To state the painfully obvious, 2025 hasn’t been the kind of season the Minnesota Vikings and their fans expected.
The Vikings enter Week 12 at the bottom of the NFC North standings at 4-6. They are multiple games outside of the playoff picture with seven to play, and consecutive road tests against Green Bay and Seattle will certainly be no picnic. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s admission to “rewiring neurological pathways” in terms of his throwing mechanics is only adding to fans’ bleak outlook.
Minnesota is in the unique position of both being in a clear Super Bowl window, based on overall roster talent and player salary commitments, while also fielding a young quarterback who’s going to need time to develop.
It shouldn't be all doom and gloom, though. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings desperately needed a win in this year’s draft, and what felt like a hit early is trending towards a home run with each passing week.
The future looks bright for Minnesota Vikings rookie Donovan Jackson
The Vikings’ front office took a slight gamble during April’s draft. Holding only four total selections entering Day 1, most analysts felt the right approach would be to trade back, acquire some needed capital, and target either a defensive back or defensive tackle for Brian Flores’ defense.
Adofo-Mensah’s decision to hold firm at pick No. 24 overall and select guard Donovan Jackson is proving to be a major win for a franchise in dire need of infusing its roster with young talent (and rookie-scale contracts).
Jackson was arguably the Vikings’ best player in Sunday’s brutal loss at home to the Chicago Bears. Per Pro Football Focus, he posted a clean sheet over 18 true pass-blocking reps and was solid in the run game.
Thought, after watching the film, that Vikings rookie G Donovan Jackson had his best game as a pro against the Bears. Elite. Moving guys in the run. Anchoring one-on-one. Picking up stunts.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) November 18, 2025
Jackson has been locking down Minnesota’s left guard spot for a few weeks now, proving he’s fully back from the wrist injury that forced him to miss two games earlier in the season. His rapid development is a great sign for the Vikings, who currently have one of the NFL’s older starting lineups and needed to land at least one impact starter in April’s draft; that the rookie is shining alongside a converted, first-time center in Blake Brandel is an added feather in his cap.
The Vikings will obviously only go as far as McCarthy can carry them this year. Come 2026, and beyond, it’s going to be about stacking draft hits and getting younger, while remaining on the short list of NFC contenders.
Minnesota has already collected an influx of draft capital for 2026, and Jackson’s play should have fans feeling hopeful of what’s to come, even if this season continues to unravel.