Craig Peters

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The Vikings 2025 mandatory minicamp (and offseason workout program) is beginning to shrink in the rearview mirror.

Minnesota closed out a productive spring last week with three days of minicamp. The intensity wasn't what it will be when training camp opens next month, but it did offer players, especially newcomers, a chance to show how much they are grasping of the offense or defense.

Thursday's session was followed withcomments from Head Coach Kevin OConnell, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and receiver Justin Jeffersonto put a bow on the multiweek program. O'Connell made sure to prioritize physical health and focused on creating mental challenges in order to hit the ground running in July.

Congrats are in order to several members of the personnel/football operations department whose promotions were announced last week, includingRyan Grigson and Demitrius Washington, who have formed an interesting working relationship in spite of their individual routes to each being named Assistant General Manager.

Tight end Josh Oliver also had a week to match his frame.

Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips described Oliver as "the best blocking Y with pass game value in the NFL" and is excited about thethree-year extensionthat was announced last week.

"I've liked a lot of them over the years, but what he brings to us, from a physicality standpoint in the run game, being able to block defensive ends some really good players as a single blocker. A lot of times, those guys say, 'You never let a tight end block you. Never let a tight end pass protect on you.' Josh is kind of a different human when it comes to that," said Phillips before quipping, "We try to get him to walk off the bus first anytime we're traveling," in a reference to Oliver's imposing stature.

Phillips, whose work on the way to the O.C. role has included coaching tight ends for Dallas, Washington and the L.A. Rams, was asked about continuing the combination of Oliver and T.J. Hockenson in 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends).

"Oliver is a big Y who has pass game value, and then T.J. is the F that's a great receiver, but can run block, so [opposing defenses] have to make a decision. They want to play smaller people to try to defend against the pass, and you've got all kinds of athletes on the field that can make them pay there.

"With the run game, you can always get a matchup somewhere where the nickel, he's a linebacker now, he's got to be a part of that run fit in one way or the other, and you can try to scheme up where you want him to be," Phillips said. "But it just gives you some advantages. Base defense, all right, maybe we want to throw the football, but we still have the opportunity to run. It just kind of opens up everything for you when you have two guys like that who both have that skill set."

The extension for Oliver was another sign of Minnesota's continued emphasis on the run game this offseason.

Although things will slow down a little bit on Vikings.com as we try to take advantage of a break before training camp, I look forward to the football conversations continuing with readers, and we'll continue sprinkling in some more content. Let's start today's session with a question about that running game.

I'm super pumped about the upcoming season. My question is simple. Any chance of seeing Aaron Jones, Sr., and Jordan Mason in the backfield at the same time?

Cheers,

Nicholas Balkou

I'm not trying to make this edition the "Wes Phillips Show" but he was asked about Mason by yours truly last week.

"I think it just gives you another really good football player that we can use in a lot of different ways, some ways similar to Aaron," Phillips said. "[Jordan is] obviously the bigger-stature back. But it also allows us to use both of those guys, whether at the same time or separately, and keep both those guys fresh."

If the Vikings did opt for a two-back set featuring Jones and Mason, it's likely they wouldn't reveal too much of that in training camp because of the desire to preserve an element of surprise. I'm not ruling it out, but the team has positioned it as a 1A-1B situation where each player helps the other stay fresh and optimized over the course of a long season.

First let me say that I'm all in with the decision to start McCarthy, and I really believe he's going to do well under the "QB whisperer."

But I'd like to ask you your opinion about his throwing technique where he lifts his right leg laterally to get the ball down the field. Usually when that happens, you lose velocity and accuracy.

Juan Guiterrez

And

While reviewing the Vikings '25 schedule I couldn't help but notice that J.J. McCarthy will be squaring off against FOUR of his fellow QB draftmates from the first round of 2024: Caleb Williams No. 1, Weeks 1 and 11; Jayden Daniels No. 2, Week 14; Drake Maye No. 3, Week 2 Preseason; and Michael Penix, Jr., No. 8, Week 2. Had Denver not been edged out by the Chargers for second place in the AFC West, J.J. would be up against Bo Nix as well. What are the odds, eh? By the end of this coming season, we're going to know how our guy J.J. stacks up.

Dan in NW Arkansas

I appreciate Juan's question, but I'll readily admit I'm not a well-versed technician and certainly not a QB whisperer like O'Connell, who has built a staff of assistants with deep knowledge of the position.

What I do have is a more casual assessment my eyes have offered of multiple quarterbacks over the years. We also have the opportunity to process what teammates on offense and defense are saying when they compare McCarthy to past teammates or coaches.

