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Welcome back to the Mailbag (after a one-week hiatus) and to the start of June.

The first week of Minnesota's voluntary Organized Team Activity practices is in the books, and the Vikings are ideally building momentum toward next week's scheduled mandatory minicamp.

Players are bulking up in the weight room and bonding, whether in the huddle, position meeting rooms or during meals.

The organization hit another milestone in its evaluation of candidates for the open GM position.

This past week offered the opportunity for players to gather off the field and connect with former Vikings Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham during the UNRL Celebrity Softball Game at CHS Field. It was a gorgeous night with some big hits, including two homers — a rally-starter and a walk-off — by Thielen.

Proceeds will support the Adam Thielen Foundation and the Ham Family Scholarship Fund.

Andrew Van Ginkel won the home run derby, finishing with a no-doubter as if he harnessed the power of Thor's Hammer at the plate.

We'll have a more complete recap of the game soon, so let's get to some questions.

The QB competition is going to make this team better either way. J. J. McCarthy vs. Kyler Murray feels like a real battle, not fake camp hype. Murray gives you proven explosiveness and experience, while McCarthy brings upside, mobility and that gamer mentality. Reports around the team are calling it basically a 50/50 competition right now.

On defense, I agree completely: another EDGE and one more reliable corner would make this roster dangerous.

For EDGE, these are the guys I'd target:

• Jadeveon Clowney — Still strong against the run and can wreck games in Brian Flores' scheme. He'd rotate perfectly with Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner.
• Derek Barnett — Underrated motor guy. Tough, nasty and fits the culture.
• Matthew Judon — Veteran leader with juice left. Flores could move him everywhere.
• Joey Bosa would've been fun, but most signs point elsewhere already.

Honestly, with how aggressive Flores is, adding one proven veteran pass rusher could turn this defense into a nightmare again. The pressure rate already ranked near the top of the league.

At corner, I'd look at:

• Rasul Douglas — Physical veteran who fits cold-weather football.
• Mike Hilton — Slot blitz weapon; Flores would love him.
• Stephon Gilmore would've been nice depth again, but he retired.

I actually like what they already have with:

• Byron Murphy, Jr.
• Dwight McGlothern
• James Pierre
• Rookie Charles Demmings as a developmental piece

But one more dependable outside CB would help a ton against Detroit and Green Bay.

If Dallas Turner takes the leap everybody expects, and McCarthy wins the job cleanly? This team could absolutely contend in the NFC. SKOL.

— Toby Smart

We are just one week into the offseason practices. Murray and McCarthy made some nice plays during the session that was open to media members last Wednesday. Lindsey Young recapped their thoughts on the program so far, and Rob Kleifield expounded on their early work.

The Vikings will continue merging Murray into the system and developing McCarthy during OTAs to prepare for training camp, but yes, a significant point of emphasis is elevating QB play and all aspects of the offense that are connected to the sport's most important position.

I think the competitive nature of Murray and McCarthy will benefit both players.

On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Vikings have Van Ginkel and Turner back after viewing both as starter-level players (along with the recently traded Jonathan Greenard) in 2025.

Behind those guys, the Vikings have a few players with limited experience in NFL games but with some quality time spent in this system (Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss and Tyler Batty are back), as well as a couple of newcomers.

Toby's list of names serves a reminder that free agency keeps on rolling along as teams head toward training camp, but I would like to add Isaiah Rodgers to his list of Vikings who are under contract. Rodgers, Murphy and Pierre could lead the way for the group of CBs.

So I actually have two questions: One is about the Vikings (SKOL) and a general football question that no one has answered for me. First, what do you think will be the fallout if they trade young J.J. McCarthy and wherever he lands, he becomes another Sam Darnold? Second, during a game, if the QB is about to get sacked and is in the pocket with no receivers near the ball, he gets flagged for grounding, so when they want to stop the clock, they hike him the ball, and he spikes it, no receiver is near him. He is still in the pocket and obviously the opponent is coming. Why isn't that considered grounding???

Thank you for your time. SKOL,

— Steven Bigger

I think buyer's remorse is used a little more commonly than seller's remorse, but the concept could also include trader's remorse if a team opted to part ways with a player before full potential is realized and then watched being reached elsewhere. Darnold's departure during 2025 free agency after a great lone season with the Vikings included remorse that has been lamented in this space by fans and elsewhere, especially with the Vikings having an injury-related QB carousel, as well as experiencing some growing pains that should be expected.

Darnold's own growing pains were painstakingly chronicled in the massive New York market during his early years with the Jets. The Vikings were able to benefit from how he responded to some earlier struggles while developing his game.

As for the second question, I have previously wondered that myself.

