The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2025 season with high hopes-and on paper, they had every reason to believe they were built to contend. They’d shored up the offensive line with a couple of key additions, and their defense looked like a unit capable of giving opposing quarterbacks headaches. But for all the moves they made, the one they didn’t get right ended up defining their season: quarterback.
After a strong 2024 campaign with Sam Darnold under center, the Vikings rolled the dice on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The belief was that McCarthy, with his pedigree and potential, was ready to take the reins and lead Minnesota deep into the playoffs. But that bet didn’t pay off.
McCarthy’s season was marred by inconsistency and injuries, and the offense never found its rhythm with him at the helm.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell believed in McCarthy’s makeup and leaned into his own reputation as a quarterback developer. But that confidence might’ve crossed the line into overconfidence. The Vikings also didn’t bring in a veteran quarterback to push McCarthy or step in if things went sideways-and they did, quickly.
Meanwhile, Sam Darnold’s departure to Seattle proved to be more costly than anyone in Minnesota anticipated. Darnold didn’t light up the stat sheet in Super Bowl 60, but he didn’t need to.
He played clean, efficient football, guiding the Seahawks to a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots. It was a performance that didn’t demand heroics-just poise and professionalism.
And that’s exactly what Darnold delivered.
Back in Minnesota, the wheels came off early. A 26-0 drubbing at the hands of Darnold’s Seahawks dropped the Vikings to 4-8.
They did rally to win their final five games and finish 9-8, escaping the NFC North basement, but it was a steep fall from the 14-3 record they posted in 2024. The late-season surge was admirable, but it didn’t mask the fact that the season was a major step backward.
If the Vikings want to avoid another wasted year, they’ll need to be aggressive this offseason-especially at quarterback and in the trenches.
Let’s start with the offensive line. The center position has been a revolving door in recent years.
Garrett Bradbury held it down through 2024, but struggled against top-tier competition. The Vikings thought they found a solution in veteran Ryan Kelly, but the former Colts standout battled through a tough season that included three concussions-bringing his career total to six.
At this point, it’s fair to question how much longer he can play.
Enter Tyler Linderbaum. The 25-year-old Ravens center is set to hit free agency, and he checks every box the Vikings should be looking for.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Linderbaum has the size, strength, and athleticism to anchor the middle of the line-and he’s already proven he can thrive in a complex offensive system. If Minnesota can pair him with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill (when healthy), they’d be looking at one of the most formidable offensive lines in the league.
On the defensive side, the Vikings could be facing a key loss in edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who has the option to opt out of his deal. If he walks, Minnesota needs a replacement who can step in and make an impact right away.
That’s where Jaelan Phillips comes into play. A first-round pick by the Dolphins in 2021, Phillips was traded to the Eagles midway through last season.
Injuries slowed him down in 2023 and 2024, but he managed to suit up for 17 games in 2025 between Miami and Philly. His sack total (5.0) didn’t jump off the page, but the talent is still there-and under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Phillips could find the consistency that’s eluded him so far.
The tools are there; he just needs the right system to unlock them.
And then there’s the quarterback position-the elephant in the room.
The Vikings didn’t just let Darnold walk. They also missed out on keeping Jones, who had joined the team late in 2024 and was seen as a potential backup option behind McCarthy.
But Jones wanted a shot at starting, and the Colts gave it to him. He signed a one-year, $7.15 million deal with Indianapolis and won the QB1 job out of camp.
Early in the season, he looked like the real deal-strong-armed, mobile, and poised.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a devastating injury: a fractured fibula and torn Achilles. But even with that setback, Jones is expected to hit the market again this offseason, and the Vikings should be all-in on bringing him back-this time with a legitimate shot to compete for the starting job.
McCarthy may still have a future in Minnesota, but after the growing pains of 2025, it’s clear the Vikings need more than just potential in their quarterback room. They need competition.
They need insurance. And most of all, they need a plan that doesn’t hinge entirely on one unproven player figuring it out on the fly.
The 2025 season was a hard lesson in roster construction. Now, with the right moves-starting at center, edge rusher, and quarterback-the Vikings have a chance to course-correct.
But they’ll need to act decisively. Because in the NFL, windows don’t stay open for long.