Australia at home, and I left on a high.”“Then I decided I’d continue playing a few T20 tournaments, travel the world with my family, take them to the IPL, to England for the Blast, to Australia for the Big Bash and a few other tournaments. When I finally felt ready, I called it a day (from franchise cricket as well, in 2021).”De Villiers said retiring from the IPL was not a sudden decision and that he had been thinking about it throughout his final season.“It took time. That thought stayed in my mind throughout the final season or so. Eventually, I simply went up to Virat and said, ‘I’m done’,” de Villiers said.De Villiers also spoke about the pressure of playing in front of packed crowds at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where fans chanted his name.“That can be draining as well. Those moments also bring sleepless nights. It’s not all sunshine and roses. There are difficult moments too. The expectations and pressure you put on yourself can sometimes become suffocating. I’ve spoken about that before. I’m incredibly proud of what I achieved. But before big matches, I’d often struggle to sleep. I’d be so focused on making an impact for the team that I found it difficult to simply be myself. So it wasn’t always easy,” De Villiers said on TOI Sports’ Bombay Sports Exchange Podcast.Reflecting on life after retirement, he said the joy of success does not last long, even for the biggest players.“Of course, I miss those moments. When everything clicked and the crowd helped me enter that zone, it was an incredible feeling. But success disappears very quickly. Every champion will tell you the same thing. You win the biggest trophy, and an hour later you’re already asking yourself, “Now what?” Then your attention shifts immediately to the next trophy. You’re never fully satisfied with those achievements. Having said that, I can now look back at those memories with enormous gratitude.“

SEATTLE – “It feels exactly the same,” Tyler Adams quipped.

The build-up to the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup round of 16 was certainly different this time around. Between playing on home soil in front of electric, sold-out crowds and a string of entertaining wins behind them, head coach Mauricio Pochettino‘s side seemed in as great a position to reach their first quarterfinal in 24 years when they met Belgium at Lumen Field on Monday.

In an instant, though, it was over – Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere scored nine minutes in, the forward taking advantage of a team that had not hit its stride and never would. A 4-1 loss was a fair result for a group that did not actually rise to the occasion, barely taking a stab at getting into the game and booking their fourth straight round of 16 exit at the World Cup.

“Belgium, they had a good game plan and they played balls in behind us when we pressed and it caused a lot of problems, won a lot of second balls and they were good in the boxes,” Christian Pulisic said. “That’s where the game comes down to and they were clinical and it was not quite enough from us.”

Pulisic, who came off in the 59th minute after tweaking his ankle and knee in the same play, offered the natural conceit that Belgium were simply better, both on paper and on the day. It was always destined to be the case at some point during this World Cup, no matter how ambitious or hopeful people were about this version of the USMNT. He is not wrong that small things went against them, the team always trying to punch above their weight. 

The moments that actually slipped away from them, though, were a step below the actual level expected of them. Hans Vanaken‘s goal to put Belgium 3-1 up in the 57th minute was the instance where it all slipped away, Matt Freese with a blunder of epic proportions to seal the deal.

“Disappointed for my involvement and error in judgment on the third goal,” Freese, whose rise from zero caps at the start of June 2025 to Monday’s game likely means his international career will be defined by that great mistake, said. “It’s part of the position. I know the guys in front of me did everything they could today to get the win and I’m so proud of them and I wish that that moment was different and wish the result was different … I felt him so close, I thought he was going to kick my leg and so I tried to get out of it.”

Freese is merely one of several players whose opportunities came and went, just as the team’s did. Pulisic is perhaps most representative of it – an injury kept him out of the second half of their win over Paraguay, the entirety of their win over Australia and much of their loss to Turkiye in the group stage. Another one meant he exited Monday’s game early, too, though against Belgium, he was also invisible on the pitch until he went down writhing in pain in the opening minutes of the second half. The dejection was obvious as he did his post-match rounds – a decade after becoming the face of his generation with a World Cup on home soil on the horizon, he did not manage to register all that much.

“I felt really good this summer playing with the guys and I thought my level was high,” he reflected. “It’s disappointing. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team so I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well.”

The player whose name recognition grew the most was Folarin Balogun, who was caught in the quagmire of a suspension he graciously accepted and then was rescinded in the most controversial of ways. His spot in the lineup was unsurprising if an unwanted signal of organizational incompetence but he, too, was ineffective on Monday.

“When you know you’re given a red card and then usually the protocol is you usually don’t play the following game and then when that decision’s overturned, of course it’s going to controversial so for me, it’s something that didn’t really surprise me too much but as a player, my job is just to go out there and be focused on my job, “he said.

The team rejected the notion that Balogun’s case offered a distraction or that the moment was too big, even if it felt like the lights were too bright for them. They had no answer for Belgium but it was not simply a tactical matter – their trademark habits of the World Cup had gone out the door and it remains hard to know why.

“It’s difficult to say but I can only be honest,” Balogun said. “I don’t think we had a good game today, collectively. We played well in the other games. We were very intense, we were able to generate energy with the crowd and today we didn’t give the crowd a lot to cheer for. That’s the most disappointing thing and that’s the part that hurts the most for me personally. We have to wait four years again to be in this position, which is hurtful again.”

Even the team’s most honest players like Adams had no answers, spitting out platitudes about how elite sports work rather than knowing what to say as a great opportunity to make history and capture a nation’s always-evasive attention span was squandered.

“That’s a great question,” Adams said. “Wish I had the answer right now. I don’t know. I don’t know. I think that just overall, it was the small things. Second ball’s not falling to you when you feel like before, they were in the right spot and then winning them. Just little gaps that were being exploited. Just small connections in the game where in other games just felt like everything was a little bit cooler and sharper … I don’t think it was the opponent, the speed of the game, the moment, I don’t think any of that. I think it’s just small details of the game that got away from us. They get away from you like that and then obviously you’re going to lose the game.”

The peak years of the USMNT’s golden generation – or at least until another golden generation shows up – got away from them, even if not all of it was a surprise. A loss to Belgium, formidable even in their inconsistency, is not inherently the problem but the manner in which they did should weigh heavily on those who are tasked with ensuring the program improves. It is not a surprise that Freese is not of the same caliber as Belgium’s UEFA Champions League winner in goal, Thibaut Courtois. 

There is no shock value when Belgium can brag about bringing Jeremy Doku off the bench when the USMNT’s best option is a rusty Gio Reyna, who, at 23 years old, still has no consistent documented history of living up to his great potential. The surprise is that, after weeks of being one of the teams to watch at the World Cup, they exited the tournament with barely a whimper.

“That just didn’t feel like it was us out there today,” defender Antonee Robinson said. “We didn’t win any individual duels. We looked like we lacked energy. We looked like we weren’t as fluid as we have been.”

Questions about the team’s mental toughness will loom large as the long road to the 2030 World Cup officially begins, just as much as queries about the strength of the talent will. Some will take positives from the fact that they won their first knockout game in 24 years with the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but the expanded format is more responsible for that than anything else, the round of 32 feeling like a holding place before the knockouts truly begin depending on the matchup. How exactly they dig themselves out of a multigenerational hole, though, remains the big question facing the team.

“We won the game against Bosnia,” Pulisic said. “We can for sure be proud of [that] but I just think we want to have higher hopes in that. We want to be able to go and compete in some of the best in the world and we just still have that next step to climb.”