https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4822...ler-murray

"After talking to sources inside and outside the organization, the best way to think of the Vikings' current approach is an aggressive right-sizing of their roster finances. The Wilfs did not order a lower cash payroll this season, multiple sources confirmed. The NFL is not structured for teams to have indefinite annual spending at the rate the Vikings have in recent years, and essentially the Vikings decided that 2026 was the time to eat their vegetables.

"We had a plan that we devised together," Brzezinski said, "and I'm just really proud of the way everybody worked together, identifying some targets that we were able to reach agreements with. There's others we weren't, but I think I'm really most proud of the patience. ... Really grateful also for [Hockenson and Jones] reworking their contracts to find a middle ground. These were two players and two people that are really important to our football team and to [coach Kevin O'Connell] in our locker room.

"So I feel like we've navigated responsibly the future versus being competitive this year. And I feel like we're in a really good spot, but like we keep saying, there's a long way to go."

What are the Vikings doing? They're planning a run at the playoffs while resuscitating their financial outlook and adjusting, for at least one year, a quarterback plan that went awry."

- Kevin Seifert, ESPN

Signed with Vikings

Bills player, per Schefty, to an offer sheet.

The Minnesota Vikings must decide on Jordan Addison's fifth-year option by May 1, 2026, which is projected to cost approximately $17.5 million for the 2027 season. 

This decision is significant, as Addison's performance in the 2026 season will influence the Vikings' approach to a potential contract extension, with market comparisons suggesting a deal in the $25–30 million per year range.

AI

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Broncos are trading for Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, per source.

Denver receives: Waddle and Dolphins’ 4th-round pick (11th in round) in this year’s draft.

Miami receives: Broncos’ 1st round pick (30th overall) along with their late 3rd and 4th round picks (30th in each round) in this year’s draft.

Dianna Russini
@DMRussini
·
12m
The full trade, per sources:

Broncos receive: WR Jaylen Waddle, fourth-round pick

Dolphins receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 30), third- and fourth-round picks.

Year | yds passing | TDs, INTs | Def rank | Lead receiver |  Rsh yds, TDs | Murray notes

2019 | 3700 | 20, 12 | 32nd | Fitz | 544, 4 | OROY
2020 | 4000 | 26, 12 | 13th | Hopkins | 819, 11 | Pro Bowl
2021 | 3800 | 24, 10 | 11th | Hopkins | 423, 5 | Playoffs, Pro Bowl
2022 | 2400 | 14, 7 | 21st | Hopkins (missed 8 games) | 418, 3 | KM played only 11 games due to ACL
2023 | 1800 | 10, 5 | 25th | McBride (TE) | 244, 3 | KM played only 8 games after recovering from ACL
2024 | 3800 | 21, 11 | 21st | McBride (TE) | 572, 5 | Perfect passer rating in 41-10 victory over Rams
2025 | 1000 | 6, 3  | 27th  | McBride (TE) | 1173, 1 | Played in 5 games after foot injury

17. Detroit Lions

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Lions entered free agency with a Taylor Decker-sized hole at left tackle after the veteran asked for his release. They signed Larry Borom, but they shouldn't stop there. Proctor's play was a little uneven last season, but I think he can stick at left tackle in the NFL and could help keep Jared Goff upright as Detroit tries to get back to the playoffs. Proctor has 40 starts worth of experience, knows how to take away opponent pass-rush moves and moves very well for a 6-foot-7, 352-pound blocker.


18. Minnesota Vikings

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

We still don't know whether 37-year-old Harrison Smith will keep playing (and if so, whether he'll return to Minnesota as a free agent). Joshua Metellus, Jay Ward and Theo Jackson are the top safeties on the Vikings' depth chart. In a division with Caleb Williams, Jordan Love and Jared Goff, this has to be a priority at the draft regardless of whether Smith is back for Year 15.

I had Thieneman to the Vikings in my last mock draft. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting creative with Thieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways.


19. Carolina Panthers

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Three safeties in the top 20! McNeil-Warren deserves to be here; he has the speed and instincts to make plays, accumulating 10 forced fumbles and five interceptions over his four seasons at Toledo. Carolina focused on defense this month, signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd to sizable contracts. It also brought back safety Nick Scott alongside Tre'von Moehrig, but McNeil-Warren could make a big impact in the secondary and give the team some options. The Panthers allowed 6.5 yards per dropback last season (22nd in the NFL).

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story...cy-round-1

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7122822...l-vikings/

Ted Nguyen
Alec Lewis
By Ted Nguyen and Alec Lewis
March 17, 2026 6:00 am EDT

This football experiment features two fascinating ingredients. You have Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, one of the league’s most respected passing game designers. And you have former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, an undersized but electric quarterback talent.

Blend the two, and what will the end product look like? The results could go a long way toward defining the 2026 season.

Already, skepticism exists. Under O’Connell, the Vikings have taken an under-center, timing-based approach. Murray, meanwhile, is perceived to be primarily an out-of-structure playmaker. When Murray signed last Thursday, the first question posed to O’Connell was about how these two worlds planned to coalesce.

“When you actually dive in and really study Kyler’s experience at the position,” O’Connell said, “you do see a lot of really, really great qualities that fit into some of the things we ask quarterbacks to do.”

Our goal with this story? To take a clear-eyed look at this alliance by evaluating the tape, advanced metrics and conversations with staffers around the league.

The summary of findings supports O’Connell’s perspective. This coach and quarterback marriage makes sense when you dig beneath the surface — even if both sides will need to adapt some to maximize their partnership.

Deeper dive/Rest of article. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7122822...l-vikings/

Lots of interesting questions still out there...