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Saturday brought the news that four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jeff Siemon passed away at age 75.

Sunday, we received word that Ring of Honor safety Joey Browner, who made six consecutive Pro Bowls, also passed away on Saturday.

We posted written tribute stories for Siemon and Browner, each a former first-round pick who made major impacts on the Vikings franchise for play that earned each placement in the 50 Greatest Vikings.

Siemon played for 11 seasons (1972-82), helping Minnesota make three of its four Super Bowl appearances. I sincerely appreciate how gracious he was during the times I was able to speak with him at Vikings Legends events.

Browner was one of a record four brothers who played in the NFL and emerged as one of the top safeties of the 1980s by delivering against the run and pass for Minnesota from 1983-91. His highlights are impressive, and I've personally connected the dots with how he played to how Harrison Smith has been such an all-around player. Smith enjoyed connecting with Browner during the latter's visits to Vikings training camps.

Additionally, Phil Wise, a defensive back who played the final three seasons (1977-79) of his nine-year career with Minnesota and later became well-liked on the radio airwaves in the Twin Cities, passed away March 13.

Please join in wishing the families of these former Vikings peace and comfort.

There's not really an effective transition, but we'll now preview the NFL's Annual League Meeting, which is being held this week in Arizona.

The docket is a little thinner than in some years when it comes to proposals for changing playing rules, bylaws and resolutions, so we'll briefly introduce those below.

Before that, however, an FYI that Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell and other NFC Coaches are scheduled to speak at breakfast roundtables at 9:45 a.m. (CT)/7:45 a.m. (PT) today. AFC Coaches are scheduled to speak in the same time slot on Tuesday.

Vikings Entertainment Network's Tatum Everett is scheduled to interview O'Connell, Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski and Owner/President Mark Wilf this week, so be on the lookout for those videos and some written content this week.

The Competition Committee, on which O'Connell is serving this year, was responsible for all five playing rules and all three bylaw proposals this year.

Playing Rules Proposals

1. Would allow a kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game (currently the team must be trailing in order to declare an onside kick).
2. Would eliminate the kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line (a loophole of sorts was utilized a couple of times last season, which placed the ball at the 25. A regular kickoff that results in a dead ball touchback is the 35.
3. Would modify kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team in the setup zone.
4. Would allow NFL personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for flagrant football and non-football acts without being called on the field.
5. Would allow for one year only the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game, in the event that there is a work stoppage involving the game officials represented by the NFL Referees Association (this is adding a layer of redundancy if replacement officials are utilized similar to the prior work stoppage that occurred for Weeks 1-3 of 2012).

Bylaw Proposals

1. Would allow the NFL office to adjust procedures and related dates and deadlines for final roster reduction to accommodate an international game scheduled in the first week of the season (this is pertinent this year with the Rams and 49ers scheduled to play in Australia in Week 1).
2. Would establish the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend as business days to provide clubs with personnel notices during the first weekend after the roster reduction.
3. Would permit players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform to begin a 21-day practice period after the club's second game of the regular season (this would significantly accelerate return timelines for players who have short-term injuries from the window that currently opens six days before a team's seventh game to the day after its second game).

Resolution Proposals

1. Would make permanent the opportunity implemented in 2025 for teams to conduct one video or phone call with no more than five prospective Unrestricted Free Agents during the two-day negotiation period before the New League Year and allow teams to make travel arrangements after agreeing to terms (submitted by Pittsburgh, which introduced the proposal on a one-year basis last year).
2. Would allow draft selections to be traded up to five seasons (current limit is three seasons) in the future (submitted by Cleveland).

We'll follow along with progress of these proposals this week, but in the meantime, let's get to some questions.

Some thoughts on the draft.

1. I like the consensus of the Oregon safety (Dillon Thieneman) at 18. Not sure he'll be on the board that long, but I'd love that pick. If the Hitman guts out another year, that'd be solid GOLD for a young safety, learning his craft from a certified HOF safety.

2. I'd love to see us get RB Jadarian Price from Notre Dame, even if we have to trade up a bit. Reminds me of a more agile Jerome Bettis, and he could put utter fear in defenses as to stopping him or Jets (Justin Jefferson). Oh the horror! Lol.

3. Still a big void at center. Free agency or draft? Kinda scary question mark right now. Eesh! A solid d-line nose might be available in the third but less of a question than center.

Skooool!! ... Skooool!! … Skooool!!

— JD from The Last Frontier in Alaska

Hello up there.

The past two Mock Draft Trackers we've published (Version 4.0 on March 10 and Version 5.0 on March 24) have heavily mentioned Thieneman, who put on quite a show at the combine.

He was projected to the Vikings 14 times out of the 25 forecasts in Version 4.0, and that percentage increased from 56 to 60 (18 out of 30 projections) in Version 5.0.

Thieneman's game tape shows the ability to make plays on the football, and his combine workout showcases an athleticism that will help at the back end of an NFL defense.

His draft year also coincides with a point in Vikings history where Harrison Smith is evaluating his future. If he does return for a 15^th season, that would be quite a bit of knowledge to impart on a young safety. If Smith does not return, filling the gap of a player who deserves enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be a collective effort that could be helped by a projected high-end talent.

