The Vikings are heading into Week 1 with plenty to sort out, and the opener against the Packers should tell Kevin O'Connell a lot about where his roster really stands. If I were making the calls, three choices jump out immediately: lean harder on Jordan Mason, give Domonique Orange the early edge on the defensive line, and make the uncomfortable quarterback move that puts J.J.
McCarthy at No. 3.
Start with the backfield, where the Vikings are expected to split work between Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. in 2026. That may be the plan on paper, but Jones’ situation makes it hard to trust as a long-term answer.
He was cut earlier this spring before coming back on a reduced deal a few weeks later, which doesn’t exactly scream confidence from Minnesota heading into his 10th season. He’s coming off an injury-heavy year, his yards per carry have dropped in four straight seasons, and he’ll be 32 in a few months.
Among starting running backs, only Derrick Henry is older.
Jones still has a role, especially on third downs as a receiver and pass blocker. But Mason ought to be the one getting the heavier workload.
He’s been an analytics darling, and while he hasn’t fully put it together in the NFL, his 5.1 career yards per carry is hard to ignore. The concerns are real - the pass protection and the lack of big plays have held him back, with a long rush of just 24 yards last season - but he reportedly looks leaner and more explosive this summer.
If that carries into the regular season, the Vikings shouldn’t be shy about giving him more.
On the defensive side, Minnesota’s front is expected to cycle through five or six players this season, but Orange deserves the first crack over Levi Drake Rodriguez. The third-round pick has done enough early to earn the nod, and the nickname potential with a Redmond and an Orange pairing doesn’t hurt either.
Orange, who goes by “Big Citrus,” is currently slated to split nose tackle reps with Rodriguez, and both have impressed this summer. Even so, Orange looks like the better bet to get the heavier workload.
That choice would also fit what Minnesota needs most. The Vikings gave up 124 rushing yards per game last season, so a stronger run-stopper in the middle matters.
Orange has already shown enough in preseason to suggest he’s ready, and the source material even says he can drop into coverage when needed. Rodriguez shouldn’t be written off - he’ll have a meaningful role in the rotation - but if this is a close call, the reps should go to Orange.
Then there’s the biggest and most awkward decision of all: McCarthy has to be moved down to the No. 3 quarterback spot. The optics are ugly for a 2024 10th-overall pick, but the summer has gone sideways. The quarterback battle was messy, the preseason was poor, and the mysterious ankle injury only added to the uncertainty.
A trade doesn’t seem likely right now, so the simplest path is to stash McCarthy for 2026 and revisit the situation next year. Carson Wentz has at least shown enough to keep the offense functioning.
He finished the preseason 21-of-29 for 188 yards, not exactly dazzling numbers, but enough to suggest Minnesota can operate with him if needed. The ideal outcome is that Kyler Murray stays healthy all season and the Vikings never have to make a call at all.
General manager Nolan Teasley said McCarthy’s story isn’t finished, but he wouldn’t spell out what the quarterback’s role will be this season. At this point, both sides probably know where this is headed.
McCarthy’s play and salary make a trade tough, and his familiarity with O'Connell’s system gives him more value to Minnesota than a Day 3 pick would. For now, the Vikings can let it play out and deal with the next chapter in 2026.
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Jim Marshall Just Saw His Hall Of Fame Path Get Tougher
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For former Vikings players who had been waiting on that lane, the change matters. All eligible players will now be judged in one pool after the five-year retirement window, and finalists will no longer carry over from year to year, which means Marshall and others like him will have to navigate a new setup without the old built-in route that had kept their names in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]