Kevin O’Connell Dropped 7 Main Roster Updates on Monday
Fans perceive Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell as a master of diplomatic sports speak, but if one listens carefully, he typically does a decent job of telling the truth about his team’s plan.
Minnesota’s head coach offered a full batch of clues about the depth chart and key offseason decisions.
O’Connell did precisely that on Monday, providing a flurry of roster updates while attending the NFL’s league meetings.
McCarthy, Addison, and Other Key Names Take Center Stage
All the Vikings buzz from league meetings.
1. McCarthy in the Weight Room
McCarthy spent the early part of the offseason honing his craft in California with quarterback coaches and is now back in Eagan.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted, “Kevin O’Connell said that J.J. McCarthy is back in Minnesota after spending the early part of the offseason training in California, and has been in the building most days working out in the weight room.”
After a tumultuous first season as a starter, peppered by a litany of injuries, McCarthy will fight for his job against Kyler Murray at training camp, whom the Vikings signed three weeks ago from free agency. Murray figures to win the QB1 job outright, with McCarthy probably destined for the QB2 title.
2. Jonathan Greenard Trade Unlikely — But Not Impossible
Greenard trade fodder has been hot and heavy for about a month, but as of late March, O’Connell has affirmed his desire to keep the veteran EDGE rusher.
“Yeah, I expect him to be part of our team. I know there’s always conversations. There’s conversations this week. There’s conversations throughout the offseason, and we’ll continue to kind of attack things at the different phases. We’re getting ready to really jump heavily into draft meetings when we get back,” O’Connell told the media.
“But at the same time, we’re always going to try to do what’s best for our team and also what we think is best for each one of our individual players. And that’s an ongoing thing throughout every offseason.”
He basically kept the door open to trade, even if, on the whole, one is unlikely.
3. Harrison Smith Welcome Back; No Clues on Decision
Minnesota is giving Smith space to make his return-or-retirement decision.
“He knows how I feel about him, how we feel about him. But we also want to be respectful and give him space to kind of continue to figure out what he wants to do,” O’Connell said.
Separately, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis projected Smith to return in 2026 and wrote Monday, “Smith has not ruled out a return. It doesn’t feel like a decision is imminent, either. The Vikings don’t plan to push him for a decision, knowing they need to plan for the future regardless.”
“Smith is 37 years old. If he plays, he’ll want the chance to bring a Super Bowl to the organization he’s given his career to.”
If Smith were going to retire, he probably would’ve done it by now, following longtime teammates Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham into the sunset.
4. Carson Wentz Is a Depth QB
When Wentz re-upped with the Vikings a couple of weeks ago, some were confused, thinking it signaled an incoming trade for J.J. McCarthy. That was false.
O’Connell said about the Wentz acquisition, “I just think it’s about depth. It’s about the fact that, without too much of a rearview-mirror-looking backward, you see where the final standings were; where we were at 9-8 and ultimately maybe the one or two or three plays or sequences of games where you find your way into the dance.”
“That’s really all you ever want at the beginning of every year is to punch your ticket to compete in that one game to continue moving on. We’ve played three guys in one year. We’ve played four in another.”
Wentz is in Minnesota for depth — again — presumably behind Murray and McCarthy.
5. Blake Brandel Is the Starting Center
Ryan Kelly retired earlier this month, and the Vikings signed no immediate replacements at center. So, per O’Connell, Brandel is the odds-on favorite to take Kelly’s spot, with the caveat that Minnesota will explore the draft for a center.
O’Connell on Brandel, “It is great that we feel that good about Blake’s versatility, but ultimately we want to do what’s best for Blake to ascend and reach his highest potential at one position or have the flexibility still to play multiple. What his offseason looks like, what his training camp looks like and what his work flow looks like leading into the season, we want to have him more than likely at that center spot and build on some things that he did last year.”
“It’s a position that’s got some really unique names in the draft, depending on where you may be looking to take one. There’s some guys with experience, there’s some guys with tremendous upside and then some guys that have that flex above the neck of really the smarts and the command that it takes to play center at the National Football League level. We’ll continue to work through it.”
6. Kyler Murray Can Be Dangerous in Minnesota
O’Connell will have no trouble tweaking his offense around Murray, who some fans claimed earlier this offseason would be “a bad scheme fit” in Minnesota.
The skipper noted on Murray, “What we’re going to attempt to do is put Kyler in an offense that he can be comfortable with… any time Kyler Murray drops back with the ball, defenses have to really think twice about the double teams on Justin Jefferson with his type of explosive athleticism, if he does get out of that pocket, it can be a huge play that changes the dynamic of the game.”
“When he gets out there, he’s proven to turn the corner, being able to turn a 15-yard run into a 40-yard TD. That’s on the tape, visible to watch.”
If you’re worried about Murray adapting to O’Connell or vice versa, it’s time to put that anxiety to rest. The pair has five months to figure it out.
7. Jordan Addison to Remain WR2 through End of 2027
Although not expressly announced by O’Connell, the Vikings opted into Addison’s fifth-year option Monday, ensuring his presence on the depth chart for two more seasons, barring a trade.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski told reporters, “He’s a really important player for us, an impact player. We’re definitely exercising the option. For sure. The deadline for that is after the draft.”
That didn’t leave anything to the imagination, and fans should expect an Addison contract extension, so long as he avoids more legal woes, sometime within the next 15 months.
You must be logged in to post a comment.