The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season ended a bit over seven weeks ago after a disappointing faceplant and loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
3 Vikings Offseason Mysteries Have Been Solved
All eyes turned to the offseason following the otherwise sweet 14-3 season, and that is about to heat up.
NFL free agency begins in less than a week, and the 2025 NFL Draft is 50 days away, so there is plenty of time to speculate about the franchise’s plans.
But these three mysteries have been entirely solved so far this offseason. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important).
3. Will the Vikings Franchise Tag-and-Trade Sam Darnold?
Verdict = No.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Monday night, about 19 hours before the league’s franchise tag deadline: “Vikings QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to be franchise tagged ahead of Tuesday’s 4 pm ET deadline, per league sources. Minnesota still is interested in working to re-sign Darnold, but it is likely to be without any tag.”
The deadline passed the following day, and the Vikings did not tag Darnold. He cannot be traded.
Minnesota reportedly wants Darnold back at his price tag of its choosing. Otherwise, Darnold will hit free agency next week.
But the mystery is solved: there was no robust trade market for Darnold, as some fans, podcasters, and aggregators vehemently insisted for weeks. They were wrong.
2. Will Brian Flores Return for Year No. 3?
Verdict = Yes.
Flores interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets. Those teams later hired other candidates.
He will be back in Minnesota for Year No. 3.
Flores, too, might have a sweet new contract extension, according to Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. “My understanding is they want to get new deals done for both of those guys this spring,” Goessling said last week about Flores and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips on a podcast.
“I think one of the reasons O’Connell wanted the deal, and one of the stipulations was, ‘I want to take care of my staff.’ I think special teams coordinator Matt Daniels will probably end up in these contract discussions as well, but that is the next thing on the list from a coaching perspective.”
Flores turned the Vikings’ defense around rather quickly, and in fact, his group ranked second in the NFL last season per EPA/Play.
Fans rejoiced at his return for 2025.
1. Will Kevin O’Connell Get an Extension Right Away?
Verdict = Yes.
On January 21st, about one week after the Vikings’ season prematurely ended, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “More years in Minnesota: Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract extension, per sources. He was scheduled to be entering the last year of his contract, but no longer. Now that their head coach extension is done, the Vikings also working an extension for their GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.”
The offseason didn’t get too far along before Minnesota’s brass locked in O’Connell for the next five years.
The man won Coach of the Year 2.5 weeks later.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.