Sports

Vikings Start 2026 with Trashy Power Ranking

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3 hours ago

11 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell heads toward the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium during a Nov. 20, 2022 matchup, departing the field after the second quarter as Minnesota struggled against Dallas. The moment captures a tense afternoon in Minneapolis, with O’Connell assessing adjustments before halftime amid mounting pressure. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Kevin O’Connell walks off the field at U.S. Bank Stadium during a Vikings game. — Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell heads toward the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium during a Nov. 20, 2022 matchup, departing the field after the second quarter as Minnesota struggled against Dallas. The moment captures a tense afternoon in Minneapolis, with O’Connell assessing adjustments before halftime amid mounting pressure. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

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.

Quarterback Uncertainty Drives the Low Vikings Rank

Not ideal to start at No. 23

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes through pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025, preparing to face the Baltimore Ravens in Minneapolis. The routine offered a glimpse of McCarthy’s early-game focus as Minnesota readied its offense ahead of a high-profile interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

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.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores studies the field from the sideline at Soldier Field on Oct. 15, 2023, as Minnesota battles Chicago in a divisional road game. The moment captured Flores tracking adjustments and personnel as the Bears challenged the defense deep into the second half. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.

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.