***2026 Minnesota Vikings***

[Cyinthenorth]

Darnold since his hot start:View attachment 165322
JJ after coming back:View attachment 165324

Seattle has the #1 ranked defense in the league (DVOA), was pretty healthy, and have two very good RB's.

Minnesota had the #18 ranked defense (DVOA), horrible health on the offensive line, and still JJ had better stats his last 4 starts than Darnold's last 4

I think Darnold is the same guy from last season, the guy that is going to melt a little bit when the lights become the brightest. He may just have a good enough team to overcome that this year. Seattle is stronger defensively and better in other areas (OL, RB) than the Vikings were last year

 

[drmwevr08]

Darnold since his hot start:View attachment 165322
JJ after coming back:View attachment 165324

Seattle has the #1 ranked defense in the league (DVOA), was pretty healthy, and have two very good RB's.

Minnesota had the #18 ranked defense (DVOA), horrible health on the offensive line, and still JJ had better stats his last 4 starts than Darnold's last 4

To that point, the D has gotten much better throughout the year and absolutely carried JJM lately.

 

[cytor]

Think about this: Your 2 QB's are JJM and Max Brosmer. There is no way any Vikings fan can be good with that.

 

[Marcelason78]

I see in the ESPN article that Seifert has C as the biggest draft need. I doubt that he thinks they’ll go that route in the first round, as course the Vikes will take a CB. Probably the kid from LSU.

 

[somecyguy]

Kelly was definitely a miss, but I think I'd still rather go the free agent route for a center than draft one. A rookie center with a super inconsistent QB would be a disaster. A DB should be the first pick though.

 

[CySmurf]

The Vikes are the last non-playoff team to pick in next year's draft...we can't even lose correctly.

 

[cyclones122]

The Vikes are the last non-playoff team to pick in next year's draft...we can't even lose correctly.

Yep, the last month of the season was worst case scenario in my mind. Win 5 straight meaningless games to take yourself out of the top of the draft (in every round, not just round 1); JJ looks "better" against 3 of the worst 4 defenses in the league and then all backups against GB so we have no real idea if he can be the QB of the future (and that doesn't even take into account his injury problems); and finish 3rd in division instead of 4th by winning meaningless games so now get to play 49ers, Commanders, and Colts instead of Cardinals, Giants, and Titans. That is a pretty significant difference.

 

[Marcelason78]

Yep, the last month of the season was worst case scenario in my mind. Win 5 straight meaningless games to take yourself out of the top of the draft (in every round, not just round 1); JJ looks "better" against 3 of the worst 4 defenses in the league and then all backups against GB so we have no real idea if he can be the QB of the future (and that doesn't even take into account his injury problems); and finish 3rd in division instead of 4th by winning meaningless games so now get to play 49ers, Commanders, and Colts instead of Cardinals, Giants, and Titans. That is a pretty significant difference.

And with all of his injury issues, JJ decides he wants to lay wood on a defensive player. And then gets penalized for taunting. I just don’t think he has the mental makeup to be their long term answer.

 

[clonehenge]

If the Vikes lose Flores to a team for a head coaching job that's understandable...if they lose him to another team as DC there will be effing riots...which I will be leading.

 

[BuffettClone]

And with all of his injury issues, JJ decides he wants to lay wood on a defensive player. And then gets penalized for taunting. I just don’t think he has the mental makeup to be their long term answer.

I think he wears too much makeup…

 

[twincyties]

And with all of his injury issues, JJ decides he wants to lay wood on a defensive player. And then gets penalized for taunting. I just don’t think he has the mental makeup to be their long term answer.

Gotta give him a pass. That wasn’t JJ that did that. It was Nine.

 

[cytor]

It doesn't matter where in the draft the Vikings are picking. Kwesi will screw it up anyway. He flat out cannot draft effectively. He's proven it.

 

[cyclones122]

It doesn't matter where in the draft the Vikings are picking. Kwesi will screw it up anyway. He flat out cannot draft effectively. He's proven it.

That actually could be added to my post above about worst case scenario the last month. By finishing 9-8 instead of 4-13, no chance the Wilf's fire Kwesi. So he gets to screw up another draft and set us even further back in the future.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

That actually could be added to my post above about worst case scenario the last month. By finishing 9-8 instead of 4-13, no chance the Wilf's fire Kwesi. So he gets to screw up another draft and set us even further back in the future.

Yea, but he doesn't just draft these players on his own. The coaches give their input on what players they consider the best prospects. It's not like Kwesi sits in his office and just pulls names out of a hat to build his draft board. (even though it might seem that way)

 

[twincyties]

Yea, but he doesn't just draft these players on his own. The coaches give their input on what players they consider the best prospects. It's not like Kwesi sits in his office and just pulls names out of a hat to build his draft board. (even though it might seem that way)

Agree. I have a strong suspicion KOC was a driving force behind the decision to draft JJM and then to turn the keys over to him this year without a viable Plan B

 

[cytor]

Draft HQ in Minnesota

 

[cyclones122]

Agree. I have a strong suspicion KOC was a driving force behind the decision to draft JJM and then to turn the keys over to him this year without a viable Plan B

From what has been said on KFAN (Power Trip specifically), Drake Maye was who KOC wanted. The Vikes had a tentative deal in place with the Pats for the pick. The Pats came back and asked for an additional 4th round comp pick. Kwesi said no.

I think after that they panicked, got FOMO, and drafted JJM.

It also sounds like they really thought they were going to get Daniel Jones back and that they were going to have him compete with JJM (with McCarthy the front runner) but Jones decided to go to Indy for a better chance to start. That threw their entire plan in to chaos - and they ended up with the mess they had.

 

[RedlineSi]

Yeah I think at this point it was clear the KOC wanted Maye. I was worried back then when the news leaked they tried hard to trade up, then just ended up with JJ.

 

[cytor]

From what has been said on KFAN (Power Trip specifically), Drake Maye was who KOC wanted. The Vikes had a tentative deal in place with the Pats for the pick. The Pats came back and asked for an additional 4th round comp pick. Kwesi said no.

I think after that they panicked, got FOMO, and drafted JJM.

It also sounds like they really thought they were going to get Daniel Jones back and that they were going to have him compete with JJM (with McCarthy the front runner) but Jones decided to go to Indy for a better chance to start. That threw their entire plan in to chaos - and they ended up with the mess they had.

Good job, Kwesi.

 

[cyclone83]

Every January for a Vikings fan- Scenario 1- Had a pretty good year, made the playoffs. However there are probably 10 teams that are better than us. Scenario 2- Not a great year, missed the playoffs, but there are probably 10 teams we are better than. Every year draft from low teens to low 20s.