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Some years, free agency opens with great fury, but the 2026 Vikings foray didn't resemble a Minesota March.

I tell people that March may be the toughest from a weather standpoint (for this Tennessee transplant) because you know its more pleasant elsewhere. Regardless, why not show some more resiliency, right?

The moves the team has made have been few but productive, from a retention standpoint, as well as a couple of additions.

Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski mentioned at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that the team had a goal of protecting its core in free agency.

That happened in multiple areas, with tendering offers to Jalen Redmond, Ivan Pace, Jr. and Zavier Scott, as well as returning Bo Richter, Andrew DePaola, Tavierre Thomas and Eric Wilson.

Minnesota moved some money around on contracts with cornerstones like Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw through simple restructures and then worked out deals to retain T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones, Sr.

Defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were released as Minnesota worked through limited cap resources and were signed by the Packers and Bengals, respectively.

The Vikings deftly added cornerback James Pierre, who overlapped with Brian Flores and Gerald Alexander in Pittsburgh, and then signed QB Kyler Murray to a one-year deal, returning the former No. 1 pick of Arizona, to a Vikings Purple, which he proudly wore during his youth football days and as a fan in Texas. Murray explained he cried "real tears" when Brett Favre was intercepted in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

I know there's much ado made of the opening of free agency, but I'll remind everyone that the starting gate is many furlongs from the finish line.

Lastly, I'm happy to share with you that the Vikings will be honoring the careers of homegrowns Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham, who are scheduled to participate in a retirement press conference this Thursday, March 19. Stay tuned for content later this week!

Let's get to some questions.

It looks as though the Vikings are making the best of a cap problem in how they negotiate with several players and who they go after in free agency.

The biggest questions in my mind for the upcoming season are the center position, the quarterback position, and what type of depth they are able to get on the offensive and defensive lines and at wide receiver.

If J.J. McCarthy can overcome some of his deficiencies, and if Kyler Murray is healthy, this team could be a surprise for some people.

What most people don't realize is that two players on offense always touch the ball; the center and the quarterback.

Defensive lines and the linebackers can sometimes pick off a read based on the action of the center, the eye contact of the quarterbacks or running backs, and get a jump off the ball if the center flinches even with his grip before he snaps the ball.

Since John Sullivan and Matt Birk, the Vikes haven't had that guy in the center of the field; and it certainly makes a great difference.

— Bruce Malby

Brzezinski's knowledge of salary cap gymnastics has certainly been helpful in an offseason that's needed to emphasize miserly decisions. He gave a "special shout out" to Senior Manager of Football Administration Emily Badis and consultant Matt Thomas for the work they've done.

"This was a challenging year, navigating our finances in our cap, and they did a tremendous job," Brzezinski said Thursday when he and Head Coach Kevin O'Connell spoke with Twin Cities media members after Murray signed. "Very thankful for them and the personnel leadership staff and everybody in personnel banding together. We still have a lot of work to do. We're just barely out of the gate here."

Brzezinski said he is proud of the way everyone has worked together and the patience Minnesota has demonstrated.

"We talked about stacking good decisions," he said. "We don't play football until September, and our goal was to make good decisions and not feel like we needed to do anything desperate."

Veteran center Ryan Kelly retired March 6. The Vikings have Michael Jurgens and Blake Brandel under contract and could still look to add to the pivot spot. Minnesota emphasized signing Kelly in 2025 because of his talent and experience to help as J.J. McCarthy prepared for his first season as a starter.

Beyond size and skill, it can be quite beneficial to have a sense of calm, an ability to diagnose defenses and effective communication at center. Kelly offered all the above, but he dealt with three concussions that limited his ability.

O'Connell and Murray noted their relationship began when Murray was invited to the Elite 11 camp. It expanded before the 2019 NFL Draft when O'Connell was Washington's offensive coordinator and the team drafted the late Dwayne Haskins 14 spots after Murray's selection at the top spot and has continued.

Ideally, left guard Donovan Jackson and right guard Will Fries are able to build on their first seasons in Minnesota, providing strong support on each side of Minnesota's starting center.

Great pick up with Kyler Murray. My top take always from his opening press conference. I am here to COMPETE, and I am GRATEFUL for the OPPORTUNITY. It will be a great competition that will bring out the best in J.J. and Kyler. SKOL!!!!

And …

Zemaiah Vaughn was a UDFA from Utah who had outstanding athletic skills at the combine. Cornerbacks might be the best athletes on the team. Do you think he is ready to contribute this year?

— Gerald Goblirsch

Allowing a double-dip from Gerald here.

The Vikings emphasized adding talent and competition to the quarterbacks room and capitalized on the unique situation where most of Murray's 2026 salary will be covered by Arizona. This allowed an economical addition of a player with 87 career regular-season starts.

