The Minnesota Vikings have spent most of the offseason keeping things pretty quiet, with the exception of bringing in quarterback Kyler Murray, who enters as the heavy favorite to beat out incumbent youngster JJ McCarthy for the starting job.
But the most notable shift may not be at quarterback at all. It’s up front, where Minnesota is set to return five starters on the offensive line while also working through a new scheme. Christian Darrisaw is expected back and fully healthy after the knee injury he suffered two seasons ago, and Donovan Jackson should be even better than he was as a rookie.
The right side looks especially solid. Will Fries is entering his second year with the Vikings at right guard, and Brian O’Neill remains a major piece at right tackle. The one real question mark is Blake Brandel, who will need to elevate his play at center.
One of the best at studying offensive lineman.
Here's where @BrandonThornNFL had the Vikings OL:
LT Christian Darrisaw (12th of 40)
LG Donavan Jackson (24th of 34)
C Blake Brandel (33rd of 35)
RG Will Fries (16th of 34)
RT Brian O'Neill (8th of 32) https://t.co/oYd8qFhuaP pic.twitter.com/x09CkizHUc
- The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 7, 2026
O’Neill’s future was a key offseason decision. He was heading into the final year of his deal, and rather than let him drift toward free agency in 2027, Minnesota locked up the 30-year-old former second-round pick with a four-year extension worth $96 million, including $65 million guaranteed.
That move has already drawn national praise. Offensive linemen usually don’t grab the headlines, especially in a week when running backs and wide receivers were landing massive contracts - Bijon Robinson at 3YR/$67M, Jahmyr Gibbs at 3YR/$68M, and Zay Flowers at 4YR/$140M - but plenty of sharp evaluators noticed what the Vikings did.
ESPN’s Seth Walder ranked O’Neill’s extension as the best offseason extension in the NFL. His reasoning was straightforward: at age 30, with tackle play often holding up well into the 30s, Minnesota got ahead of the market at a position that remains relatively affordable for quality players. At $24 million per year, the deal gives the Vikings strong value for a player who would be difficult to replace.
The structure matters too. Per OverTheCap.com, the contract is salary-heavy, with a smaller fully guaranteed $11.2 million salary in 2027 and no fully guaranteed salary after that.
Spotrac.com reported that only $43.4 million was fully guaranteed at signing. That gives Minnesota control with limited long-term risk, and it leaves the door open to revisit another deal within the next two years, when O’Neill would still be 32.
There’s also a new face helping shape what the line looks like in 2026. Chris Kuper is out as offensive line coach, and Keith Carter has been promoted from assistant offensive line coach. He and new assistant head coach Frank Smith, who spent the last four seasons helping make the Miami Dolphins one of the league’s best wide-zone rushing teams, are now leading Minnesota’s new wide-zone approach.
So when the Vikings hit the field in the preseason and then into the early part of the regular season, the offensive line should be asked to attack defenses in a way fans haven’t really seen since Dalvin Cook was in the backfield. From the sounds of it, the linemen are already embracing the change.
In Other News...
Charles Demmings Is Giving Vikings Fans Real Reason For Optimism
Charles Demmings has been one of the more encouraging developments at Vikings training camp, where the rookie cornerback has made a strong early impression with his athleticism and nonstop energy. Coaches and teammates have taken notice of the way he carries himself, pointing to the confidence, work ethic and easy presence he has brought to the field and the locker room.
On the practice field, Demmings has backed that up with timely pass breakups and the kind of competitive flash that can quickly get a young defensive back on the radar. For a Minnesota secondary always looking for usable depth and upside, his emergence offers a real reason for optimism, even if the bigger question is how far that momentum can carry once the sessions get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Left Tackle Situation Could Matter To The Vikings Early
With the Bears still sorting through their offensive line picture, the left tackle spot is one of the early NFC North situations worth watching from Minnesotas side. Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said the club is open to adding help on the defensive line but generally feels comfortable with its roster, while the team also dealt with Kyler Gordon missing practice because of a calf injury. In the middle of all that, the Bears are evaluating their options at left tackle, a spot that can shape how steady the offense looks before the season settles in.
Braxton Jones has been getting first-team reps as Chicago works through the position, which gives the Vikings another wrinkle to track in a division matchup that could turn on protection and pressure. For Minnesota, any uncertainty up front in Chicago matters early because it can affect how the Bears handle pass rushers and how quickly that offense can find rhythm. The bigger question is whether the Bears can stabilize the edge before it becomes a problem, and the answer may not come immediately. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Flores Ranking Sparks A Vikings Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Brian Flores has spent three seasons turning the Vikings defense into one of the more respected units in the league, with Minnesota finishing in top-10 territory in multiple categories under his watch. So when CBS Sports asked 12 NFL analysts to rank the games best defensive play callers, Flores landing fifth immediately stirred the kind of debate that usually follows a coach who has built a clear identity and delivered steady results.
The list put him behind Mike MacDonald, Steve Spagnuolo, Jesse Minter and Vic Fangio, and the most eyebrow-raising part for Vikings fans was Minter jumping ahead of Flores. It is the sort of ranking that invites a real conversation about how much weight should go to recent buzz versus sustained production, especially when Flores has already shown he can reshape a defense and keep it near the top of the league. [Read more 🡒]