Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game.
See where it ranks among other schools in the state here.
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United States figure skater Maxim Naumov delivered an emotional performance in his Olympic debut on Tuesday, honoring his late parents who died in a tragic plane crash last year.
There wasn’t a dry pair of eyes at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Tuesday night, as Naumov fulfilled a dream he had alongside his parents, former pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were among the 67 people killed when a military helicopter collided midair into American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington D.C. in January 2025.
Naumov, 24, was expected to be a long shot to even crack the top 10 at this year’s Olympics, let alone medal. But he delivered quite the show that resulted in a full standing ovation, as he looked up at the sky and said, “Look at what we’ve done,” per ESPN.
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Maxim Naumov of Team United States reacts after competing in the men’s singles skating short program on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 10, 2026. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“I didn’t know if I was going to cry, smile or laugh,” Naumov said after his short program resulted in a score of 85.65 — good for 12th and having him qualify for the next round.
Naumov skated to “Nocturne No. 20,” and he couldn’t have been happier with his performance, knowing his parents were with him in spirit.
“I’ve been inspired by them since day 1, ever since we stepped on the ice together,” Naumov, who was holding an old photo of himself and his parents on the ice together in the kiss-and-cry zone after dedicating his performance to them.
Naumov’s parents were among a contingent of U.S. figure skaters, coaches and family members who tragically passed away from the crash after leaving a developmental camp in Wichita, Kansas after the 2025 national championships. Naumov was on an earlier flight.

Maxim Naumov of Team United States competes in the men’s singles skating short program on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 10, 2026. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Three days before being named to the U.S. Olympic team, Naumov was emotional after skating in their honor at the U.S. Championships, where he held up the same picture of himself as a 3-year-old boy with his parents on either side of him.
“Sharing the vulnerability with the audience and me feeling their energy back has been something I remember for the rest of my life,” Naumov said to reporters after his skate that solidified his spot on the U.S. team. “It’s what my parents and I — one of our last conversations was about exactly that, and you know, it would mean the world to me to do that. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
As he took the ice, Naumov said that being too technical about his performance wasn’t the thought process.
His effort level was all that mattered — no matter the result.

USA’s Maxim Naumov holds a picture of his parents, who died in a plane crash last year, after competing in the figure skating men’s singles short program during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 10, 2026. Naumov’s parents Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova died after a midair collision of an American Airlines plane and a US Army helicopter in Washington DC on Jan. 29, 2025. (WANG Zhao / AFP)
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“I wasn’t thinking about executing anything perfectly or anything like that. I wanted to go out there and just give my heart out. Leave everything out there. Have no regrets. And that’s exactly what I felt,” he said, per ESPN.
Naumov will perform again during the men’s free skate on Friday night.
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This is not a secret: the Minnesota Vikings will onboard a new quarterback this offseason, either to support J.J. McCarthy as a veteran backup or compete for his job at training camp. And thanks to NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero, an early list is reportedly on the table, including Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, and Geno Smith.
Pelissero’s list puts Cousins, Jones, Murray, and Smith in the Vikings’ orbit as Minnesota weighs its big quarterback decision.
It’s not a list from heaven, but Minnesota could do much worse.
The quarterback position takes center stage early in the Vikings’ offseason.
Kirk Cousins
If Cousins’ return to Minnesota is a genuine possibility, the central question becomes not whether it happens, but what role he would fill.
Cousins was an undisputed QB1 for years, but that’s no longer the case. A reunion would be complex, and Kevin O’Connell would face three options: immediately install Cousins as the Week 1 starter, allow him to compete with J.J. McCarthy, or use him as a strictly backup option — the same insurance role he was projected for in Atlanta in 2025.
In 2023, his last season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the NFL among quarterbacks in EPA per play. In 2024, that number plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying passers. Any assessment must consider his torn Achilles from a few years ago; projecting Cousins’ performance in 2026 demands more realism and less nostalgia.
The primary allure of a return lies in the financial aspect. Because the Falcons have essentially already paid Cousins — handsomely — for 2026, his next contract will likely be a bargain. That changes the discourse significantly. The cap-related frustration that followed him from 2018 to 2023 disappears if his salary aligns with that of a backup.
