Everything we learned from OTAs and minicamp
EAGAN — On Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings wrapped up one of the most news-filled OTA and minicamp sessions in the entire NFL. The past few weeks saw two players discuss their contracts, one hold out and a whole lot of young players start to find their starting points heading into training camp. Let’s take a look at everything we learned from the eventful spring sessions…
Kirk Cousins is fine playing without a contract extension
The Vikings’ quarterback started the spring program with a press conference announcing that he was not worried about entering a year in which his future was uncertain. He pointed out that he has often been unsure about what was coming next, from his senior year in high school to entering the NFL Draft to 2017 in Washington. Multiple times during his Vikings tenure there were discussions about whether he would return the following season and he has twice signed extensions and now restructured has a contract that is set to make him a free agent after this year.
“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March, and until then just focus on this season and the job to do right now,” Cousins said.
As far as OTAs and minicamp, there were no signs of unhappiness over his contract. Cousins took all the first-team reps and operated the offense through all the drills and situations in the same way he has for the last five years.
The running back competition is wide open
In the time between OTAs and minicamp, the Vikings cut running back Dalvin Cook, who had dominated the backfield for the past five years. Now Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and DeWayne McBride are set to participate in the first RB competition we have seen since 2017.
Of course, there isn’t much question from minicamp about which runner is starting at the pole position when it comes to training camp.
“I feel really good about our running back room, and Alex Mattison is a huge reason why,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “I think he’s proven that he can, whether over the past few years when he’s stepped in there and handling a really good workload and producing….his ability to handle the roles and responsibilities of that position in our offense. I feel great about where Alex is at. The next step in his career is obviously just a little bit more consistent opportunities, which obviously we hope to provide for him.”
The exact number of opportunities for Mattison will be determined by the running backs behind him.
“With Kene [Nwangwu] and Ty [Chandler] and obviously the rookie (DeWayne McBride), we want to allow a real competition to take place,” O’Connell said. “We feel that there’s talented guys behind Alex that can provide roles within our offense where maybe, depending on down and distance, depending on situation of the game, we can get some different guys in there.”
On the final day of minicamp Nwangwu got more work with the first team than Chandler.
Justin Jefferson will be at training camp
When Jefferson arrived at minicamp after missing OTAs, he was asked whether he planned to attend training camp — presumably contract or not. He answered with a matter-of-fact, “yeah, yeah.” That takes one potential massive camp storyline off the table — though JJ and the Vikings negotiating a contract extension will still be on the top of everyone’s mind if a deal isn’t signed before training camp.
Nobody knows how long the Danielle Hunter situation is going to play out
Despite holding out of minicamp, O’Connell did not dismiss the idea of Hunter and the Vikings still coming to an agreement on a new contract.
“I definitely see [returning] as a real outcome, but there’s a lot to be determined there, and I want to be very sensitive to allowing that process to play out for both our organization and for Danielle,” O’Connell said.
NFL Network reported that the Vikings have been receiving trade offers for Hunter. If the two sides can’t get on the same page about an extension or band-aid type deal for this year that puts more money in Hunter’s pocket, trading him becomes a real possibility.
Could he be traded soon? Could he have a new deal soon? Could this go on until training camp or go all the way through camp? The timeline for Hunter’s situation to be resolved is completely unclear as the team wraps up minicamp.
The 2022 class is under pressure
The Vikings’ 2022 first-rounder Lewis Cine worked behind Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus in practice, giving the implication that he will begin in that spot when training camp comes around. That hardly means the position is settled though. OTAs and minicamp are considered the “learning” phase of the offseason but the “competitive” phase comes during training camp. Don’t call this race yet. The highly-talented Cine will really get his chance to compete on a daily basis in August when the pads come on.
Brian Asamoah was also working largely with the twos behind veteran Troy Reader. He should be expected to win that job.
The team seems excited about Akayleb Evans, who took nearly all the first-team reps. Andrew Booth Jr., on the other hand, may have to battle for his job.
This will be a make or break camp for all of them.
Jordan Addison should be healthy to start camp
The 23rd overall pick in the draft did not see a single rep in OTAs or minicamp due to an injury but was present for all the Vikings’ practices. O’Connell said it was a precaution to insure that he is ready to go by training camp.
Call him “Joker” Metellus
We can’t quite call 2022 a “breakout” year for safety Josh Metellus but he did put his name on the map as a potential option on defense by leading the club’s special teams and filling in admirably when called upon. During camp, Brian Flores was moving him around and using a three-safety package. As a smart, competitive player, Metellus may be the type to fit that a versatile role in the defense. It looks like he will enter camp with the plan being to have him involved. We’ll see how it plays out from there.
It seems Mekhi Blackmon will get a chance to earn playing time
The rookie corner from USC saw a good number of reps over Andrew Booth Jr. with the first team, giving the indication that the Vikings like what they see early on. At 24, they should expect Blackmon to throw his hat in the mix immediately and compete with the other inexperienced corners for playing time.
Nick Mullens is very much QB2
The Vikings drafted Jaren Hall in the fifth round from BYU as a QB to develop as a backup but there wasn’t much question that veteran Nick Mullens would be handling the second-team reps. Mullens played in O’Connell’s offense last year and has 17 career starts, which should maintain him the trust of the coaching staff even if we see flashes from the rookie in camp. But you never know. Have you heard Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick?
Brian Flores’s defense is going to be a wild ride
You won’t find an OTA or minicamp anywhere with as many blitzes and different rush looks than the Vikings had over the past month of periodic practices. The offensive players were taken aback at first but said that they were happy to get reps against complex blitzes that they will be seeing throughout the year. It was hard to ignore subtle implications from defensive players that this scheme has a lot more juice than last season.
“I think Flo’s (Brian Flores) done a phenomenal job installing his defense, the mindset, the personality that comes with Brian Flores that I’m so excited about that,” O’Connell said.
Jalen Nailor set himself up to carve out a role
The biggest winner of the entire OTA and minicamp sessions may have been the 2022 sixth-round pick, who got tons of opportunities because of the absences of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He consistently caught passes, taking advantage of the extra reps with Kirk Cousins. With the first three receiver spots set, Nailor will start off camp as WR4 with a chance to show that he belongs as part of the rotation.
The door is open for a depth receiver to emerge
Beyond Nailor, it’s anybody’s guess who will land WR5 and/or WR6. Trishton Jackson won a practice squad job in 2022 and made numerous plays during the summer workouts. Brandon Powell came over from the Rams. Jalen Reagor remains in the mix after being acquired via trade last year.
Josh Oliver’s role will be worth watching
One thing we learned from OTAs and minicamp is that Josh Oliver is the size of a Dodge Ram. O’Connell has emphasized his desire to become more versatile as an offense and Oliver appears to be a part of that plan.
“I think anytime you have personnel versatility, it’s a way you can apply pressure,” O’Connell said. “And what I mean by that is, how many different guys in different roles, in the run and pass game, can we apply pressure to the defense in different types of ways that you’ve gotta defend us?”
Kicking competition?
We didn’t see a ton of kicking but rookie Jack Podlesny showed that he has impressive leg strength. He was also erratic on the final day of minicamp. After an uneven year from Greg Joseph, it’s not clear whether there will be two kickers or one at camp.