"Today was really something that I thoroughly enjoyed, getting to spend a good amount of time with him, getting him around some of our other coaches and some of the folks that are so impactful to our players' success in this building," O'Connell said. "It was a really productive day that culminated with Kyler signing a contract to be a quarterback on our team.

"We accomplished a goal, which was to add a really talented player with some experience in that room and something that I'm really excited about as we set out to … elevate that quarterbacks room and the situation in that quarterbacks room being very competitive. Each player, whether it's J.J. or Max [Brosmer] or Kyler, attacking it every day and really being a driving force behind not only our offense's improvement for the '26 season, but our entire football team."

O'Connell pointed out that it was only March when asked what the addition of Murray might mean in terms of who will start. He also was asked how he wanted McCarthy to react to the news and said, "exactly how he did when we talked about it."

"J.J. is ready to have the best possible offseason that he can. Unlike going into 2025, he now has 10 games of experience in the NFL," O'Connell said. "He's experienced the ebbs and flows and of an NFL season that you've got to learn from. You've got to continue to attack in the most consistent way possible, getting totally locked into that routine of not only the game-plan week, with the time we have together, but the work you do on your own, how you're taking care of your body, how you're taking care of every aspect of who and what you are as a quarterback, because it means so much, because it's such a difficult position to play, both physically and mentally.

"I think having that experience now, of having felt that, knowing what that's like, he's just excited," O'Connell added. "He knew we were going to be adding somebody to the room. He knew that didn't change anything about his mindset and focus on improving and attacking this offseason the right way, and I'm really proud of him for that and excited to get to get back on the grass and in the meeting room with him when that time comes."

With regard to Vaughn, he joined as an undrafted rookie last season and developed on the practice squad. While practices in season are closed (so it's been August since watching him play CB), it is always worthwhile to keep an eye on which young players get elevated at the end of a season. Such a case happened for Vaughn in the 2025 finale, but he only fielded eight special teams snaps.

I look forward to seeing where he's at once the offseason program fires up.

This has been one of those weeks where you read about a tsunami of free agency activity happening around the NFL landscape — except in Minnesota, where the moves made by Vikings brass were more akin to skipping rocks across a pond.

Our promising WR3, Jalen Nailor, has cashed in in Sin City. And signature players signed this past year to bolster both our O-line and D-line have (wisely) retired (Ryan Kelly) or been released and snatched up by competitors. Still, some key players have been retained via tender and/or restructured contracts, at least for the 2026 season. And a pathway has been laid that still leaves fans wondering if Hitman Harry (Harrison Smith) will or won't give it one more go.

Without a doubt, however, the decision that has given me the most concern is the fresh news that the Vikings have come to terms with Kyler Murray. And, sure, they're getting him at the veteran minimum, which is manageable even with our salary cap hell, but what about 2027 and beyond? Because what's to say that next year we won't be in the same salary vice, when Kyler will assume that some team will shower him with a truckload of Benjamins?

In that regard, was Kyler and his mercenary services the right move? If indeed the Vikings are serious about McCarthy's development, and not giving up on him, then is Kyler the right choice to act as a mentor?

Because I'm seeing shades of Anthony Richardson in Indy, where they drafted him high (too high?), in spite of his limited college experience (like McCarthy). And after two years they brought in Daniel Jones to spur competition, then handed him an extension with guarantees attached, even though he's likely not even recovered from his [Achilles injury] by summer. So what does that say about Richardson's future?

The comparison is apt. Because if he stays healthy and produces at the level during his Pro Bowl years, Kyler isn't going to be warming the bench. And despite all the hiccups, the Vikings invested a high draft pick on McCarthy, and I'd hate to see him wind up like Christian Ponder did.

Then again, this is the Vikings we're talking about here, and I shouldn't read too much into it. That "Minnesota Nice Gene" will continue the pattern wherein the Vikings would feel it impolite to crush all the competition and actually win the Super Bowl.

Sincerely,

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

The Vikings correctly forecasted that Nailor would garner a lucrative contract in his first exposure to free agency. The 2022 sixth-round pick developed well and is heading back to Las Vegas where he played high school ball and also made his preseason debut. Pretty cool story for him all the way around, and I wish him nothing but the best.

I mentioned Kelly last week as being in the category of players you wish you could have had more time covering.

One reported nugget of Murray's contract with Minnesota is it includes a no-tag clause for 2027, so he will be eligible for free agency. If he starts and plays well, he could receive many lucrative offers, but there's too much of 2026 remaining to worry about 2027.

Based on the media session with O'Connell and Brzezinski, I think this might be a better combination of QBs than maybe some believe. The primary reason for that is this quote from O'Connell and his thoughts on how Murray has combined pocket passing and play-making that utilizes his elusive athleticism.

"When you actually dive in and really study, snap in and snap out, Kyler's experience at the position, you do see a lot of really great qualities that fit into some of the things that we ask our quarterbacks to do," O'Connell said. "I think Kyler is an accurate player. I think he's really learned to play with very solid fundamentals in the pass game. I think his ability and experience playing from an NFL pocket has proven to be something that he can make all the throws and all of those things.

