What the Vikings Revealed at the Start of the NFL Combine
The Minnesota Vikings are off and running at the NFL Combine, speaking to media on Tuesday and not holding back as they reveal their offseason plans. The club has an interim general manager after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah four weeks ago, at least nine draft picks to spend, and all-in stakes to win in 2026. Thanks to head coach Kevin O’Connell and interim GM Rob Brzezinski, a few items became clear this week.
O’Connell spoke, Brzezinski clarified authority, and Minnesota’s next roster moves began to come into focus.
The developments were especially helpful as free agency gets off the ground in 12 days.
The Vikings-Themed Items to Know at the Start of the Combine
O’Connell attends his fifth NFL Combine. Here’s what we learned so far.
1. The Power Structure Is Collaborative
Remember the Vikings’ “triangle of authority” from the Brad Childress days? That’s back.
Asked about the front office structure, Brzezinski replied, “We have to have protocol in place, and so the owners have asked me to handle that responsibility if that would occur. But our intent is to have complete and total collaboration, and I think the decisions are going to be pretty easy to make.”
Brzezinski also said, “It’s an awesome responsibility. I’ve been here a long time. I know what this franchise means to our fans, and I just want to be a small part of one day delivering that championship.”
It sounds like O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will be very much in charge of personnel, with Brzezinski possibly playing a tiebreaker role if necessary.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s ownership group stated last month that it would hire a full-time general manager after the draft in April. Perhaps Brzezinski will impress enough to keep the job.
2. Josh McCown Has Been Promoted
The Vikings announced a new coaching organizational chart, complete with new names, after losing seven coaches in the last two months. Among them, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown earned a new title: offensive passing game coordinator.
Some fans criticized McCown for not empowering J.J. McCarthy to the fullest in the last two seasons, but O’Connell clearly doesn’t agree.
McCown is now in charge of the passing offense, working with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who is also often an object of fans’ scorn.
3. Insider Says DT Javon Hargrave Is on the Trade Block
Since the start of the offseason, Vikings loyalists have speculated about players who might be traded, including big names like McCarthy and wide receiver Jordan Addison.
But as of Tuesday, there’s officially a tangible trade rumor — involving defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted Tuesday, “Sources: The Vikings have had trade talks with teams regarding 2x Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave. Hargrave started 15 games last year and had 3.5 sacks in his first season with Minnesota.”
Minnesota is likely shopping Hargrave for a late-round draft pick, a last recourse before his release.
4. The Vikings’ Timeline for J.J. McCarthy Has Changed
Media members asked O’Connell if he still considers McCarthy as a franchise quarterback, a slogan he’s never been afraid to attach to McCarthy.
O’Connell said yes but added a caveat, “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024. And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have.”
This basically means that O’Connell classified McCarthy as his franchise quarterback in the summer of 2024 when he first answered the question; now, the timeline has changed. The Vikings need a McCarthy alternative in case injuries arise in 2026, a familiar theme for McCarthy.
5. All QB Options Will Be Examined
At the start of the offseason, O’Connell and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah proclaimed a deep quarterback room as the foremost priority.
That mindset remains, even after Adofo-Mensah left the Vikings.
Brzezinski said, “We’re exploring every option that can be out there. What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective.”
“A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate situations with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”
Need a level of baseline quarterback play is the smoking gun that suggests a quarterback signing or trade is imminent.
6. Nothing But Love for Kwesi
Some claimed that an O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah rift may have caused Adofo-Mensah’s termination at the end of January. That is categorically false.
O’Connell on Adofo-Mensah: “From the standpoint of my relationship, personally and professionally, with Kwesi was and will always continue to be strong. Any thoughts or noise to the contrary of that is not accurate in any way, shape or form. Speaking to the timing of it, I just know that our ownership is, I think they’re the best owners in sports.”
“I think they’re very thorough in their postseason evaluation. They made a decision, an ownership decision at that level. We will press onward, but obviously really, really thankful for my time to work with Kwes’ and what we were able to build together here and some of the success that we’ve had together and obviously the learning moments. I know he’s going to continue to go on to great things in his career.”
Brzezinski, Adofo-Mensah’s direct replacement, called his predecessor a “fabulous human being.”
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