If affordability eliminates the resentment that once surrounded Cousins, will parts of the fanbase that rejected him at his previous price now embrace him at a discount — especially if his role is flexible rather than guaranteed? Who knows.
Mac Jones
The main item surrounding Jones’s 2026 plans isn’t if he can start in the NFL, but what it would cost to acquire him.
In 2025, Jones started eight games for San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 5–3 record. Extrapolated to a full season, those numbers project to 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 69.6 percent completion rate. That’s Top 15 QB stuff.
Those statistics are also comparable to Sam Darnold’s 2024 season, the same year Minnesota finished 14–3. Neither Jones’s recent game film nor his efficiency metrics suggest he would suddenly regress in Minnesota.
San Francisco is positioned to capitalize on the desperation of quarterback-needy teams via trade, and Minnesota must decide if it will enter the Jones sweepstakes. Jones is a good fit for many teams. Ultimately, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski must decide if sending 1st- or 2nd-Round pick to The Bay — or something similar — is worth it.
Kyler Murray
Murray’s talent is evident, regardless of other options.
Over seven seasons, his EPA+CPOE numbers exceed those of Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones — all quarterbacks currently projected to start in 2026. That established efficiency isn’t negotiable, even though some Vikings fans are oddly hesitant about Murray to Minnesota.
Arizona’s situation strengthens Murray’s case for change. With a new head coach, the Cardinals seem ready to move on after seven years and just one playoff appearance with Murray. The man could be traded any day or released in March.
Considering only realistic possibilities, Murray quickly emerges as a top candidate. Based on his career production and status as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, he represents the best quarterback Minnesota could realistically acquire this offseason, barring improbable trades involving players like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.
Murray has everything going for him on any given Sunday — aside from height — passing accuracy, arm strength, speed, mobility, and experience.
Geno Smith
Smith’s extensive resume sets him apart from many quarterbacks available this offseason, making him an attractive option for teams that want stability and insurance.
Since 2013, Smith has started 98 games, with his teams compiling a 42–56 record along the way. He averages roughly 203 passing yards per game, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 124 to 89, and has added 12 rushing touchdowns.
Seattle’s decision to name him their starter in 2022 revitalized his career, as Smith seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout season with 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He retained the role for three seasons before joining the Raiders via trade, which propelled the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win after signing Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.
However, Smith’s tenure in Las Vegas appears short-lived. With the Raiders widely expected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza using the first overall pick in April, Smith could be traded or demoted. Should he seek a new team, Minnesota is a decent landing spot for all parties.
It’s worth noting that Smith will turn 36 in October.
Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game.
See where it ranks among other schools in the state here.
Liam Rosenior said it was a “bitter pill to swallow” after Chelsea threw away a two-goal lead to allow Leeds to leave Stamford Bridge with a 2-2 draw.
A dominant display from the Blues which had them coasting to a fifth straight Premier League win through goals from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer’s penalty suddenly gave way to chaos midway through the second half.
Lukas Nmecha halved the arrears from the penalty spot before a remarkable passage of play in which Jayden Bogle singlehandedly paralysed Chelsea’s defence allowing substitute Noah Okafor to tap into an empty net.
It had looked like being another step forward for the hosts who have been steadily growing into an exciting, watchable outfit under their new head coach.
Their abrupt collapse though pointed to a fragility in the face of setbacks that appears no closer to a resolution, as two points slipped away.
“Two key moments in the game that we don’t take care of,” said Rosenior. “We don’t stay calm. How the play gets there, we make a few poor decisions in the way we press and we give away a penalty.
“I can’t remember Leeds having a shot or a moment in the game. Some of our football in possession, our press and our energy was everything I wanted to see. That makes it even more of a bitter pill to swallow that we haven’t won the game.”
Leeds’ equaliser owed as much to Bogle’s tenacity in outmuscling Chelsea’s defence as it did to the Blues’ own hesitancy in dealing with the danger, though Rosenior believed his team should have had a free-kick.