"But I think the big thing for all of us here is continuing to try to find a way in each year to do the things that players do well, not just the quarterback, but the types of routes we ask the receivers to run, the types of things we're doing in the run game with the backs and the o-line and tight ends and that will always remain to be true, but honestly, something that I'm looking to continue to improve that myself and with my coaching staff, of including some of the new additions that were all brought here for a reason, on the coaching staff," he continued. "I feel really good about where we are at as a staff and in our preparations for our players to come back into the building for the offseason program. …

"With Kyler, the ability to make a lot of throws in the pocket is absolutely paired with the ability to be a real weapon with his athleticism," O'Connell added. "His quickness, his ability to not only attack the line of scrimmage as a runner, but maintaining the ability to create some throwing opportunities off schedule and hopefully be a challenge for the way we're defended with how people do play Justin [Jefferson] and allocating extra resources that way, and with Jordan Addison and T.J. and obviously, Jordan [Mason] and Aaron [Jones, Sr.] and all the other guys we're going to have in that huddle, as well as a healthy offensive line I'm very, very excited about the possibilities of what we're going to be able to do in 2026 but a lot of work to be done."

I hope the Vikings don't make the mistake of undervaluing Jonathan Greenard. Flores demanded more of him than the Raiders coaches demanded of Maxx Crosby. Greenard excelled against the run, as well as the pass, and he remains one of the best edge rushers in the league. If Crosby is worth two number one picks [in the deal that was ultimately undone by Baltimore], Greenard is certainly worth one number one pick plus at least a high second. I understand he wants more money and the Vikings may not have the cap space to do that. That doesn't mean they have to be suckers.

— Gary L.

I feel confident in saying there is a high level of respect and appreciation for Greenard throughout TCO Performance Center. He didn't close on nearly as many sacks in 2025 as he did in his 2024 Pro Bowl campaign, but he was a unique pressure-generating machine that also did dirty and effective work against the run.

His name has been mentioned in reports, which means other teams believe in his ability to affect games, but it sounds like Minnesota is disinterested in hasty decisions.

Hooray!!!! Keeping Jalen Redmond around longer makes me soooooooo happy! It also looks like they picked ex-Steelers CB James Pierre while he's trending up — gives me some added joy concerning the secondary.

Super shoutout to the quality of linebackers we have! Incredible scouting and coaching there. Reminds me of LB crews of days gone by like the trio of Wally Hilgenberg, Lonnie Warwick and Roy Winston followed by the trio of Matt Blair, Jeff Siemon and Fred McNeill. Those were some serious bat cats. Excuse me. Getting a little misty. TRIVIA: Lonnie Warwick coached the Charleston (WV) Rockets in the early '80s and won two titles. The next season saw the American Football Association fold partly because no one wanted to play the Rockets anymore. Cowards! The AFA commissioner? Billy Kilmer.

— Jason G.

Retaining Redmond, which was somewhat of a formality since he was an exclusive rights free agent, is a huge boost to the interior defensive line, and it also keeps open a longer-term deal with the undrafted diamond. Pierre delivered high marks for the Steelers last season, and Minnesota believes his trajectory is still ascending.

"James Pierre is a guy that both our personnel and our coaching staff identified as a guy that could really help our team, a guy that we competed against and played against last year in Ireland against the Steelers," O'Connell said. "Obviously G.A. (Gerald Alexander) having the relationship that he did, having coached him, we feel really good about the player that we're bringing in, a guy that loves football."

I had the benefit of meeting Warwick, Winston and Blair before they passed away and have enjoyed the opportunity of speaking with Siemon at multiple Legends events. From everything I've read, Hilgenberg and McNeill were special, as well. Those sets of linebackers exemplified great togetherness and each did their part to enrich Vikings history.

What the Vikings SHOULD target…

1. Interior defensive line (DT)

The Vikings need a true run-stopping DT who can collapse the pocket. Their defense improves instantly if they get a disruptive interior guy.

2. Center

This has been a weak spot for years. A strong center stabilizes the whole offensive line and helps the run game.

3. Cornerback depth

They've invested in young corners but still need a veteran who can lock down one side.

4. Edge depth

They still need rotational pass rush so the defense doesn't rely on blitzing all the time.

My ideal Vikings offseason plan

1. Sign a defensive tackle in free agency

2. Add a center (either FA or early draft)

3. Draft best available CB

4. Add a veteran CB

That combo fixes the trenches first, which good teams always prioritize.

— Toby Smart

Toby had sent this email on March 8 before free agency opened, so the Pierre addition takes care of a veteran cornerback addition, but he still has some items on his offseason to-do list.

In addition to Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had some nice reps on the interior of the defensive line, but Minnesota may still look to add a run stuffer in free agency or the draft.

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