Bold Summer Predictions for the Vikings
Summer is mere weeks away, and that portion of the calendar will feature organized team activities for the Minnesota Vikings and training camp seven weeks later.
VikingsTerritory reveals summer predictions for the Vikings — bold ones.
Before you know it, Vikings operations will totally heat up, and Week 1 will be upon the masses.
And per our annual tradition, we asked VikingsTerritory writers to provide one bold prediction apiece for the summer regarding the purple team.
Here’s what they said.
1. Vikings Get HBO Hard Knocks Treatment
Predictor: Wes Johnson
While making the playoffs this past season exempted the Vikings from being forced to appear, the storylines surrounding Minnesota became too juicy for the team or the NFL to pass on.
Having a superstar WR, reigning coach of the year, a top 2 NFLPA franchise, back-to-back games in Europe, and a franchise-altering rookie quarterback, the vibes will be high, and the NFL will be salivating at the opportunity to display this historic franchise to the European market.
2. The Jalen Ramsey Trade Happens
Predictor: Cole Smith
The Vikings will swing a deal for Jalen Ramsey. There were rumors they might send a third-rounder from last month’s draft to get him, but with more picks next year and an extra third-rounder expected from the compensatory formula, the team may be more willing to fork over what’s needed to put their secondary over the top.
3. Jeff Okudah Works His Way into First Team Defense
Predictor: Jack Day
Jeff Okudah’s buzz continues to build, and we increasingly see him with the first team defense. Kevin O’Connell had his reclamation project just a season ago with a former third overall pick. Now it’s Brian Flores’ turn with another former third overall pick in Okudah. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has raved about the cornerback’s skill set, and Minnesota will need all hands on deck in the secondary.
4. Sauce Gardner to Minnesota
Predictor: Tony Schultz
I don’t know if it could get any stranger than all the Aaron Rodgers crap this spring. For the sake of discussion, let’s say Sauce Gardner sees the Jets aren’t going anywhere with their new QBs. He wants out.
The Vikings swing a trade where they send Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson to the Jets for Gardner and some pick swaps. They do some restructuring of the cap and extend his contract. I really don’t want this to happen, but I’m willing to be open to anything this year.
5. WR Thayer Thomas Emerges as a Force
Predictor: Kyle Joudry
Thayer Thomas makes some noise and begins being considered a legit option to be the WR5 and PR1. He’ll need to battle in August to secure that spot, but he’ll be in consideration and possibly the favorite by the time August nears its end.
6. A New Punter Is on the Way
Predictor: Ali Siddiqui
Vikings will sign a punter before the season starts. Ryan Wright will get the boot.
7. Vikings Add 2nd Starting Cornerback
Predictor: Ted Schwerzler
The Vikings don’t currently have their final starting cornerback on the roster. They need to, and will, address it.
8. Shaquill Griffin Signs with Seahawks, CB Tariq Woolen Traded to Vikings
Predictor: Dustin Baker
The Seahawks have seemed to court Shaquill Griffin in the last several weeks. But why? Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Tariq Woolen headline Seattle’s CB room. They shouldn’t need a soon-to-be 30-year-old in Griffin.
Here’s the deal: reluctant to hand Woolen a second contract — he’s eligible right now — the Seahawks sign Griffin, who will be markedly more affordable than Woolen, and put Woolen on the trade block.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves tall, physical corners, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sends a 2026 3rd-Round draft pick to Seattle for Woolen and 5th-Rounder.
And just like that, the Vikings’ two starting corners in 2025 are Byron Murphy Jr. and Tariq Woolen.
9. Dwight McGlothern Becomes a Top 3 CB for Vikings
Predictor: Janik Eckardt
Last year’s undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern will continue his offseason stardom. He was a surprise standout at last year’s camp and in the preseason, and this year, it won’t be Mekhi Blackmon who’s snatching CB3 duties behind Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr.
No, it’ll be the sophomore out of the University of Arkansas, instead.
10. Vikings Lock in All Applicable Contract Extensions
Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi
The Vikings will sign Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Josh Metellus, and Brian O’Neill to contract extensions. After already giving a new contract to Andrew Van Ginkel, the Wilfs will make sure to keep the leadership core intact, both on and off the field.
11. TE Gavin Bartholomew Makes His Mark
Predictor: Adam New
Bartholomew impresses enough to put pressure on Josh Oliver for the TE2 role in the Vikings’ offense.
You must be logged in to post a comment.