“The lad handballs it,” he said. “It affects my players in that moment, they think it’s a handball, they switch off, we don’t clear the ball and they score. Then for 25 minutes it was wave after wave of attack.”
Under Rosenior there have been encouraging signals of a more dynamic approach to possession that has made Chelsea more threatening, and here again the ball moved with urgency, particularly through midfield where his side constantly seemed to outnumber Leeds.
In the end, it counted for little as old frailties were once more brought to the fore.
“We have to make sure we take care of moments and be professional,” said Rosenior. “It’s not about reacting to setbacks. You’re always going to have a spell in they game when you’re not on top. The ridiculous thing for us is that they’ve managed to score two goals in a five-minute period when for the other 90 minute we were by far the better team.”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke, whose team have lost just twice in their last 13 in the league going back to December’s 3-1 win over the Blues, reflected that there was much for his players to take pride in.
“A proper night of football,” he said. “A great night for everyone involved with Leeds United. I’m very proud of the players. Such a fightback.
“We have a never-say-die attitude. We have a self-belief that whatever happens we can always come back.
“I’m proud of this mentality.”
Second-year guard Stephon Castle suffered a pelvis contusion against the Los Angeles Lakers and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at the beginning of the third quarter. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss reported that X-rays on the injury came back negative.
Castle, 21, appeared to sustain the injury when he went up to block a Rui Hachimura dunk in the second quarter. He fell hard to the floor and was spotted grabbing his lower back on the way to the locker room.
The UConn product had two points and seven assists in 11 minutes against the Lakers before being forced to exit.
Castle entered Tuesday’s contest as the Spurs’ third-leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. He also leads the team in assists, dishing out 7.0 per game.
The Spurs sit second in the Western Conference with a 36-16 record.
Twitch streamer Kylie “Sketch,” also known as “TheSketchReal,” has stated that he is “not touching” Clash Royale, unless Supercell acknowledges Nicholas “Jynxzi’s” impact on the game’s rise in popularity. For context, on February 10, 2026, Supercell CEO and co-founder Ilkka Paananen published a blog post in which he described 2025 as Clash Royale’s “historic year.”
According to Paananen, the real-time strategy mobile game saw 500% increase in new players, and “every major measure of playtime and engagement grew significantly.” The Finnish personality attributed these positive growth metrics to the Supercell team members’ “relentless focus on making things better for players.”
Sketch took to X on the same day (February 10, 2026) to express his dissatisfaction with Supercell for not recognizing Jynxzi’s role in making Clash Royale popular in 2025.
Claiming that he was “done letting” Jynxzi “be humble,” Sketch wrote:
“Not touching @ClashRoyale again until @supercell acknowledges Jynxzi’s impact. Disgusting to act as if a dev changed a game that’s been the same for years. @jynxzi I’m done letting you be humble. From Clash, RL & R6 YOU revived those games. The only creator to do so AND include the community of those games. While also bringing in even more creators‼️ You change lives and deserve RECOGNITION and COMPENSATION. NUMBERS DONT LIE‼️‼️‼️ THE JYNXZI EFFECT IS REAL, PAY THAT MAN 🗣️ 🗣️ 🗣️ @supercell”
On February 10, 2026, Jynxzi shared a screenshot of Ilkka Paananen’s blog post from the same day, where Supercell CEO described 2025 as “a historic year” for Clash Royale.
Jynxzi claimed the game developer’s comments were “probably the biggest spit in the face he had ever seen,” and posted:
Jimmy “MrBeast” responded, saying that he started playing Clash Royale again “only because” of Jynxzi:
“I only started playing again because of you” MrBeast wrote.
Several prominent Twitch streamers, including Nick “Lacy,” Din “Agent 00,” and Jack “CouRage,” commented on the 24-year-old’s social media post:
“there is a serious problem with gaming companies not recognizing us creators when we are a pivotal piece in reviving the games” Lacy wrote.
“Ngl I thought they gave you equity from how hard you were pushing it 😭😭 they owe you some millions” Agent 00 wrote.
“I only watched/engaged with Clash Royale content because of you. It was honestly the most interested I’ve ever been with the game in its life cycle.” CouRage wrote.