As for the possibility of running back, many have ranked Price and his former Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love as the top two at the position this year (Love is ranked ahead of Price). A couple of prognosticators have floated the idea of trading up to select Love, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds and garnered a production score of 96 and an athleticism score of 83 from Next Gen Stats. Price ran the 40 in 4.49 and received scores of 73 and 74. Those obviously didn't exist when Bettis was drafted out of Notre Dame on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Center is a position on the roster that has some intrigue after the retirement of Ryan Kelly.

It could come down to a competition between Michael Jurgens, a 2024 seventh-round pick who started three games (Cincinnati in Week 3; Detroit and Green Bay in Weeks 17-18), and Blake Brandel, a 2020 sixth-round selection who started six games (Week 5 against Cleveland in London and Weeks 7-11) at center last season.

The Vikings could opt to utilize a pick to add competition at the pivot.

Defensive line has been mentioned in mock drafts even as high as the first round, as well, but it could depend on how the board falls.

It's no secret that teams selecting in the bottom half of the first round need to prepare for multiple scenarios.

After the various retirements, free agent losses (& gains), re-structuring of existing contracts, please UPDATE us with the Vikings CURRENT payroll cap situation (limitations, available monies). Then give us your ideas on possible near-future retirement savings (Hitman, but I hope he stays another year), and possible further re-structuring of contracts. We NEED money to attract free agent(s) at certain positions (such as interior line on both sides). The coming draft should be rich in D-backs, both CB & S. We should be able to fill some positions (& depth) with, at the least, four top draft picks (all in the top 100). Anxiously awaiting this draft & future moves by the Vikings brain trust.

— Dan in Florida

The Vikings roster is at 61 players with room to expand to the offseason max of 90 (or 91 if an International Player Pathway participant is involved). Between the start of the New League Year (it was March 11 this year) and the regular season, the Top 51 rule is invoked, which means only the top 51 salaries count against the cap.

The Vikings haven't publicly commented on their cap dollars, but spotrac.com offers this tracker that lists Minnesota's (as of Friday) Top 51 space at $5.4 million. Overthecap.com does things a little differently and listed Minnesota's cap space at $4.8 million.

The Vikings were in sort of a unique scenario of working their way back under the cap and have done so through some simple restructures, as well as some renegotiations, releases and retirements. There's still time for other moves to occur.

With the NFL offseason programs for teams with returning head coaches beginning on April 20 and the draft happening on April 23-25, it could make sense for teams to see how the draft and college free agency shake out before returning to the veteran free agency pool to allocate dollars with some benefit of hindsight.

I have to wait to see if this makes it into next week's mailbag, and it could very well be answered by then. But I just saw on NFL.com that DeAndre Hopkins is available and would love to link back up with Kyler Murray for next season.

Now that I've put my rose-colored glasses back in the nostalgia drawer, let's try to look at it from a logical angle. Hopkins has been one of the most electrifying receivers during his career, but he's also 33, and it's been a few years removed from his prime performances.

And after shedding and/or restructuring the contracts of multiple roster spots, the Vikings still have holes to fill. But with a quarterbacks room filled with a history of injuries, the protection up front should be the priority as free agency and the draft cycle through.

Granted, beyond the coming season there are too many unknown variables regarding our future at quarterback. Will J.J. McCarthy make the leap ala Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels, or take a nosedive akin to Johnny Manziel, Anthony Richardson, Christian Ponder or "fill in the blank"?

And even though he missed his rookie year after getting injured in the 2024 preseason, J.J.'s fifth-year option and an extension will be staring management in the face next year. And Jordan Addison will be ripe for an extension next year. And Dallas Turner's growth will warrant one. And who knows who else will be deserving of (or demanding) a new contract in a year?

And into all this uncertainty, the Vikings signed Murray at a bargain basement price — this year. But if he plays, and is the starter, and excels, then he'll expect one of those exorbitant and bank-busting quarterback deals that the Vikings might be tempted to pursue even though it would weaken the rest of the roster. So let's just put 2027 on the back burner, or would it be more appropriate to say, "We'll burn that bridge before we cross it"?

For 2026, would the upside of signing Hopkins be worth it? And could we afford it? And would both he and Murray end up being one-year rentals? And don't shortchange the unknowns either, because the Vikings are gambling that the Kyler who suits up on game days will mirror his best seasons.

And if all parties saw enough upside to work out a deal to bring DeAndre Hopkins into the fold, and if the version of him that showed up on field matches his best years, well, just imagine the possibilities. Justin Jefferson + Addison + Hopkins on the edges, Aaron Jones, Sr. + Jordan Mason + T.J. Hockenson rumbling out of the backfield, and under center, a bona fide dual-threat to keep defenses honest.

Surprisingly I can almost taste the sugar high just suggesting this scenario. And I suspect reality would have a bittersweet aftertaste to it. But with the draft still a month away, and six months before kickoff, we long-suffering Vikings fans can safely indulge our fantasies and delusions at least until Memorial Day barbecues of brats, beans & tater salad (I miss Midwestern BBQs; down here, everything's vinegar based).

