The Vikings wrapped up their offseason program on Wednesday with the second practice of their mandatory minicamp. The next time the team will gather will be in late July to begin training camp.
So what did we learn during the workouts that were open to the media? Here are a few things, although plenty is likely to change before the Vikings’ regular-season opener on Sept. 10 against Tampa Bay.
Kirk Cousins appears comfortable playing on last season of contract
For the first time since joining the Vikings in 2018, Kirk Cousins will be entering the final season of his contract. The Vikings elected not to extend Cousins’ contract in March, and Cousins said Wednesday there have been no discussions in recent months about his contract.
Cousins, who will turn 35 in August and will be entering his 12th NFL season, seems at peace with his situation.
“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March,” Cousins said. “Until then, just focused on this season, and the job to do right now.”
Cousins has plenty to gain in his second season working with coach Kevin O’Connell and taking the Vikings back to the postseason and on a playoff run could land him one final lucrative deal.
Last season, Cousins threw for 4,547 yards, 29 touchdowns and a career-high 14 interceptions. That was in part because O’Connell wanted Cousins to take more chances and the Vikings ended up winning 13 games and the NFC North before being bounced by the Giants in the first round.
The Vikings likely won’t win 13 games again this season, but Cousins will be guiding what should be a high-powered offense that puts up plenty of points. So what is the plan at quarterback after 2023? It appears the Vikings don’t have an answer and that means the door will remain open for Cousins to return.
We know who will replace Dalvin Cook but after that running back situation isn't clear
The moment the Vikings elected to re-sign Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $7 million contract in March, it was obvious time had run out on Dalvin Cook’s stay in Minnesota.
Cook was released this month, leaving the starting job to his former backup, Mattison. But who will take over Mattison’s former role?
The expectation had been that 2022 fifth-round pick Ty Chandler would be second on the depth chart, with 2021 fourth-round selection Kene Nwangwu and 2023 seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride holding the third and fourth spots, respectively.
It appears that assumption was premature if you go off what we saw during the minicamp. Nwangwu, who has three kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first two seasons, but has rushed for only 75 yards on 22 carries in 28 career games, appears to be the primary backup at this point.
Nwangwu is listed at 6-1, 210 pounds and has outstanding speed. He ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at Iowa State’s Pro Day in March 2021. Chandler, who is 6 feet, 210 pounds, had 20 yards on six carries in three games last season. McBride is a guy the Vikings are excited about but it won’t be shocking if he ends up on the practice squad.
Get ready for a battle at cornerback
The Vikings aren’t expected to have many battles for starting positions in training camp, but there likely will be some quality competition at cornerback.
Byron Murphy Jr., who was signed as a free agent, will start at an outside corner and move inside in the nickel. Akayleb Evans, who battled concussion issues last season after being a fourth-round pick, appears to be in line for the other starting spot outside.
As far as the other outside corner who will play in the nickel, it appears that will be a battle between 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. and 2023 third-round selection Mekhi Blackmon.
Booth got much of the work with the first team on Tuesday, and Blackmon saw repeated reps with the first team on Wednesday. Brian Flores, the Vikings’ new defensive coordinator, could be leaning toward Blackmon since he was drafted by the team with Flores having a say.
Blackmon also can play inside in the nickel, so if anything happens to Murphy, his versatility will be an asset.
Vikings need to get something done with Danielle Hunter
Veteran Danielle Hunter held out of the minicamp because of his desire to receive a new contract that replaces the final season of his deal. Hunter is scheduled to make a below-market-value $5.5 million and he wants more money and security before he takes the field again.
The Vikings reportedly have received calls from teams expressing interest in trading for Hunter, but the reality is they need to get something done with a guy who had a team-leading 10.5 sacks last season and has long caused problems for opposing quarterbacks.
Without Hunter, the Vikings top three pass-rushers in their 3-4 defense will be free-agent addition Marcus Davenport as well as D.J. Wonnum and Pat Jones II.
Davenport was the 14th pick overall in the 2018 draft by New Orleans and had nine sacks in 2021. But that figure dropped to a half-sack last season and Davenport came to Minnesota on a one-year, $13 million contract in hopes of earning a larger payday.
Wonnum, a fourth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020, has 15 sacks in 47 career, games, including four last season, and Jones, a third-round pick in 2021, has four sacks in 25 games.
Hunter wasn’t as noticeable last season as he had been before injuries cost him all of 2020 and part of 2021, but he could be a force in Flores’ defense. Without him, the odds of Flores taking this defense from near the bottom of the NFL to a more desirable spot, definitely shrinks.
