Welcome to one of the more insightful weeks of the offseason. Executives, agents, coaches and reporters are all meeting in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.

To set the table for the Minnesota Vikings, we thought it’d be worth taking some questions. (This was before the tragic death of Rondale Moore on Saturday night. Our thoughts are with his family.) And you did not disappoint. Some were curious about the plan for free agency. Others wanted to broach draft possibilities. And yes, there were some questions about quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Here are a bunch of thoughts in answer form. Look for more extensive Vikings coverage this week in Indianapolis.

Note: Some of the questions were edited for length and clarity.

What is the largest free-agent contract and target that the Vikings could realistically consider? — Brian R.

This is a great question because it sets the table for the next few weeks.

The Vikings are projected to be more than $43 million over the cap. The first order of business will be clearing space. Fortunately, Minnesota has a bunch of levers it can pull with player cuts, contract restructures and extensions. The path toward having enough wiggle room to spend on additional talent isn’t treacherous.

The next phase in answering the question is mostly a conversation of positional priorities. Quarterback takes precedence. Because safeties and centers play essential communication roles, veterans could be the answer at these positions, too. Running back and defensive line would likely be next in line. So, it’s worth looking at potential signings through that prism.

Take on a boatload of cap space at quarterback, and the Vikings would need some savvy signings elsewhere. Pay minimally at QB, and the Vikings could try to go big on a defensive lineman, like Denver Broncos defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers (whom The Athletic’s Daniel Popper projected could make around $54 million over three seasons).

As difficult as it may be to see, there is a path for the Vikings to extend money into the future and invest aggressively over the next two years. This would make for a flurry of activity over the next few weeks.

If Aaron Jones ends up getting cut, will the Vikings draft a replacement? If so, who? — Sarah K.

First, let’s walk through why Jones, who is hugely influential in the locker room, is a potential cut candidate.

His cap number for 2026 is around $14.5 million. That’s the third-largest hit among all running backs behind Alvin Kamara and Jonathan Taylor. Release Jones before the middle of March, and the Vikings could save nearly $8 million in cap space.

But this move would leave a major void. Jones has played nearly 60 percent of the team’s offensive snaps over the last two seasons. During that time, he ran for nearly 1,700 yards, caught 79 passes and served as a reliable pass protector on early downs. Backfield mate Jordan Mason is an efficient runner, but he’s not a proven three-down guy. That’s why the Vikings could find themselves in the market for another back if they part ways with Jones.

This year’s crop of draftable running backs is not as deep as last spring’s. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is a future star. His Fighting Irish teammate Jadarian Price is another talented runner. There are intriguing talents such as Washington’s Jonah Coleman and Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, but Minnesota would be betting big on those players contributing as rookies.

To answer Sarah’s initial question, the more likely outcome would be a free-agent acquisition. Below is a table comparing some of the available free agents to Jones (statistics courtesy of Next Gen Stats):

Player

  

Age

  

Yards

  

Avg.

  

TDs

  

31

548

4.2

2

25

1,027

4.6

5

24

1,065

4.4

4

27

1,107

4.3

7

27

1,076

4.6

6

27

572

4.3

4

27

537

4.7

5

Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has great relationships internally, but what’s his reputation around the league? — Aaron E.

We’ll have more on this in the coming weeks. But for now, one prominent agent who has negotiated with all 32 NFL teams for more than three decades called Brzezinski, “One of the top five guys in the business that I’ve dealt with. I’m talking about the combination of personally friendly, a diligent professional, someone you can disagree with without it becoming personal.”

Is there a chance the Vikings will draft Pat Coogan in the fifth round? — Jeff J.

For those who aren’t as into their draft studies, here is the skinny on Coogan. He was the center on the Indiana team that won the national championship. Before that, he started at Notre Dame. Coogan might not light up the explosiveness ratings at the combine, but he’s smart and reliable. Even if the Vikings sign a free-agent center, an interior offensive lineman like Coogan could fit in the later rounds.

So, yes, Jeff. There is a chance. Other players in a similar ilk are Kansas State’s Sam Hecht and Miami’s James Brockermeyer.

Which non-starter from the 2025 Vikings has the potential to make a big impact? — Tim S.

Perhaps the most obvious answer is Dallas Turner, who just turned 23 and has a first-round pedigree. Turner didn’t begin the 2025 season as a starter. So, he qualifies. His end-of-season emergence spoke to his upside. Turner’s 13.1 percent pressure rate hovered near defenders such as Brian Burns and Khalil Mack, according to Next Gen Stats. His spatial awareness gives him added versatility on the edge.

If Turner is too easy a choice, then the next-best option might be safety Jay Ward, who will be entering the final season of his rookie contract. Ward, a 25-year-old fourth-round pick from 2023, started the final three games of the season. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores utilized him as an explosive weapon. Ward blitzes effectively and looks comfortable in space. The 2026 season is a contract year, and the Vikings’ uncertainty in the secondary presents an opportunity for Ward to continue his ascent.

Why do some fans want to be patient with J.J. McCarthy even though he’s had two years with the team and shown zero elite traits? — Zach A.

I’ll start with this: Pro Football Focus tracks a metric called “big-time throw rate.” They define those throws as passes “with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.” Among 43 qualified quarterbacks in 2025, McCarthy ranked second in big-time throw rate behind NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

That’s an example of McCarthy’s upside. He is capable of high-end flashes. He is only 23. Punting on immense potential, especially after the team used the 10th pick on McCarthy in 2024, would be a drastic declaration about the youngster’s status despite a small sample size.

This is not to say that people’s concerns are unwarranted. McCarthy’s inability to stay healthy has contributed to the team’s pursuit of a veteran quarterback. His inaccuracy and trouble layering passes raise more red flags.

Maybe the most realistic view of the Vikings’ circumstances is this: They have a quarterback who will need time to develop into his fullest self. Yet they simultaneously have a veteran-laden roster, a superstar receiver in Justin Jefferson and playoff expectations.

Straddling those two worlds is an immense challenge. With this context, it’s easier to understand the passionate perspectives on both sides.

Do you foresee any trades of important Vikings players this offseason? — Grayson K.

At this point, the only trade idea worth completely ruling out is anything involving Jefferson.

The Vikings won’t dangle any of their key players. However, the size of offers can pique varying levels of interest, especially for players whose contracts already create questions.

Let’s take tight end T.J. Hockenson as an example. His current cap number is projected at $21.2 million for 2026, the highest in the NFL for a tight end. His recent production doesn’t match that number. Pursuing a pay cut is one sensible avenue, but what if another tight-end-needy team reaches out with a solid offer, one that would give Minnesota more flexibility? In that instance, it’d almost certainly behoove all sides (including Hockenson’s representation) to explore the possibility.

What does a perfect first three rounds of the draft look like to you, Alec? — Evan J.

Drafting four starters. And I’m only half joking.

In 2022, the Vikings had four picks in the first three rounds, and only right guard Ed Ingram became a starter. A replication of that will complicate the near future to a concerning level. Successful drafts — and, notably, effective development once those players arrive in the building — create champions. Seattle, Philadelphia and Kansas City are proof. All three organizations have vastly different quarterback situations, but what they have in common is years of hits with the picks that mean the most.