Supercell has not addressed the backlash from streamers and content creators, as of this writing.
Edited by Aarnesh Shrivastava
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Ashley Farquharson raced to Olympic glory in luge on Tuesday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
The American luger became emotional when she checked the scoreboard and realized she earned her first Olympic medal. Her performance in the women’s luge singles on Tuesday also marked just the second time an American has won an Olympic medal in the event.
Farquharson, who started sliding as an after-school activity when she was growing up in Park City, Utah, said it was almost hard to believe what she had accomplished.
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Ashley Farquharson of United States reacts after her run during women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Feb. 10, 2026. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“It really didn’t feel real,” Farquharson said after her victory. “And then everyone meeting me on the ice, and the whirlwind it’s been since then has really cemented it. For a couple seconds when I was coming up the outrun, I was like, ‘that’s not real.’”
US FIGURE SKATER MAXIM NAUMOV HONORS LATE PARENTS IN EMOTIONAL OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Germany’s Julia Taubitz took the gold medal, winning by almost a full second, a monster margin in luge. Latvia’s Elena Bota was second, matching her country’s best Olympic result.
Until Farquharson’s feat, Erin Hamlin was the last American to earn a bronze medal, doing so at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Ashley Farquharson of Team United States starts the Women’s Singles Run 1 on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb. 09, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“This was the dream,” Taubitz said. “And now the dream comes true.”
Farquharson didn’t medal in any of her first 54 World Cup races before finally breaking through this season.
She wasn’t the fastest, but she was more than good enough. She’s an Olympic medalist. Farquharson’s ability will never be questioned again.
“Super happy for Ashley, very happy for USA Luge,” longtime U.S. teammate Emily Fischnaller said. “I mean, we are the ones on the sled, but there’s a team behind us with everything that we do. So, that’s just a testament to all the work that everyone has put into it.”

Bronze medallist Ashley Farquharson of United States celebrates after women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb 10, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
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Luge is a sport in which athletes slide on their backs on sleds down an iced track at high speeds.
Fischnaller was 12th for the Americans in 3:33.035, falling from fifth after three runs following trouble in her final heat. Summer Britcher of the U.S., a two-time World Cup race winner this season and now a four-time Olympian, was 14th in 3:33.553.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton was airlifted to Milan after breaking his neck in a training crash.
The 35-year-old, competing at his fourth Winter Olympics, fell during a snowboard cross training session on Monday in Livigno.
He initially walked away from the crash but woke up the next day with worsening pain in his neck. Scans later revealed two fractures, and Bolton was transported by helicopter from the mountain for further treatment.
Team chef de mission, Alisa Camplin, said Bolton was in good spirits despite the severity of the injury and had been joined by his wife.
“Cam wanted to make his teammates understood what was happening and that he was fine and doing well and being looked after well,” she said.
“He knows how seriously we’re taking the process of support around him and the communication has been really good. I’m proud of the level of care.”
Bolton took silver in the mixed team snowboard cross with Mia Clift at last year’s world championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
The Australian Olympic Committee said it had enacted the Late Athlete Replacement option, bringing Olympic debutant James Johnstone onto the team alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes for the men’s snowboard cross qualifying on Thursday.
The injury is the fourth setback for Australia’s team at the Milano Cortina Games. Aerials medal favourite Laura Peel injured her knee at a pre-Olympic training camp, while young freeskier Daisy Thomas also hurt her knee in a fall and has withdrawn from slopestyle, though she remains hopeful of contesting big air.
Snowboard halfpipe rider Misaki Vaughan was ruled out of her Olympic debut after failing a head injury assessment following a training fall. Under team protocols, the 20-year-old cannot compete for at least seven days.
“Unfortunately with winter sport injuries happen along the way, in 53 athletes doing relatively high risk sports it’s not something that’s unusual I’m afraid to say,” Ms Camplin said.
“My heart breaks on their behalf – I know how much work goes into an Olympic dream.”
Bolton was Australia’s highest-placed men’s snowboard cross rider at the Beijing Games, finishing 13th. He also placed ninth in the inaugural mixed team event alongside Belle Brockhoff.
