Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged that he was often impressed when entering the team’s quarterback room last season.
While Minnesota seemed like a haven for quarterbacks in transition, with Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, both former New York players, O’Connell saw the potential in the group. It included three first-round picks—J.J. McCarthy, Darnold, and Jones—along with two former NFL quarterbacks-turned-coaches: Josh McCown and O’Connell himself.
“We also had Daniel Jones join our quarterback room late in the year,” O’Connell shared on ESPN Radio in February. “For a quarterback coach, it was amazing to walk in every day and see Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and J.J. McCarthy all working together with Josh McCown in that room—it made me feel pretty good.”
While McCarthy still holds promise, the quarterback room will look different moving forward.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Jones is finalizing a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, making him the third quarterback to leave the Vikings in free agency. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the deal could reach $17.5 million with bonuses if Jones becomes the starter.
Darnold has signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, and the longest-tenured Vikings quarterback, Nick Mullens, has secured a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This leaves Brett Rypien as the only experienced backup behind McCarthy, who is recovering from meniscus surgery in August but is expected to be ready for spring training.
The Vikings will need to bring in additional quarterbacks to support McCarthy’s growth and provide a veteran option in case McCarthy isn’t ready to start in Week 1.
The Minnesota Vikings are making significant moves to strengthen their defensive line by adding experienced talent.
Jonathan Allen has agreed to join the team, and according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the Vikings are also set to sign defensive tackle Javon Hargrave once he is officially released by the San Francisco 49ers.
Hargrave’s release is expected to happen on Wednesday, as the 49ers plan to designate him as a post-June 1 cut to manage their salary cap.
Hargrave’s 2024 season was cut short by a torn triceps, limiting him to just three games. Despite this, he still managed to record seven tackles and one sack in those appearances.
Before the injury, Hargrave was a reliable pass-rushing force, posting at least seven sacks in each of the previous three seasons.
If these moves are finalized, the additions of Allen and Hargrave will significantly strengthen the Vikings’ defensive front as they look to become a more formidable force heading into the 2025 season.
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