I've enjoyed the vantage point of seeing McCarthy spin passes and have enough juice to fit footballs into tight windows, which can lead to some high-reward opportunities but can prove risky if the ball slows down to give defenders time to recover.

There were multiple moments this offseason where it seemed like defenders were making a break on the ball only to have it result in a catch by the offensive player. Body language after plays provided a hint they were a little surprised they didn't get to the ball to break it up. There also were some parts of practice where defenders did not challenge at the catch point (O'Connell again prioritizing health and safety).

It seems Joshua Metellus, who is an exceptional communicator, was misunderstood last week when he offered a comparison between McCarthy and former Vikings backup QB Sean Mannion that was related to the zip that each can put on the football. Social media isn't always the best place for nuance. Neither is national sports talk programming where people provide opinions, regardless of how they've been formed, but my eyes know what Metellus meant.

Multiple people talked about Mannion's arm strength during his two stints with Minnesota. Metellus and Justin Jefferson, who are both more qualified than me, both talked about the zip McCarthy has, which also was evidence when his velocity was reportedly tracked at 61 mph.

"The velocity on the ball and the spin on the ball, you know, he has a tight spin," Jefferson said. "It definitely comes to you very quick quicker than what you'd expect."

Throwing with touch can be quite important because it is so critical in providing receivers with catchable passes.

In 2011, which was my second season as a grad intern with the Titans, Tennessee signed veteran Matthew Hasselbeck (he turned 36 that September) and drafted Jake Locker, who was 23 at the time (and turned 37 yesterday HBD, Jake) and had a cannon. Locker's passes reached receivers as what I call "heavy" footballs, and it seemed like pass catchers were really working to adjust to contrasts between Hasselbeck and Locker.

There were plenty of times when McCarthy delivered footballs on target (whether it was a stationary netted target or some of the NFL's most electric playmakers during the offseason.

Phillips said McCarthy is combining the arm strength with the ability to place certain passes with touch.

"You're seeing his ability to be able to layer some balls and throw some different types of balls, depending on, maybe you're throwing to a running back, maybe you're throwing to a tight end on a quick stick route, you know, something close to him, where you're seeing some of the touch, or just layering some balls on a really deep in cut, those types of things are starting to show up," Phillips said.

As for Dan's observation, that is quite the coincidence that four of the five other QBs drafted in the first round of 2024 will be on Minnesota's slate this season.

McCarthy, who grew up near Chicago, opening against Williams at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football seems "made for TV."

It will be really interesting to see how McCarthy stacks up against the other top picks, even if team success will hinge on more than just the quarterbacks. The preseason game against the Patriots also will include a pair of joint practices, which could be more important for McCarthy than taking reps in the exhibition contest.

Can we play the "What If" game with Jaire Alexander in purple?

Dan in Enemy Territory (Green Bay)

And

Jaire Alexander was just released. We need a cornerback, and it'll hurt the Packers, too. Why not?

Akiva in Minnesota

Alexander's release from Green Bay last week after multiple injury-impacted seasons prompted multiple musings about potential landing spots that included (in some discussions) Minnesota.

I'll continue to hold the belief that the Vikings might be better off with their current cornerbacks roster than what some believe. It doesn't mean Minnesota won't add to the group, but re-signing Byron Murphy, Jr., was a big deal. Free agent additions Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah turned in strong springs, and there's a cluster of players who haven't been talked about as much who will have plenty of opportunities in training camp.

I thought it was about wins, especially in the playoffs. Drafting is a tool, though I think for many people, the draft has become nearly as important as the playoffs. (Some say more important). (Please comment on this).

I am not overly concerned about the drafts. As I live in New England, I am aware of the Patriot successes at winning Super Bowls. I'd say their drafts were OK nothing special. They were very good at getting undervalued free agents. They had excellent coaching. They were very good at negating other teams' strengths. The Pats had only a couple superstars. I don't sense you are that concerned about the drafts either.

Have a great day.

Craig R in Boston, Massachusetts

The name of the game is about wins, particularly in the postseason, which the Patriots accomplished during their dynasty.

Somehow, someway, the NFL Draft seems to gain more attention each year. Fans of teams who struggled go all in on optimism but can be prone to linking too much fate on the shoulders of a high pick.

What the Vikings have shown is a willingness to adjust their approach in roster construction. Once more money became available because of departures, the Vikings invested in signing free agents in 2024 and 2025, which could reduce opportunities for draft picks to contribute immediately.

One of the best things the Patriots did was negating strengths of opponents sometimes referred to making a righty "play left-handed."

Hopefully people don't think I've been flippant about the importance of a draft, because it is an important process to which teams allocate considerable resources. I'm just of the position that the impact can be affected by multiple factors, especially when a team also commits resources the way the Vikings have in free agency.

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