Major Summer Shifts That Changed the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have experienced a fruitful summer — much better than the 2024 edition when the club lost J.J. McCarthy and Mekhi Blackmon for the season due to injury.
Explore the major summer shifts that reshaped the Minnesota Vikings, from roster moves to contract extensions, setting the tone for the 2025 season.
From June to mid-August, several events have changed the team’s 2025 landscape, not uncommon through 2.5 months.
So, these are the summer shifts for the purple team, ranked from bottom to top (No. 1 = most significant shift or event).
What This Summer Told Us about the Vikings
Here’s how we got here this summer from a Vikings perspective.
5. Three UDFAs Shine
Compared to how fans felt about the depth chart in May or June, three undrafted free agents from 2024 and 2025 have blossomed this summer: Max Brosmer (QB), Lucky Jackson (WR), and Gabriel Murphy (OLB).
And what does this mean? Well, Brosmer may win the QB3 job, Jackson is considered the WR4 on the current depth chart, and Murphy is the OLB4 after Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, a UDFA savant, has done it again, at least from a mid-August standpoint.
4. Rondale Moore Lost for the Season
Rondale Moore triumphantly returned to the Vikings’ preseason after tearing his ACL with the Atlanta Falcons in the summer of 2024. On his very first play back — like the very first play — he blew out his knee. It’s Groundhog Day for Moore.
Now, the Vikings must promote from within at wide receiver or find a replacement for Moore. Some fans classify the WR depth as shaky with the regular season just three weeks away. Not ideal for a franchise with an inexperienced quarterback.
3. Josh Metellus Extended
Soon, Harrison Smith will retire. Camryn Bynum already left. Heading into the summer, Josh Metellus’ contract fate was up in the air.
The safety spot caused a little panic. Thanks to Metellus’ extension, though, some of those fears can be vanquished. The versatile safety signed an agreement for $36 million over the next three years. He’s scheduled to be the last man standing in the Vikings’ defense per current contractual standing.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis wrote about Metellus’ extension last month, “Metellus’ impact runs parallel to defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s arrival in 2023. Metellus had already become a key special teams contributor at that point, but Flores recognized Metellus’ physical traits and mental acumen.”
“Metellus played 1,065 defensive snaps in 2023, then 991 last year. He has combined for 219 tackles, five forced fumbles and three interceptions over that span — a statistics package depicting all of his abilities.”
It’s also worth noting that Metellus is smack dab in the middle of his prime at age 27.
Lewis continued, “Include his role behind the scenes — few members of the Vikings’ roster are more reliable for youngsters needing advice — and it’s easy to understand why Minnesota sought to keep him in purple. This deal punctuates an active offseason. The team extended O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.”
“It improved the trenches both offensively and defensively. It extended edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and tight end Josh Oliver. The only item remaining on the laundry list is ensuring young quarterback J.J. McCarthy is as prepared as possible come Week 1 in Chicago on Monday night.”
2. Jordan Addison Suspended
California authorities arrested Addison last summer for a DUI. It was his second summer in a row with a dubious driving infraction.
Addison later pleaded the offence down to a “wet reckless” charge, but that didn’t stop the NFL from suspending Addison for three games. With J.J. McCarthy debuting on September 8th, the Vikings will not have Addison in the lineup, a sad twist of fate because McCarthy and Addison have built a serious rapport this summer.
1. Christian Darrisaw Trending toward Week 1 Readiness
Nobody knew if Darrisaw would be ready for the start of the regular season or if his ACL recovery would linger like T.J. Hockenson’s last year.
Then, Darrisaw arrived at mandatory minicamp in full pads, obviously turning heads because that was a good sign. That omen has translated to training camp and joint practices, and at the moment, Darrisaw seems like he’s trending to start Week 1.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling mentioned Darrisaw this week, “I think Darrisaw, the way he has come along and the way I’ve heard people talk about him, I would bet he plays in the opener. I think I’ve heard enough to be optimistic about where that goes.”
It’s not quite a miracle that Darrisaw might be ready for J.J. McCarthy’s debut, but it will make life on offense markedly easier.
Darrisaw’s on-time injury recovery wins the summer for the Vikings. He could’ve been on the shelf for the season’s first month or so, and no one would’ve batted an eye.
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