. </p>
<p><strong>Minnesota’s early roadmap is coming into focus, with clear priorities emerging well before roster churn begins.</strong></p>
<p>First, I have to say in a follow-up on the QBs: with the improvement of J.J. McCarthy, the obvious key, my projection of <a href=)
Kirk Cousins as a potential veteran signing to challenge McCarthy and be a better No. 2 than Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer appears to have disappeared as a possibility with the Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach.
Stefanski, of course, was Cousins’ offensive coordinator in Minnesota when he had one of the best seasons in 2019, earning Pro Bowl honors and his highest career passer rating (107.4) as he led the Vikings to a wild-card spot and a playoff win in New Orleans. After that season, Stefanski was hired as the Browns’ head coach.
The Vikings’ 2026 Plan Comes Into Focus
With Michael Penix Jr. coming off an ACL injury and a 3-6 record last season, while Cousins went 5-3 as his replacement, Stefanski will likely want Cousins to be his starter at least to begin next season.
Now, back to my blueprint and beyond the QBs, it starts with:
1. Kevin O’Connell solidify his coaching staff. The extension of Brian Flores as defensive coordinator (that was announced Wednesday night) is great news for the team. He is most deserving of being one of the league’s highest-paid coordinators as he comes off directing the NFL’s third-ranked defense that was excellent in the season-ending winning streak. The players believe in him, and his system, and he and O’Connell seem to have a great connection.
. But too many other drafted O-linemen have not panned out (was it due to lack of talent or not being coached up well enough?).</p>
<p>Most recently, it was 2022 second-rounder Ed Ingram who underachieved here and was traded to Houston, where he managed to start for a playoff team. 2019 first-round center <a href=)
Garrett Bradbury was released last year and wound up starting for the Patriots. He wasn’t great here, but he mostly stayed on the field, which was a huge issue with Ryan Kelly, who was signed to a big free agent deal but wound up missing nine games with multiple concussions. He will likely be released to save on the salary cap and should retire.
The Vikings also spent a lot of money last offseason on right guard Will Fries. He started every game and played reasonably well, but he needs to play better to justify his five-year, $88 million deal.
2. New center: A solid center who stays healthy would be a big help to McCarthy or whoever is the Vikings QB. Kelly played well when he was on the field, but the Vikings can’t count on him to stay healthy (and he really should retire for his long-term health), so he should be released to gain $8.75 million in cap savings. That money is needed because the Vikings have to clear over $30 million in salary cap space (more on that next week).
Michael Jurgens is just OK as a backup center, as is the case with Blake Brandel, who is better as the backup tackle and guard. Neither should be the starter, so the team needs to sign a new center in free agency or use a first or second-round pick on one who can start immediately. In free agency, the top center is Baltimore’s three-time Pro Bowler, Tyler Linderbaum, who is an Iowa native and former Hawkeye. The 25-year-old may well re-sign with the Ravens, but he would be a terrific addition. He’s probably too pricy unless he takes a somewhat lesser deal to sign close to his home state.
 against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Michael-Jurgens.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=727,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Michael-Jurgens.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Michael-Jurgens.jpg” alt><figcaption>Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Michael Jurgens (65) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Other free-agent possibilities include Buffalo’s Connor McGovern, Carolina’s Cade Mays, and Cleveland’s Ethan Pocic (but he’s coming off a torn Achilles, so it’s probably better to find a healthier center after the Kelly experience).</p>
<p>Perhaps the best, less costly approach would be to draft a starting-caliber center in the first round at No. 18 overall, or in the second round. The top prospects will crystallize in the months ahead via the Senior Bowl, Combine, and Pro Days.</p>
<p><strong>3. <span data-color=)
Secondary help: The Vikings should start with convincing Harrison Smith to return for his 15th season. He was their best safety over the last half of the season and was all over the field making plays in the Week 17 win over the Lions (one sack, two tackles-for-loss, three passes broken up, and three tackles). He’s the leader of the secondary and a glue player on D. I think both Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson are shaky in coverage, and Jackson misses too many tackles on run D.
Jay Ward has potential and played well at times.
The Kyle Hamilton miss in the 2022 draft haunts the Vikings at the safety position. What a difference he would’ve made as a three-time All-Pro in Baltimore. Whether Smith stays or retires, the team should draft a safety in the first three rounds (and probably in the first two rounds if Smith calls it a career) and look to free agency to shore up this area.
 is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) and cornerback Kalon Barnes (27) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_21236465-1.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=614,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_21236465-1.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_21236465-1.jpg” alt=”Vikings Safety Jay Ward in 2023″><figcaption>Tennessee Titans wide receiver Racey McMath (13) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) and cornerback Kalon Barnes (27) at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure>
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<p>They also need to pick a corner in the early rounds and add a quality corner in free agency after Jeff Okudah didn’t work out and Fabian Moreau was a 31-year-old stopgap as a third CB. Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers are quality players (especially if Rodgers has more games like his tremendous, two-TD performance against the Bengals and less like his poor game vs. the Eagles). But more help is needed to improve the third corner and add young depth at such an important position.</p>
<p><strong>Around the NFL Observations with my NFC and AFC title game picks:</strong></p>
<p><strong>1.</strong> It’s crazy how one play can cost a coach his job. That was the case for Bills coach Sean McDermott with the highly controversial overtime interception that appeared to be a catch by Brandon Cooks before Denver’s Ja’Quan McMillian wound up with the ball as the two players rolled on the ground.</p>
<p>I thought it was a catch by Cooks (and down by contact), which would’ve set up a short field goal for the win. If that had been the case, the Bills would be playing the Patriots this Sunday in the AFC title game, and McDermott would still have his job for at least one more week.</p>
<p>But that would still be the case if Josh Allen had protected the ball better and hit an open Dawson Knox with what would’ve been a game-winning play. Last year’s MVP wound up with four turnovers, yet the reality is the Bills would not have made it to the divisional round without Allen.</p>
<p>Would McDermott be of interest to O’Connell as the next DC if both Flores and Jones were gone to new jobs? He was a successful DC in Carolina before getting the Bills’ head job.</p>
<p><strong>2. </strong>The Rams haven’t played great in getting road playoff wins at Carolina and Chicago. The Seahawks come off a dominant win over the 49ers and will have their raucous home crowd behind them on Sunday.</p>
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Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
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