Rookies and quarterbacks report on July 20th!
Vikings win total has not moved much. I feel like it is low and that 10 or 11 games is more in line with the talent level on this team even with a young QB. What say you?
Vikings Win Total Projection for 2025 Season (Will Minnesota Regress?)
Minnesota Vikings 2025 Win Total
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Over 8.5 (-150)
Under 8.5 (+125)
Let’s be honest, the Vikings were probably one of the luckiest teams in 2024 — they went 8‑1 in one‑score games, a trend that just can’t sustain itself. Complicating matters, Minnesota faces a brutal schedule, ranked in the top-five toughest agendas, with nine matchups against last year’s playoff teams and the third‑hardest set of opponent offenses by DVOA.
Despite skepticism, there’s real confidence in the Over with FanDuel opening at -150 for Minnesota to hit nine or more wins.
The Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 training camp will begin with rookies and quarterbacks reporting on July 20th, followed by the rest of the team on July 22nd. The first open practice to the public will be on Saturday, July 26th. Practices will be held at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota.
Key Dates:
July 20: Rookies and quarterbacks report.
July 22: Veteran players report.
July 26: First public practice, part of “Back Together Weekend”.
July 28 – August 6: Multiple open practices scheduled.
August 9: First Preseason Game vs Texans
August 11 & 13: Additional open practices, with August 13th being a joint practice with the Patriots.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Hot take predicts JJ McCarthy will be upgrade over Sam Darnold for Vikings
According to one analyst’s hot take, McCarthy should be an upgrade over Darnold for them. Here’s what Jacob Robinson from Scoop City had to say about it.
“The Vikings are somehow better on paper than last year’s 14-win team. Blame their late-season collapse on the interior of their offensive line and Sam Darnold. Both are fixed, with the interior of their line drastically improved via free agency and the draft, while McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in 2024,should be an upgrade over Darnold. Pair an elite offense with one of the league’s best defenses — which remains almost fully intact — and you have a team that can hang with anyone.”
Vikings, J.J. McCarthy Revealed Historic Adversity Ahead of Season
The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback J.J. McCarthy are facing an unprecedented season, with the scope of their challenges continuing to reveal itself.
Sportsbook Review put every NFL team’s 2025 schedule in context in an analysis using the “NFL Fatigue Index,” measuring the toll of a season on several factors, and found the Vikings to have one of the most daunting seasons ahead — but it could have been much worse.
According to SportsBook Review, the Vikings’ schedule ranked ninth in overall fatigue, which includes four games with a rest disadvantage — the fourth-highest in the league.
“Minnesota has the double-whammy of ranking in the top 10 in fatigue and in opponent strength, which could make for an unwelcome start to J.J. McCarthy’s career,” he added. “While the Europe trip is a doozy, the Vikings play four games with a rest disadvantage – fourth-most in the league – and they’re one of just four teams to play an entire month without a home game at any point.”
The gauntlet is set for McCarthy and the Vikings, an organization that has ranked high in the 2025 NFLPA report card, notably in travel amenities (2nd) and training staff (3rd) that can help mitigate fatigue.
“The NFL schedule is relentless – physically punishing and mentally draining,” Dr. Jason Hamilton, an Olympic sports psychologist, told Sportsbook Review. “Constant travel, unpredictable sleep cycles, and the pressure to perform week after week create the perfect storm for chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout.
“A fatigued brain is more prone to mental fumbles,” he added.
Randy Moss: Justin Jefferson is ‘on pace’ to become arguably greatest WR ever
“For him to go down as the greatest Viking and WR to ever do it, I need to see more of Justin getting in that box… I think Justin Jefferson is on pace to be arguably the greatest ever and definitely the greatest Viking to ever do it,” Moss said.
New Minnesota Vikings DB labeled ‘most slept-on’ player on defense in 2025
Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote about each Vikings defender on the current roster. When speaking about Rodgers, Lewis mentioned that the cornerback could be the most slept-on defender on the roster.
