At this time last year, the Minnesota Vikings were riding high. Fresh off a 14-3 campaign and on the cusp of securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the franchise looked like it had finally found its groove. With Sam Darnold commanding the offense, Brian Flores orchestrating a revitalized defense, and the electric duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison lighting up secondaries, the Vikings had the pieces in place to make a serious run.
Fast forward a year, and the picture looks very different.
The decision to let Darnold walk-one that raised eyebrows at the time-has come back to haunt the Vikings in a big way. Darnold, now leading the Seattle Seahawks, has them headed to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, Minnesota rolled the dice on J.J. McCarthy, a talented but unproven quarterback whose rookie season was marred by injuries and inconsistency.
That gamble didn’t just derail the Vikings’ playoff hopes-it cost general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah his job. In a candid moment, Adofo-Mensah admitted he was torn about the decision, and that uncertainty may have sealed his fate.
McCarthy’s struggles were just part of the story. After a 26-0 loss to Darnold’s Seahawks dropped the Vikings to 4-8 and the basement of the NFC North, the season looked lost.
To their credit, Minnesota rallied to win their final five games, finishing 9-8 and leapfrogging the Detroit Lions for third in the division. But that late surge came too little, too late-and it may have actually made the road tougher moving forward.
A last-place finish would’ve meant a more favorable 2026 schedule. Now, the climb back to relevance gets steeper.
And with that kind of disappointment comes change. The Darnold decision proved that even key contributors aren’t immune to the business side of the NFL. As Minnesota looks to reset, here are three notable veterans who may not be back in purple and gold next season.
Aaron Jones: A Productive Past, an Uncertain Future
Aaron Jones has been a workhorse since arriving in Minnesota in 2024, bringing his trademark burst and pass-catching versatility to a Vikings offense that needed a spark. The former fifth-round pick out of UTEP built a reputation as one of the league’s more underrated backs during his time with the Packers, and his 1,138-yard campaign in 2024 showed he still had plenty left in the tank.
But 2025 told a different story. Jones appeared in just 12 games, managing 548 rushing yards and only two touchdowns.
More often than not, it was backup Jordan Mason who provided the more consistent production. Add in a hefty $14.8 million cap hit and the fact that Jones is now 31 with nine NFL seasons under his belt, and the writing may be on the wall.
Running backs approaching the decade mark in the league are rarely long-term answers. While Jones has been a consummate pro and a valuable asset, Minnesota may opt to go younger-and cheaper-at the position.
Jonathan Allen: Big Contract, Modest Results
When the Vikings inked Jonathan Allen to a three-year, $51 million deal last offseason, the expectation was clear: anchor the middle of the defensive line and bring a disruptive presence up front. Allen had earned that kind of investment with the Commanders, where he racked up Pro Bowl nods and posted as many as nine sacks in a season.
But in Minnesota, that impact never quite materialized. Allen finished with 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a lone fumble recovery-solid numbers, but far from game-changing. The Vikings need more than just a steady presence in the trenches; they need someone who can tilt the line of scrimmage, collapse pockets, and force offenses to adjust.
At this point, Allen doesn’t look like that guy. With a high price tag and modest production, the Vikings may decide to cut ties and search for a younger, more explosive interior lineman who can bring some bite to the defensive front.
Ryan Kelly: Veteran Center Nearing the End
The Vikings have been trying to stabilize the center position for years, and bringing in Ryan Kelly last offseason was supposed to be the solution. A former Pro Bowler with the Colts, Kelly had the pedigree and experience to solidify the middle of the offensive line.
But injuries have continued to follow him. After missing time in each of his final two seasons in Indianapolis, Kelly was limited to just eight games in 2025.
Now 10 years into his NFL career, the wear and tear is catching up. While Garrett Bradbury, his predecessor in Minnesota, found a second wind in New England, Kelly’s time in purple hasn’t offered the same resurgence.
Given his durability concerns and age, it’s hard to envision the Vikings bringing him back. The team needs reliability and youth on the interior line-two things Kelly can no longer guarantee.
The Vikings are entering a pivotal offseason. After a year of missed opportunities and tough decisions, the franchise is staring down a crossroads. The moves they make in the coming months-particularly with veterans like Jones, Allen, and Kelly-will tell us a lot about how they plan to rebuild and retool.
One thing’s for sure: after the way 2025 played out, no one’s spot is safe.