The NFL's Football Operations Manual distinguishes the difference between intentional grounding and the play commonly used to stop the clock. The differentiation was established in the early 1990s, and the implementation has been a contributor to helping close finishes.

To execute the stopping of the clock, the quarterback must be under center at the time of the snap and, after receiving the snap, must immediately begin a continuous throwing motion that directs the ball into the ground.

College has a rule that three seconds must exist on the clock to initiate a spike play, but that rule does not exist in the NFL.

I would like to give a shout out and some praise to the Vikings media department. Once again, they were outstanding with the schedule reveal.

It's become a big deal over the past five years, and some teams are quite lame. But the Vikings always have one of the best and most entertaining schedule release videos.

From the culinary creativity to "Will the Thrill," while also getting a real G.O.A.T. in Chris Jericho (diehard Vikings fan) to take part, this year's schedule release was fantastic again.

Thank you to the team's media department for staying at the top of their game yet again!

— Roman B., Loving the "menu" in Grand Forks, North Dakota

On behalf of skillful coworkers who "crafted the menu" and presented it with a punchy script, appearance by Will Reichard and co-star role by Jericho and some elevated cinematography and editing, thank you. Kudos to co-workers who appeared as diners in the restaurant.

It's amazing to me what schedule release videos have grown into over the years, along with the complexity and creativity displayed by multiple teams and generally a fun time. I enjoy consuming some other teams' content after wrapping up our business.

Max Bredeson reminds me a lot of Jim Kleinsasser. Kleinsasser did what he could to help us win. Bredeson is cut from the same cloth. He is the guy that will do whatever he can to help us win. His stats are victories. He was on the field over 90 percent of the time when Blake Corum scored TDs at Michigan. They called Kleinsasser the dude on GMFB.

Why do we play Thursday night games on the road? Three years in a row. Visiting teams on Thursday have a dismal record. The only good thing is that I live in the L.A. area and was able to attend.

— Gerald Goblirsch

The Vikings highly rated Bredeson for multiple reasons and opted to take him with their first of two fifth-round selections, believing a couple other teams were about to do so.

The game film of Bredeson, as well as what others have said about his documented leadership, are nice additions as the organization prepares for its first fall without C.J. Ham in a decade. Bredeson's likely to contribute as a versatile fullback who is capable of moving around the formation, as well as across special teams.

At one point during the charity softball game, Bredeson was standing next to Ham, a sign of the torch being passed.

As for spending a Thursday night as a road team again (Dec. 10 at New England), O'Connell might be in position to lobby the league to try to even things out. This is O'Connell's fifth season and third time in which the Vikings are on the road but don't have a home Thursday game to help offset the discrepancy.

Minnesota is 5-6 in games played on Thursdays (includes three on Thanksgiving and one on Christmas) since 2016. The Vikings are 4-1 in that stretch at home, with the only loss occurring in 2016 against the Cowboys (former Head Coach Mike Zimmer missed the contest due to an emergency eye procedure). Dallas was equally rested for that game having hosted Thanksgiving the previous week. Minnesota is 1-5 as the road team in Thursday games in the past 10 seasons with the lone victory on Thanksgiving at Detroit in 2017.

Across the league, road teams are 76-103 on Thursdays since 2016, and only 10 clubs have .500 winning percentages or better in such contests.

Perhaps the best consolation for this year's TNF appearance is that it is placed further away from Minnesota's Week 6 bye than the past two years of visiting the West Coast in Week 8.

Hated to hear about Joe Senser's passing. He was a great TE. There's been quite a few Vikings pass in recent months. So sad to see several players that brought so many wonderful memories because of their talent and dedication to the Purple. He was one of the great Vikings to wear 81. WR Anthony Carter was another, but the best to wear 81 was Carl Eller.

Glad to see Minnesota's attention to the offensive and defensive trenches in the draft plus what could be a couple gems in the UDFA market.

The dual between Kyler and J.J. should be quite interesting, especially considering their playing styles are quite different. Do you think the diversity between the two will be awkward for the o-line and if there will be a change of QBs from week to week?

Later. Skol bro!

— Jason Gibeaut

The No. 81 jersey has quite a legacy in the Vikings organization with Eller, Anthony Carter and Senser among those who have previously worn it for Minnesota. There have been numerous somber instances of former Vikings passing away this spring.

The additions up front on offense and defense might not get as much attention, but that part of the field is critical to outcomes of games and remained a point of emphasis this offseason, particularly as the defensive front is being rebuilt on the fly.

I definitely don't want to speak on behalf of O'Connell and what he envisions for the quarterback situation but with rhythm and timing being quite important in his offense, I'd imagine there is an appreciation for continuity. When the Vikings have been able to have the same starter for a full season, they've won 13 and 14 games. When injuries have cycled through the QB position, it has been another story.

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See more about the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota.