Gink' is secured now through, what, the 2026 season? And Byron Murphy, Jr., and Mekhi Blackmon (healthy again, I hope) and Joshua Metellus and Harrison Smith are there, with their veteran presence, to anchor the secondary. But we did lose Camryn Bynum in free agency, and who's going to leave after this upcoming season? [Jonathan] Greenard is signed for three more years, but will "Hitman Harry" hang up his cleats next February? The bottom line is that we need to retain [Defensive Coordinator Brian] Flores and his gang of coaches, and we need for the younger players to develop quickly and fill those future anchor positions.
The quarterbacks room does look a little thin, though, especially from an experience standpoint. If the Vikings were cursed with another season like we had two years ago, we could be in serious trouble. Although, I'm not as concerned as I would be if I were a Browns fan. What a mess. An expensive mess. Deshaun Watson has become the poster child for truly bad quarterback signings, making Johnny Manziel look like a genius move.
But that's not a concern for the Vikings. Our new fortified offensive line just needs to stand firm, to bend instead of breaking. To help J.J. perform week in, week out, like he did in his lone preseason game last year. Because I don't think 14 wins was a fluke — well beyond expectations. And this year I would not be surprised if they match or exceed that. They just need to keep their foot on their opponents' necks for the full 17 games and throughout the playoffs. If this is Hitman's last season, give him and the long-deserving fans a Lombardi to hoist in February.
And on a final, sentimental note, I read that this year may be the final season for Adam Thielen. And even though he's suited up for a rival the past two years, he's a true homegrown superstar who deserves to officially retire as a Viking next year. So if he does hang up his cleats after this season, Minnesota should sign him to one of those honorary one-day contracts and let him retire in style during the first home game of the 2026 season.
Sincerely,
— David A. (from the North Shore but stuck in the South)
Flores has been a force multiplier of sorts. He can draw on his early NFL days of working in the Patriots personnel department, as well as lessons gathered since joining the sideline ranks. His perception and focus to help maximize each player should not be undersold.
A bevy of activity in the past two free agencies has enabled Minnesota to add several veterans Minnesota believes will be important in continuing where last season left off, even with a schedule that is tied for "fifth-toughest" based on 2025 opponents' win percentage.
It's definitely not my place to speak for Thielen, and I generally avoid commenting on players who are under contract with other teams, but since we are on the heels of Vikings rookie minicamp weekend, how about a shoutout to one of the most successful tryout stories in NFL history. Thielen is heading toward his 12th accrued NFL season with 685 catches, 8,311 yards and 64 receiving touchdowns.
Hopefully everyone has had a chance to view this video feature on Joe Webb. If you haven't, there's a clip of Webb and Thielen from their Vikings days together, so be on the lookout for that if watching for the first time or enjoying an encore.