The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason has about three weeks in the books, headlined by the head coach Kevin O’Connell’s extension.
Dustin Baker’s 5 Bold Predictions for the Vikings Offseason
Free agency kicks off in about five weeks, and the draft is six after that.
To set the table for the Vikings’ 65th offseason in franchise history, here are five bold predictions for the 2025 Vikings, ranked in no particular order.
Reminder: “Bold predictions” are designed to be “out there” and dream big.
1. The Vikings Trade Twice before Picking a Player in Draft
Minnesota is skimpy on draft picks in 2025, and sitting with the 24th overall pick, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will trade down a few spots in Round 1 and one more time into Round 2, stockpiling two extra picks along the way.
When the event is said and done, he’ll have about six or seven rookies from the draft.
2. Jevon Holland Signs in Minnesota
Holland has mentioned his positive relationship with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, bordering on adoration. He tweeted two years ago when Flores landed Minnesota’s defensive coordinator job: “Flo was apart of the reason I got drafted making my lifelong dream come true. I got nothing but love for him!”
The Vikings will use money it could’ve spent on Camryn Bynum’s extension to sign Holland for three or four years. Holland and Flores reunite.
3. Kevin O’Connell Reunites with Cooper Kupp
The Rams move on from Cooper Kupp after nine seasons, and he reunites with Kevin O’Connell, who coached Kupp to an Offensive Player of the Year award in 2021.
Minnesota instantly showcases its best WR3 in years — maybe decades — alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Of course, fans line up with “Three Deep” slogans from yesteryear.
4. Seahawks Sign Sam Darnold
Darnold will have a handful of suitors, hoping to cash in on a mostly successful 2024 regular season. He produces numbers worthy of $40+ million annually from some quarterback-needy team.
The Seattle Seahawks will be that team, mainly because their new offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, crossed paths with Darnold in 2023 on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster.
Darnold’s career will revert a smidgen — the Seahawks won’t win 14 games — without Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba, D.K. Metcalf, Kenneth Walker III, and Zach Charbonnet will help ease the pain.
5. Harrison Smith Will Return for Season No. 14
Brian Flores returns to Minnesota for Year No. 3, and Harrison Smith says, “Why not No. 14 for me, too?”
Smith fully crosses paths with J.J. McCarthy for one season, and fans come to realize “this is it” for him, creating a proper farewell tour.
The Hall of Fame resume is bolstered by another productive season.
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.