The 2025 NFL season is gradually coming into focus.

On Tuesday, 100 days from kickoff between reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia and NFC East division rival Dallas on Thursday, Sept. 4, Benjamin Solak of ESPN shared his 100 things to know for the new campaign.

Among them are 10 names to meet now in anticipation of being big deals, more than a half dozen interesting schedule features, a collection of jobs up for grabs, key stats to monitor and much more.

Minnesota was mentioned by Solak in four instances, including thrice in a category of "intrusive thoughts," in which he listed "things I think I think, but I do not yet know exactly how to express them."

For starters, Solak identified two teams he believes "reasonably project as having the best offensive line and the best defense for the 2025 season." The clubs in question, the Vikings and Broncos, register in his mind as Super Bowl dark horses due to their prominent balance of talent in those areas, despite limited knowledge of respective young quarterbacks (2024 10^th and 12^th overall picks J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix).

Solak also attributed the "greatest non-quarterback advantage" to Minnesota, specifically naming third-year Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores as one of the 32 ("if not 20") best coaches in the league.

Additionally, Solak highlighted Minnesota's roster and hypothesized that even if McCarthy winds up performing below expectations, the Vikings could manage 12 wins thanks to a well-built locker room.

Solak's final mention of Minnesota called attention to a Justin Jefferson-centric stat that again demonstrates how otherworldly the Vikings superstar receiver has played since entering the NFL in 2020.

Very matter-of-factly, it can serve as a reminder no one in history has been better through five seasons.

Solak wrote the following:

Puka Nacua holds the record for most receiving yards in a rookie season with 1,486. Yet Minnesota's Justin Jefferson holds the record for most receiving yards through two seasons of a player's career (3,016), three seasons (4,825), four seasons (5,899) and five seasons (7,432). An absurd testament to early-career success and availability. For context, Jefferson is 261 yards above second place in Year 2, 662 above in Year 3, 387 above in Year 4 (despite missing seven games) and 648 above in Year 5. To catch him in the Year 5 numbers, Ja'Marr Chase needs a cool 2,008-yard season. Jefferson is already seventh on the list for receiving yards through six seasons, and he has played only five seasons. He'll take the top spot with a mere 943 yards, which would take just 10 games on his career average of 96.5 receiving yards per game (the best number in NFL history, so take your "17-game season" complaints and shove 'em).

Other fun snippets from Solak's article include notable rookie numbers and returning player number changes, a musing on overtime rules and a subjective selection of the three most/least improved teams.

NFC North foe, Chicago, for what it's worth was touted as one of the most improved organizations based on its coaching overhaul (namely Ben Johnson running the offense and Dennis Allen the defense) and robust offensive additions in the offseason – i.e. veteran interior linemen Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, as well as skill players Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland acquired through the draft.

You can read all of Solak's entries here.

'Most Important' players for 2025

Let's double down on the 100-day theme.

CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles on Tuesday recognized 100 players he thinks will be instrumental to the story of the 2025 season. Because Pereles broke down his list by division, it's OK to ignore the numbers attached to each player. For instance, 1-15 is reserved for players hailing from teams in the NFC East.

Four Vikings were named in the next section: McCarthy, Jefferson, Ryan Kelly and Christian Darrisaw.

The quarterback-receiver tandem was included in Pereles' 2024 version, as well. Their fates, obviously, were separated after McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury suffered in his exhibition debut. But now they're intertwined. In this year's catalog, Pereles described McCarthy as an underrated athlete that possesses a strong, accurate arm, and will be asked to deliver immediately after last year's 14 victories.

Jefferson, Pereles wrote accordingly, is the "quickest route to success for McCarthy."

Regarding the rest, Pereles underlined new Vikings center Kelly and franchise cornerstone Darrisaw as doubly important players – in keeping McCarthy upright, and anchoring Minnesota's offensive success.

Pereles wrote the following:

Over the past two seasons, the Colts had a 45% success rate with Kelly on the field compared to 40% without him, and he played in just 24 of 34 games in that span. Darrisaw, meanwhile, is coming off a major knee injury, and as Minnesota saw last year, viable left tackle play in a pinch is hard to come by.

Basically, how quick Kelly meshes with McCarthy and the Vikings' o-line may be as vital to the group reaching its ceiling as Darrisaw completing his rehabilitation and providing a spark in his eventual return.

Other NFC North players pinpointed by Pereles were Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed, as well as Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love and running back Josh Jacobs, and Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, Thuney and edge Montez Sweat.

Check out Pereles' story here.

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