There was better news on the slopes for defending Olympic champion Jakara Anthony, who topped moguls qualifying in Livigno to extend her unbeaten Games run to five rounds of competition. The 27-year-old, who claimed Australia’s first women’s moguls gold in Beijing, said she was satisfied with her opening performance.
“My goal was just that I wanted to get through in qualification one so that I just have the chance to come out for finals tomorrow and I don’t need to worry about qualification two,” Anthony said. “So, yeah, happy.”


Nigeria Davis Cup Team has earned promotion to Davis Cup World Group II after defeating Uzbekistan Davis Cup Team 3–1 in their playoff tie.
The result confirms Nigeria’s return to World Group II for the first time in almost 30 years. The tie was played on home ground, where Nigeria won enough matches to seal the contest before the final rubber.
Nigeria’s promotion follows consecutive playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025, with the breakthrough coming in 2026.
World Group II is one level below World Group I and will feature stronger teams from around the world. This promotion for Nigeria means they will have tougher matches ahead, but it also brings greater exposure and opportunity for Nigerian players on the international stage.
Thomas Frank found himself under further pressure as Newcastle inflicted yet another Premier League defeat on Tottenham.
Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to spare Manchester United’s blushes at lowly West Ham with a late equaliser which left interim boss Michael Carrick purring.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has admitted how challenging his side’s title defence has become, while Bayern Munich are talking to Harry Kane over his future.
Under-fire Thomas Frank is convinced he will still be Tottenham manager for the North London derby despite the club’s relegation fears increasing after a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle.
Spurs looked likely to be only three points above the bottom three until Manchester United’s last-gasp equaliser at 18th-placed West Ham, and the Dane was once again subjected to chants suggesting he would be “sacked in the morning”.
However asked after the final whistle if he expected to be in charge for leaders Arsenal’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, he said: “Yeah, I’m convinced I will be.”
Frank added: “Everyone knows, directors, ownership, myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better. That is what we are working very hard on.”
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick hailed super-sub Benjamin Sesko’s “unbelievable finish” after the striker’s stunning late volley snatched a draw at West Ham.
Sesko got his toe to Bryan Mbeumo’s cross six minutes into stoppage time and rifled it into the top corner to deny Carrick’s old club a vital victory in the relegation battle.
It was second time the £66.3million Slovenian, yet to start a match under Carrick, has climbed off the bench to score at the death after his 94th-minute winner against Fulham.
Carrick said: “It’s an unbelievable finish from the angle to generate that, to get it on target, to finish it – it’s some goal.”
Arne Slot admits he is enduring by far the most challenging season of his managerial career as he attempts to secure Champions League football with Liverpool.
Sunday’s eventful 2-1 home defeat by Manchester City left the reigning Premier League champions in sixth place and prompted mounting speculation over Slot’s position less than two years after he moved from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp.
“By a mile,” said the Dutchman when asked if it was his most difficult campaign. “Because all the other seasons I’ve managed there was only positives, I don’t think I’ve ever lost two games in a row (before).
“It is different with the season we’re having now than all the other seasons I’ve managed where we always did something special – and there’s still the possibility that we can do something special this season as well.”
Bayern Munich are in “intensive talks” with England captain Harry Kane over his future amid speculation that he could make a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old, who has scored 123 goals in 129 appearances for the Bundesliga champions since his £100million switch from Tottenham during the summer of 2023, is under contract until 2027 but has been linked with a move to the Middle East should he not extend his stay at the Allianz Arena.
However, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl told a press conference: “We are talking. That doesn’t mean negotiations have started. We are in intensive talks with Harry, then the next steps will follow.
“I can’t comment on the rumours circulating that someone is preparing anything (on a transfer bid for Kane). All I can say is that we are in close contact with Harry regarding him and our success.”
Manchester City have the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just three points when they welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool will attempt to bounce back from their home defeat by City at Sunderland, who remain unbeaten in the league at the Stadium of Light this season, while third-placed Aston Villa entertain Brighton.
