Rob Kleifield

Minicamps are underway, which means temperatures and topics are getting hotter.

On Monday, ESPN NFL Nation reporters set the stage for a crucial phase of the offseason by outlining one key thing to watch from each of the 17 teams hitting the field to develop and compete this week in the mandatory part of their offseason program.

For instance, will so and so show up? How many reps is Player A going to take compared to Player B? How will this quarterback's weapons look? Is this receiver poised to confirm the buzz about him? And, what about the Vikings? More specifically, as Kevin Seifert posed How will the quarterbacks perform?

Seifert pointed out that the bulk of attention is on the most important position in Minnesota, again. It was that way in 2024, after adding journeyman Sam Darnold, a former No. 3 overall pick of the Jets, and drafting J.J. McCarthy 10th. Same goes for 2025 as McCarthy finished rehab for a knee injury and prepared to make his debut.

Now, the 23-year-old is competing with former Cardinals No. 1 overall pick and two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray.

Seifert shared that Murray has looked sharp early in OTAs, but the team wants to give McCarthy the opportunity to make enough progress so "he could mount a serious challenge during training camp."

Click hereto read about the other quick-hitting topics that will be front and center throughout the week.

Raring for a ring

With Vikings minicamp scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday, a championship plausibility check seems timely.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com recentlyexamined the Super Bowl casesthis season for the league's dozen Lombardi-less franchises and ranked them in the following order (in likelihood of winning their first title): Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville, Carolina, Minnesota, Atlanta, Tennessee, Cleveland and Arizona.

Edholm's Top 3 are a direct reflection of the past two seasons; the Bills, Lions and Texans have won 25, 24 and 22 games in that span, and all three won their respective divisions in 2024, signifying a potential championship window. Three of the next four clubs the Bengals, Jaguars and Panthers are built around No. 1 overall drafted quarterbacks in Joe Burrow (2020), Trevor Lawrence (2021) and Bryce Young (2023), while the Chargers are well-positioned for a deep run with 2020 No. 6 pick Justin Herbert.

It's hard to argue with the stacking of those seven since they have recent playoff experience, ascending and solidified quarterbacks, plus stars at pivotal positions. Conversely, the bottom of Edholm's list is mired by QB uncertainty. Atlanta is deciding between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix, Jr.; Tennessee is led by Cam Ward, who entertained but didn't establish consistency as a rookie; Cleveland deployed three starting quarterbacks in '25 Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco and might wind up starting Deshaun Watson in '26; and Arizona's projected starter, Jacoby Brissett, went 1-11 one year ago.

Additionally, it's hard to contend that Minnesota is not the most peculiar of the 12 due to its premier coaching staff and nucleus of talent on both sides of the ball two areas that should benefit from new General Manager Nolan Teasley's championship-winning experience and collaborative roster strategies.

There is an all-important decision to make, however, and Edholm pegged the team 8th for one obvious reason, the ongoing competition between its incumbent starting QB and its notable free-agent signing.

Edholm wrote the following:

The Vikings are an extremely difficult team to gauge in terms of championship readiness because of the unsettled nature of the quarterback position, both short and long term. Kyler Murray has arrived to push J.J. McCarthy, and for all we know, that competition could be good for both in advancing their careers.

Good enough to yield the ultimate prize, though? That's the question that fogs up Edholm's mirrors in Minnesota. He noted Murray doesn't have an inspiring track record in the postseason (0-1); at least, not yet. And, McCarthy is lacking in the experience category in general, with 10 appearances in two seasons.

Still, there's hope that the 65-year-old franchise that appeared in four of the first 11 Super Bowls can win the ultimate prize.

Edholm summarized them:

The Vikings have a talented coach in Kevin O'Connell, one of the best players in the game in Justin Jefferson and a first-rate defense led by the excellent Brian Flores. There are some redeemable qualities about this team, which closed last season with five straight wins. Winning a Super Bowl this season while competing in one of the tougher divisions feels like a stretch until we receive more clarity at QB.

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