Ex-Vikings GM: 8 Things I’ll Watch Closely at Training Camp
I love this line in an old Tom Petty song: “Time to get going—what lies ahead I have no way of knowing.”
That sums up the excitement and anticipation surrounding the start of training camp for all NFL teams, including the Vikings, as they come off a 14-win season and begin the J.J. McCarthy era at quarterback.
Former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond shares the eight storylines he’s watching as training camp begins — from J.J. McCarthy and roster battles to key position health.
The upcoming regular season should yield another playoff berth, possibly a division title, and a playoff run for a team that appears more talented than it was last season. However, as with all NFL teams, the Vikings must remain relatively healthy and perform well on the field.
The opening of training camp was always an exciting time for me during my NFL front office career. Free agency, the draft, and the offseason program are over, and once training camp opens, things ramp up quickly, especially next week when padded practices begin on Monday.
I’ll be attending Vikings camp practices next week, and while I’ll pay attention to all players and position groups, here’s what I’ll be watching extra closely, in order of interest.
Jeff Diamond’s 8 Main Vikings Items at Training Camp
1. McCarthy and his backups: Obviously, McCarthy’s performance as QB1 in camp will be closely scrutinized, and while I’ll pay close attention to his progress, I won’t be charting his percentage of completions or number of turnovers in camp practices as some overreacting media people will be doing.
I’ll be more interested in his confidence level and how he looks in the joint practices with the Patriots on August 13-14 since he’s unlikely to play more than a couple of series in the first two preseason games before sitting out the finale. For McCarthy, it’s also about staying healthy this season, and the accurate measure of his progress and prospects for a successful season will come in regular season and perhaps postseason.
Here was a recent eye-opener on McCarthy that the Vikings would certainly love to see come to fruition: Vikings DT Harrison Phillips said McCarthy reminds him of Phillips’ former Bills teammate Josh Allen, last year’s NFL MVP in terms of his high level of confidence and “understanding the power he has to lead this organization and he’s doing a fantastic job doing that.”
Sam Howell is the presumed No. 2 QB, but he still has to win the job over Brett Rypien. If neither of these QBs impresses in the preseason games, don’t be surprised if the Vikings sign or trade for another veteran QB to back up McCarthy. So, I’ll have my eye on the backup QBs, including former Gopher Max Brosmer, a likely practice squader.
2. The corners: I’ve got to see it in camp practices, joint practices, preseason games, and the early regular season before I believe in Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Mekhi Blackmon as quality CBs 2-3-4 behind Byron Murphy Jr.
There’s too little play time as a starter by Rodgers, too many injuries for Okudah, and inconsistency and injuries for Blackmon. Perhaps second-year man Dwight McGlothern will take a big step forward after looking good in last year’s training camp and preseason.
It will be interesting to watch them as they’re tested in camp practices by one of the league’s top WR duos in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with Jalen Nailor, Rondale Moore, and Tai Felton, who will be competing hard for playing time.
If I’m Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell, and Brian Flores, I’m ready to quickly call Stephon Gilmore or Asante Samuel Jr. if the CBs in camp — other than Murphy — look shaky.
3. The health and cohesion of the offensive line: It was great news for the O-line that LT Christian Darrisaw and RG Will Fries did not start camp on the PUP list. O’Connell says Darrisaw (ACL) will start out in individual drills and work his way to team drills, while Fries (fractured tibia) is a full go along with new center Ryan Kelly, who also is healthy after missing seven games last season with neck and knee injuries.
The Vikings need their five projected starters (including RT Brian O’Neill and first-round guard Donovan Jackson) to be working together throughout camp to build cohesion heading into the regular season.
4. Dallas Turner, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave: We know to expect greatness from Pro Bowl Edge/OLBs Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and solid play from DT Harrison Phillips. Turner needs to emerge in Year 2 to make the Vikings’ pass rush even more formidable. He appears stronger and determined to have a big season.
Allen and Hargrave are former Pro Bowlers who will be impact players as interior pass rushers and run stoppers as long as they stay healthy. I’m excited to see how Flores utilizes all these players, and I think this group of defensive linemen and edge players could be the best in the league and a significant part of the team’s overall success, similar to the Purple People Eaters era.
5. Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus at safety: Harrison Smith will anchor the safety group after he played well last season. I thought Cam Bynum was overrated and overpaid by the Colts.
Jackson has looked good in his limited playing time, and now he takes on a bigger role. Metellus wants a raise and an extension, and he has been a good player against the run and as a blitzer. However, he is somewhat limited in pass coverage, so we’ll see if he takes his game to a higher level. What he shouldn’t do is hold out or hold in during camp, as he has more to prove.
6. The wide receivers beyond Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison: Nailor is the likely No. 3 again this season and should continue to improve in an important year for him as he’s in the last year of his rookie deal.
He’ll be extra important if Addison is suspended for up to three games. It will be fun to watch Moore and Felton try to push Nailor for the No. 3 spot (or the No. 2 spot if Addison is out). As I said earlier, it will be exciting to watch the receivers and corners match up in camp.
7. Jordan Mason: Aaron Jones had an excellent 2024 season, other than a stretch of fumbles. He’s been a great addition as a player and leader. I’m curious to see the role the coaches carve out for Mason as a bigger back who will likely be counted on in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
8. Who appears to be the lead kickoff and punt returners: The Vikings ranked among the league’s worst in the return game last season. Now Rodgers, Nailor, Felton, Moore, and last year’s kickoff returner Ty Chandler are among those battling for the returner jobs.
I basically covered all position groups, except for tight end, where things are set with an outstanding duo of T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver (and we’ll see how sixth-rounder Gavin Bartholomew develops once he comes off the PUP list). Additionally, I covered inside linebacker, where the team also has an excellent starting duo in Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. The kicker and punter also appear set with Will Reichard and Ryan Wright, along with Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola.
Around the NFL — Training Camp Observations
I’ll have more on doings around the league and in the NFC North in the coming weeks, as the start of camp is more about what’s happening with the Vikings.
For now, I’m keeping an eye on the progress of the Lions’ offensive line after the retirement of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow and the departure of starting guard Kevin Zeitler. This is an area where the Lions could be much weaker this season, which would not bode well for QB Jared Goff.
The Lions are also breaking in a new OC and DC after Ben Johnson left for the Bears’ head coaching job. John Morton is the new OC, and Aaron Glenn left to become Jets head coach, with Kelvin Sheppard taking over as DC.
The Bears’ offense will again be under scrutiny, especially second-year QB Caleb Williams and his revamped offensive line, which has been revamped after a poor season in 2024 when Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times. The Vikings’ defensive coaches will be watching closely leading up to the September 8 Monday night opener in Chicago.
Starting QB battles around the league are always of great interest. Here are four I’m watching:
Cleveland (the Vikings’ Week 5 opponent in London): Vets Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are in the mix (and could Kirk Cousins become a trade target with his former Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski as the Browns head coach?).
Indianapolis: Injury-prone Anthony Richardson vs. ex-Giant and Viking Daniel Jones.
New Orleans: With the retirement of Derek Carr, it’s second-rounder Tyler Shough vs. second-year man Spencer Rattler. Not awe-inspiring for Saints fans.
New York Giants: Russell Wilson has been announced as the starter, but first-rounder Jaxson Dart and vet Jameis Winston make this a situation to watch if Wilson gets hurt or struggles.
And obviously/unfortunately, there will be a ton of national attention on Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, and he will be a big storyline locally leading into the Vikings-Steelers Week 4 matchup in Dublin, Ireland.
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