Elsewhere, struggling Burnley travel to Crystal Palace and bottom-of-the-table Wolves head for Nottingham Forest.
If you’re hoping the Minnesota Vikings will rebound in 2026 and win a playoff game, ESPN has bad news for you. That outlet ranked the Vikings as the NFL’s 10th-worst team after the calendar flipped to 2026 following the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl triumph on Sunday night.
Minnesota’s ESPN placement reflects uncertainty at quarterback, while the roster’s defensive foundation and recent draft additions keep upside alive.
Why so low? Well, the general population thinks Minnesota must figure out its quarterback situation, or it will be relegated to low power rankings indefinitely.
Not ideal to start at No. 23
ESPN Power Rankings for Vikings: No 23
ESPN sandwiched the Vikings between the Carolina Panthers at No. 22 and Atlanta Falcons at No. 24, as Kevin Seifert wrote about the club, “The Vikings already had a big task ahead of them this offseason. At the very least, they need to upgrade their quarterback depth to give them a better hedge against J.J. McCarthy’s performance and injury history than they had in 2025.”
“But after firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Jan. 30, they’ll have to address that need with an interim leadership structure led by Rob Brzezinski, their longtime executive vice president of football operations. Adofo-Mensah’s replacement isn’t likely to be named until after the 2026 draft, putting the franchise in an extended stretch of limbo.”
Onlookers aren’t impressed by the optics of firing Adofo-Mensah, especially three and a half weeks after the end of the regular season.
Identify the Right QB(s)
The Vikings can subdue many fears — from fans and national media — if they successfully address their quarterback situation this offseason.
McCarthy battled injuries in 2025 — after missing all of 2024 with a torn meniscus — and inconsistent play, even for a first-time starter. At times, he couldn’t complete a basic pass; then he’d turn on the gas in the game’s final offensive drive and look like a Pro Bowler.
Minnesota has publicly stated its desire to trade for or sign another quarterback to provide competition this summer. If it adds a non-threat vet for McCarthy, like Jimmy Garoppolo or Carson Wentz, the power ranking will remain the same. If interim general manager Rob Brzezinski raises the bar by trading for Kyler Murray or Mac Jones, for example, the Vikings can climb in power rankings.
Make no mistake: power rankings are usually a referendum on the QB1, and Minnesota’s strategy is unclear as of February.
The Defense Is There
Thankfully, Minnesota has the defense on autopilot, courtesy of Brian Flores.
The Vikings ranked second overall in EPA per play in 2024, then No. 3 in 2025. Flores signed a mammoth contract extension last month, so there’s no reason to believe the unit will fall out of the Top 10 in 2026.
Key players will remain, like Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Jalen Redmond, Blake Cashman, Byron Murphy Jr., and Isaiah Rodgers. The club will start from a position of strength at defense, which will make the eventual quarterback’s life much easier.
Other power rankings were kinder to Minnesota after the Super Bowl. Pro Football Network‘s Jacob Infante named the Vikings the league’s 17th-best team, six spots up from ESPN’s estimation.
Infante explained, “Kevin O’Connell is a great head coach. Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings also have a strong defensive line and some talented offensive weapons. The main thing that held them back in 2025, though, was the quarterback position.”
“Whether or not J.J. McCarthy was healthy seemingly had little impact on the Vikings’ offense. He ranked 37th in the NFL with a PFSN QB Impact Score of 64.5 in his first year as their starter. The flaws were abundant, and it led to Justin Jefferson’s worst receiving season of his career. Minnesota has talent; they just need stable QB play to maximize it.”
Finally Connect on a Full Draft Class
How can the Vikings get back in the mix of Super Bowl contention? After the quarterback decision, the path is straightforward: draft better.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah lost his job a week and a half ago, mainly due to poor drafting, as the former boss connected about about 18% of all draft picks since taking over in 2022. Failing to find productive players in the only “free” place in sports — the draft — has cost the franchise and forced it to spend big on aging free agents.
The interim general manager and future permanent executive must nail the next few drafts to restore Minnesota’s roster youth and competence.
If they do not, the Vikings will habitually live on lists like ESPN’s around No. 23.
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