By most accounts, the Vikings have done a solid job of addressing their weak spots and appear to be in good shape.. That being said, their success will all hinge on McCarthy and if he can stay healthy. I know all other NFL teams are in that same boat, but McCarthy is the key to how they are going to do this year.
***2026 Minnesota Vikings***
- Thread starter Marcelason78
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Howell makes this team still fun to watch if he does go down though too. Howell has a rocket and a bit of a Brett Favre mentality. Going to throw a ton of picks but we will still score.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d say it only counts as a D if the guys those picks actually went to getting suck.
As far as Jackson, I’m content.
Just look at him, compared to the guys they’ve taken in the first two rounds, going back to Bradbury.
Ed Ingram didn’t make sense to me. Bradbury was athletic, but undersized. On and on. So very many dice rolls.
In comparison, Jackson seems even more of a sure thing than Darrisaw was. Maybe not quite as high of a ceiling, but for an OL that’s been in flux for way too long, lock down a guard spot for the next ten years.
Excellent
Just going to have to find a new center in a couple of years, right?
BTW, the parallels between Viking and Cyclone OL woes have been painfully obvious. So it’s nice both are getting fixed at the same time, too.
Howell at least has starting experience. He did throw for almost 4,000 yards for a terrible Washington team in 2023. KOC hopefully can coach the interceptions out of him. And he is WAY cheaper. Better option than Tannehill IMO. Flacco and D Jones were too costly. I think it's a solid move
I don't pay a lot of attention to the 'experts' grades but in the case of the Vikings I think you have to combine last years draft with this years to give a fair grade, being they used picks from this year to move up last year. We don't know for certain about JJ and Turner but I think most Vikings fans feel good about both of them. Like all picks, time will tell.
God forbid, if McCarthy goes down and Howell comes in and becomes an interception machine.... then you can say the Vikings got what they paid for, lol. Of course as a Vikings fan I want them to succeed, but it would just be SO Minnesota if that happened.
Haven’t heard any talking head say Jackson wasn’t good pick. He’ll start day one.
Thor’s point was that they would not have been able to trade back in the first (as many expected) and still get him. Too many OL guys went early increasing Jackson’s value to several teams.
OL guys are super in demand these days.... it seems like every team wants them 1st and foremost.
So true! At least JJ shouldn't be looking over his shoulder with only Howell and Rypien behind him
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Yeah, Jackson isn't a sexy pick. An internal offensive lineman never is. But an unsexy pick can still be a very good one. JJ will have every opportunity to succeed. If he doesn't work out, it won't be because the team didn't give him the support/weapons that he needs.
Could they have traded back and still grabbed him? Potentially. The fact that Houston immediately traded out of their spot after Minnesota selected him might have been an indication that they were looking at him as well. O-line was a need for them.
This feels like a "Don't get cute" selection out of Kwesi. Take a guy who you know can fill a need. No need to take chances.
In Howell's defense, he was considered a probable first round pick going into his last year of college FB. I guess that's not really a defense. It does at least show that the potential was there.
Greenard, Turner, and AVG is a heck of a three headed monster to attack QB's the next two seasons.
These are the luxuries you can afford when you aren't paying for Kirk!
These are the luxuries you can afford when you aren't paying for Kirk!
Throw in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave and we have a pretty stacked D line if they can stay healthy. Then add in Phillips as a run stuffer and Redmond who showed some great flashes of being a disruptor at the end of last year too. Ivan Pace is a maniac pass rusher as well. Love where the roster is at
Lot of rumors it’ll @ Steelers in Dublin week 4 and then @ Cleveland in London week 5
Hate all games played in Europe. Completely unnecessary.
CBS says Monday some games will hit the news. 7 games outside of the USA. Brazil, Ireland, UK, Spain, Mexico, maybe. Anyway to many overseas.
That's why the made the season 17 games. They can put more games in different countries without taking a home game away from the owners.
