In the wake of a 2025 season that fell short of expectations, the Minnesota Vikings have clearly pointed the finger of blame at former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Otherwise, pending the possible hiring of a new GM from outside the organization, it's going to be status quo on many of the most prominent fronts.
Despite what can most kindly be called subpar quarterback play, the Vikings finished 9-8 last season. With even average play under center, they might've won the NFC North.
Minnesota obviously wasn't easily equipped to fix that issue this offseason. But the circumstantial stars aligned. And Kyler Murray was able to be signed cheaply while the Arizona Cardinals foot the brunt of paying him in 2026.
While optimism among Vikings fans about Murray is easy right now, things could go badly and leave the team all the way back at square one under center. The idea that J.J. McCarthy will be able to assert himself if he gets an opportunity is a wish that's hard to root in any kind of likelihood.
Description of nightmare scenario for Minnesota Vikings in 2026 lands as very familiar
Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon recently used one sentence to describe each team's nightmare scenario for the 2026 season. For Minnesota, it's a very familiar potential outcome.
"A new environment doesn't fix Kyler Murray, and J.J. McCarthy solidifies his bust status, but the defense is strong enough to prevent Minnesota from landing a franchise-altering first-round pick."Â
While the 2026 draft wasn't necessarily an ideal draft to have a high pick, the Vikings crushed that idea with a five-game winning streak to finish last season after a 4-8 start. If they had lost a few more games, they could've ended up with a more ideal player in the first round.
Back in 2011, when Andrew Luck was such a top prospect, there was a catchphrase for the "pursuit" of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft ("Suck For Luck"). Minnesota won an ill-timed Week 16 game against Washington (who earned the No. 2 overall pick) to net the third overall pick the following April.
More generally, outside of very occasionally popping up with a conference title game appearance, the Vikings are never good enough to win a Super Bowl and never bad enough to bottom out and get a top player in the following draft. It's often a frustrating middle ground, and they seem content to operate in it.
It would be a nightmare for Minnesota if Murray and McCarthy both fail this season. If Brian Flores' defense carries things to, say, a 7-10 record, it wouldn't make it any better.
That scenario would also be nothing new for Vikings fans, to the point it'd practically be expected if the quarterback situation went badly.
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