Maybe the most slept-on Vikings defender. He’s athletic. He’s tough. He has ball skills. Rodgers and Byron Murphy Jr. is an underrated cornerback tandem. The question with the room is the depth behind them.
Analyst says Vikings’ rebuilt offensive line could be NFL’s best
Trevor Sikkema and Dalton Wasserman of the PFF NFL Show recently ranked every offensive line in the NFL, and they had the Vikings at No. 7. But Sikkema himself had them at 4, and he thinks the ceiling is even higher than that.
“I truly believe that the Minnesota Vikings could have the best offensive line in the NFL,” he said. “This unit is fantastic. I think this offensive line is experienced, it’s athletic, and they can run the exact type of run-blocking scheme that Kevin O’Connell wants to in Minnesota. To me, this is one of the most talented offensive lines in the NFL. I think that if these guys are fully healthy as a unit, for a season, there are going to be multiple (statistics) where they are ranked No. 1. I think this unit is that good.”
2025 All-NFC North Preseason Team: Cashman among the best in division
The votes are in for the linebackers on the 2025 All-NFC North Preseason Team, and Vikings standout Blake Cashman made the second team behind Packers star Edgerrin Cooper.
My vote went to Cashman as the top linebacker in the division because, as I explain further down in the story, he was the head of the snake in Minnesota’s complicated defense. When he played, the Vikings were very good defensively.
Cashman was a top-20 linebacker in nearly every metric from Pro Football Focus (based on playing 50% of all snaps). He ranked 13th in overall defensive grade, 17th in run defense, 15th in tackling, 16th in pass rush, and 17th in coverage. He’s a do-it-all linebacker who is the obvious head of the snake in Brian Flores’ defensive scheme in Minnesota.
NFL coach highlights key factor why Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson is primed for a rebound year
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released the latest in the position ranking series that he does every offseason and it’s at tight end. Hockenson ranked a little lower on the list than he did last year at seventh overall. In 2024, he ranked fifth.
Ranking seventh is a little low, but it also makes a little bit of sense. He only played half of the season and struggled at times because he was coming off of a torn ACL. However, that’s a big reason why a rebound season makes a ton of sense for Hockenson, and an NFL coordinator put it into perspective.
“He was OK — didn’t appear to trust the knee, especially in blocking, which is common for that injury,” an NFL coordinator said. “But I expect him to have a strong year. He will trust it more a year removed and that offense is set up nicely for him. And he’s got such a good feel for the game that he’ll find ways to get catches.”
Vikings UDFA profile: Utah CB Zemaiah Vaughn is a lanky underdog story
Vikings UDFA profile: Utah CB Zemaiah Vaughn
Age: 23
Size: 6’2”, 186
RAS: 8.48
2024 stats: 40 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PD, 1 FF
Guaranteed money: $249,000
Despite their perceived need at the position, the Vikings didn’t select a cornerback in this year’s draft. But they signed a couple as undrafted free agents, and one of those in particular is worth watching during this year’s training camp. Former Utah standout Zemaiah Vaughn is an explosive 6’2” corner who turned heads during the Vikings’ offseason program and could make a real push for a 53-man roster spot.
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: 49ers
Sent: 1.18
Received: 1.24, 3.88
…
Trade Partner: Cardinals
Sent: 2.50, 4.140
Received: 2.46, 7.228
…
24. L.T. Overton EDGE Alabama 6’5” 280
46. Malik Muhammad CB Texas 6’0” 185
82. Joshua Josephs EDGE Tennessee 6’3” 240
88. Jonah Coleman RB Washington 5’9” 228
97. Iapani Laloulu IOL Oregon 6’2” 325
118. Bud Clark S TCU 6’2” 185
228. Aaron Graves DL Iowa 6’4” 300
232. Germie Bernard WR Alabama 6’1” 202
257. Rod Moore S Michigan 6’0” 198
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