Surprise! Vikings Offseason Gets Major National Love
If you felt like the Minnesota Vikings had a wonderful offseason, there is some confirmation available this week for you.
CBS Sports highlighted the Vikings for having one of the NFL’s top offseasons. Here’s where they ranked, and here’s what happened in the offseason.
CBS Sports ranked each NFL team by its offseason performance, and Minnesota was handsomely represented, checking in at No. 3 on the June list.
Kevin O’Connell’s team was only outdone by the Chicago Bears (No. 1) and the New England Patriots (No. 2).
What CBS Sports Said About Minnesota
The Vikings got all the kudos from CBS Sports this week, with Top 3 offseason placement.
Vikings Had NFL’s 3rd-Best Offseason, Says CBS Sports
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah conducted an action-packed offseason, and Josh Edwards from CBS Sports noticed.
Ranking Minnesota at No. 3, he wrote, “Super Bowl odds: +2100 ($10 to win $210). The offensive line had been an issue against the Rams in the playoffs. Perhaps the Vikings over-corrected with massive contracts for center Ryan Kelly and offensive guard Will Fries — the two played a combined 15 games in 2024 — as well as first-round selection Donovan Jackson.”
“Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy should feel protected behind the new-look unit, which also welcomes back injured left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Potentially the biggest boon of the entire operation was the retention of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, whose unit exceeded expectations a year ago.”
Adofo-Mensah had money to spend, and to put it plainly, he spent it.
Edwards added, “He is now graced with proven veterans Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, which allows last year’s starters to serve in more suitable roles.”
The Vikings in Free Agency
Adofo-Mensah rocked the NFL with his 2025 spending habit, so much so that the 2026 cap looks rather bleak. The young executive went all-in on his team for this season and the next few, outfitting a roster around rookie passer J.J. McCarthy, who will play affordably for the next three seasons.
These are the free-agent newcomers:
- Jonathan Allen (DT)
- Bubba Bolden (S)
- Will Fries (G)
- Kahlef Hailassie (CB)
- Javon Hargrave (DT)
- Ryan Kelly (C)
- Tim Jones (WR)
- Rondale Moore (WR)
- Jeff Okudah (CB)
- Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
- Justin Skule (OT)
- Reddy Steward (CB)
- Tavierre Thomas (CB)
- Eric Wilson (LB)
Quite the batch.
And the Draft
After free agency, Adofo-Mensah turned to a diminished draft capital allotment after spending the farm on Dallas Turner in 2024.
He landed this draft class:
- Donovan Jackson (G | Ohio State | Round 1)
- Tai Felton (WR | Maryland | Round 3)
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (DL | Georgia | Round 5)
- Kobe King (LB | Penn State | Round 6)
- Gavin Bartholomew (TE | Pittsburgh | Round 6)
Don’t forget the massive UDFA haul:
- Tyler Batty (OLB, BYU)
- Silas Bolden (WR, Texas)
- Max Brosmer (QB, Minnesota)
- Logan Brown (OL, Kansas)
- Chaz Chambliss (OLB, Georgia)
- Oscar Chapman (P, Auburn)
- Zeke Correll (OL, N.C. State)
- Dontae Fleming (WR, Tulane)
- Keenan Garber (CB, Kansas State)
- Joe Huber (OL, Wisconsin)
- Austin Keys (LB, Auburn)
- Robert Lewis (WR, Auburn)
- Dorian Mausi (LB, Auburn)
- Bryson Nesbit (TE, North Carolina)
- Mishael Powell (S, Miami)
- Myles Price (WR, Indiana)
- Tre Stewart (RB, Jacksonville State)
- Zemaiah Vaughn (CB, Utah)
- Alex Williams (DL, Middle Tennessee State)
- Ben Yurosek (TE, Georgia)
The Front Office, Too
Minnesota’s ownership also got involved, extending the contracts of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell. The coach came first, as Mark and Zygi Wilf handed O’Connell a new contract in January. The pair waited until after the draft to extend Adofo-Mensah, but that deal culminated at the end of May.
It is believed that Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are contractually committed to Minnesota through the end of 2029.
The Chicago Bears (sigh) Led the Way
According to Edwards, the Chicago Bears pulled down the best offseason in all the land.
He explained, “The changes for the Bears began at the top with incoming head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson was regarded as one of the game’s most forward-thinking, dynamic offensive play-callers in his former role with the Lions, and Chicago is hoping that success follows him within the division. The roster supplementation did not end there, however.”
“The NFC North franchise ate its vegetables by upgrading the offensive line through the acquisitions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. The defensive line’s floor should be elevated with Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo joining the cause. Pass-catchers Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland were added in the draft.”
So, on September 8th, when Minnesota and Chicago get the regular season underway, it will be a battle of top offseasons, oddly enough.
“The biggest red flag is that Chicago was atop this list last year as well,” Edwards warned.
Perhaps the purple team’s offseason will translate to wins, and Chicago’s will be more of the same. A verdict isn’t far away.
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