Sincerely,

— David A. (from the North Shore but stuck in the South)

Maybe you and I can work out a BBQ sauce trade? Having lived in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee again before Minnesota, my BBQ preferences lean toward the Southern flavor, especially for the Middle Tennessee vinegar-based dabbed on some slow-roasted pork shoulder. It's a staple during every return trip I make.

Hopkins was tracked by video paparazzi recently and asked about reuniting with Murray, whom he teamed with for three campaigns (2020-22) in Arizona after seven starbright seasons with Houston. Hopkins and Murray made the Pro Bowl together in 2020 when Hopkins reeled in 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six scores, and they have maintained a good relationship. Hopkins said he is open to the idea of the Vikings if Minnesota has interest.

Hopkins has 1,006 career receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 receiving touchdowns, but he is turning 34 in June.

Jalen Nailor's departure in free agency has created intrigue for what Minnesota might do behind Jefferson and Addison. Tai Felton, a 2025 rookie who got his feet wet on special teams, could provide an option, especially as it pertains to game days when extra help on special teams is welcome further down the receiving depth chart.

The Vikings committed to boosting competition and depth in the quarterbacks room with the economical signing of Murray and re-signing of Carson Wentz to join J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer. I'm sure there is going to be immense interest in Minnesota's QBs all offseason for a few reasons.

Some of the prospects they say visit us spent too many years in college. Most of them spent six years and are not even top talent. Can we have top 50 players visit? We got good picks in the third round.

And would you trade J.J.? I think we shouldn't.

— William W.

I haven't seen too much reporting on the names that will be visiting for the Top 30 next month.

As a reminder, teams are able to invite 30 prospects (in addition to local players) for an extended visit to headquarters. Teams can incorporate an array of philosophies when determining the players they should invite.

There are sometimes situations where a team has already learned enough about a player from other exposure (college scouting process, all-star game and combine) that it doesn't utilize a spot on a player it is highly interested in. With nine selections at the moment, Minnesota could layer prospects who are projected in different rounds.

It will be important for Minnesota to make the most of this year's draft because of the economic byproduct of having players on rookie deals who can contribute significantly.

Regarding years in school, the entire process is still in the post-COVID world where players who received extra years of college eligibility are now available. There's also the newer dynamic created by Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money now distributed to college players and may entice more in the future to stay on campus another season.

Two topics:

First, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got most of the blame for four years of mostly disappointing drafts. How many of the draft decisions were his alone versus being collaborative decisions with the head coach, the coordinators and the scouting staff? If it was the former, then maybe there is an improvement. If it was the latter, then probably more of the same.

Lots of mock drafts and draft discussion in general talk about the need for players on the DL and, to a lesser extent, the LBs. There really has been no talk of the potential impact from the two CFL players signed, one DL (Jaylon Hutchings) and one LB (Jacob Roberts). Jaylon Hutchings seemed to have pretty decent pass rush stats (8 sacks) with Calgary. Might he have a Jalen Redmond type ascension? Also, not talk much about how Elijah Williams or Chaz Chambliss might figure into greater roles in 2026.

— Dave Sinclair in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Sorry, but I'm not privy to the dynamics of previous draft decisions. I do believe Adofo-Mensah was receptive to information and there was a generally collaborative environment.

That said, there's bound to be differences of opinions on players and approaches in every draft room (and fan base).

The 2022 draft (the first with Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell at the helm) has probably drawn the most ire from fans who have written to the Mailbag. Now that we are four years removed, the class can be graded more completely. It involved 10 players selected. Six have received second NFL contracts but none are still with Minnesota.

That draft involved multiple trade downs with a philosophical effort to maximize value. Sometimes plans can be designed with quite a bit of thought without yielding desired results.

Appreciate the mention of Hutchings and Roberts, who were both signed to futures contracts in January. We obviously haven't seen either on the Vikings practice fields yet, but the success of Redmond should provide encouragement for any player who comes to Minnesota, no matter the journey.

Since Hutchings and Roberts may be a little less familiar, I wanted to provide a little more information on each.

Hutchings started 17 games for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders during the 2025 season and led all CFL defensive tackles with 8.0 sacks. He also had 39 defensive tackles, including three for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He was one of three Calgary Stampeders voted to the 2025 All-Canadian Football League Team. Hutchings previously spent time in the NFL with the Chicago Bears during the 2024 preseason. A native of Forney, Texas, Hutchings played college football at Texas Tech from 2018-23.

Roberts, who appeared in 18 games for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2025, recorded 97 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles, 4.0 sacks and forced one fumble. During the 2024 season with the team, he logged four 14 total tackles (four defensive and 10 special teams) in six games played. Roberts began his collegiate career at North Carolina A&T State University before transferring to Wake Forest for his senior season in 2023.

Williams and Chambliss each contributed on defense and special teams as undrafted rookies and could be primed for the next step with more opportunities on the interior (Williams) and edge (Chambliss) in their second seasons.

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