Half a year ago, a look at the Vikings’ roster was quite the ride, as the future was looking quite bleak. Previous draft investments didn’t really change the trajectory of the franchise the way they were supposed to and young building blocks were scarce. As a result, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had to pack his things in January.
Fast forward a few months and the roster has gotten some young pieces who undoubtedly upgrade the outlook for years to come.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Aaron Schatz, ESPN, who ranked the teams according to their under-25 talent. The Vikings climbed from 21 to 13. Last year’s ranking of 21st included high expectations for McCarthy, but those are gone. The club still improved.
He explained: “Left guard Jackson, age 23, is one of many top Vikings players, and Turner, also 23, moves into the starting lineup full time this season. First-round rookie defensive tackle Caleb Banks and second-round rookie linebacker Jake Golday also join the 23 club. I wouldn’t really call quarterback J.J. McCarthy a top Vikings player, as he is in a battle with Kyler Murray for the starting spot, but McCarthy is also 23. Jordan Addison, one of the best No. 2 receivers in the NFL, is 24.”
Schatz called left guard Donovan Jackson and pass-rusher Dallas Turner Minnesota’s blue-chip players.
Jackson, drafted in the first round in 2025, had a quiet rookie season, but certainly showed promise. When a young blocker isn’t in the headlines, that’s generally a good sign. Overall, the play he displayed in his debut season could be called average and the typical Year 2 jump could further cement his status as a long-time starter along the offensive line.
Turner, the 2024 draftee, was a big investment two years ago. The Vikings stockpiled a second first-round pick to trade for a quarterback, but ultimately held on to it. Another trade-up brought Turner to the Twin Cities, but also made him unbelievably expensive.
After a slow rookie season, Turner emerged as a sophomore and led the team in sacks. Jonathan Greenard’s exit opened the door for him to enter the starting lineup and finally arrive as a true difference-maker.
Throw in 2023 pick Jordan Addison, and the Vikings have quietly made three decent first-round picks in three consecutive years. Unfortunately, they traded away too many picks and couldn’t find much outside of those premium picks.
Addison’s off-field antics have been annoying, but his on-field play has been remarkable. He has completely lived up to the first-round bill and is the perfect second-fiddle in an offense that has to feed Justin Jefferson.
Solak mentioned Caleb Banks and Jake Golday. The defense desperately needed some young talent this offseason and the Vikings made sure to invest four picks within the first three rounds to reinforce Brian Flores’ unit.
Banks is a boom-or-bust prospect. A foot injury scared off many analysts prior to the draft and a lack of production in college is another red flag. Yet, it’s impossible to learn 6’6″ and 330lbs with movement skills of a much smaller person. Interestingly, nobody is refuting the upside he brings to the table. In a draft with a limited number of high-upside players, the Vikings found one at 18, though the concerns can’t be forgotten.
As for Golday, the Vikings don’t need him to play a huge role in Week 1 with the starting linebackers from a year ago still around. He’s more of an investment for the future. His versatility is intriguing, especially as long as Flores is calling the shots. Other rookies, of course, have a chance to qualify for next year’s list, too.
There’s also the J.J. McCarthy angle. Anointed as the franchise quarterback in 2024, he failed to secure his starting job. Injuries have piled up and the play was way too inconsistent in his first year as a starter. The optimistic outlook is he’s still only 23 and could still improve.
For the first time in years, the Vikings appear to have a legitimate young core on both sides of the ball. Jackson, Turner, and Addison have already established themselves as key contributors, while Banks and Golday represent the next wave of talent the franchise hopes to build around.
Of course, rankings on paper don’t win football games. But after years of relying on veterans and scrambling to patch holes in free agency, Minnesota finally has something every successful organization needs: a pipeline of young players capable of becoming the foundation of the roster for years to come.
There’s more work to be done. Ranking 13th can’t be the goal, but it’s a good start.
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