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Among the Minnesota Vikings’ fan base, hopes are high for 2026, mainly because the club acquired Kyler Murray in March and finished last season with a winning record despite mostly miserable quarterback play.
But ESPN does not share that optimism, nominating Minnesota’s roster as the 11th-worst in the NFL heading into training camp. If Minnesota makes something of the season, it will do so without the sign-off of ESPN.
ESPN’s Low View Adds Pressure ahead of 2026
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Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline at Soldier Field as Minnesota works through calls against Chicago in an NFC North matchup. On Oct. 15, 2023, Flores tracked defensive communication and pressure timing while the Vikings adjusted through a physical second half on the road in a tight divisional setting. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
ESPN: Vikings’ Roster Ranks No. 22 in Power Rankings
Mike Clay of ESPN dropped the No. 22 ranking for the Vikings, noting that the running backs — Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, and Zavier Scott — were the team’s foremost weakness.
On the other hand, he noted the chief strength: “Biggest strength: Pass catchers. Receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings and tight end T.J. Hockenson form a terrific group of targets for whoever wins the QB job.”
“Even in a down season (no fault of his own), Jefferson delivered his sixth consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards in 2025 and remains arguably the league’s best wide receiver. Addison produced 875-plus receiving yards and nine-plus TDs in his first two seasons before the QB woes of 2025.”
Pound for pound, Clay is probably correct about the pass-catchers as the team’s main calling card, though the defense is statistically fantastic too.
“Jennings broke out in 2024 with the 49ers and has a 132-1,618-15 receiving line over the past two seasons. Hockenson’s stats have been down the past two seasons, but the 29-year-old remains one of the league’s best two-way tight ends,” Clay concluded.
The Teams Ahead of MIN
Three teams questionably checked in ahead of Minnesota:
- Indianapolis Colts
- Washington Commanders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
The Colts are all-in to win a Super Bowl with Daniel Jones, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, an injury that goes either way in terms of recovery. The Commanders fired up a down year after an unexpected sprint to the NFC Championship in 2024. And the Steelers will roll with Aaron Rodgers again, this time led by his old pal, head coach Mike McCarthy.
Placing any of those squads ahead of Minnesota per roster talent is certainly debateable.
Very Little Faith in the QB
How did the Vikings fetch the 22nd roster ranking in football? It’s pretty evident: outside of Minneapolis, the masses don’t trust the quarterback(s). Murray’s reputation is at a career crater. That’s the cost of doing business when the Arizona Cardinals, of all organizations, run you out of town. Put plainly, the world believes that Murray is mid.
His quarterback running mate this summer, J.J. McCarthy, is mostly known for memes, and somehow, that matters in the court of public opinion. McCarthy produced an up-and-down season in his first as a starter, and that’s when he wasn’t missing seven games due to a flurry of injuries.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray surveys Minnesota’s defense in a Week 13 highlight clip as the Cardinals offense prepares for another snap against Brian Flores’ unit. On Dec. 1, 2024, Murray operated before the play while the Vikings aligned across the formation during a sequence from the NFL’s official regular-season highlights package online. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Most NFL analysis starts with the quarterback, and for a team like the Vikings to rank 22nd, it means that ESPN doesn’t really trust Murray or McCarthy to be dependable.
The Super Bowl Odds
How about Vegas? Do sportsbooks agree with the 22nd assessment? For the most part.
The Vikings’ Super Bowl odds in early July are 18th-best in the sport. Here’s the full list for curious minds:
- Los Angeles Rams: +500
- Buffalo Bills: +1000
- Baltimore Ravens: +1100
- Seattle Seahawks: +1200
- Los Angeles Chargers: +1600
- Kansas City Chiefs: +1600
- Detroit Lions: +1700
- New England Patriots: +1700
- San Francisco 49ers: +1700
- Philadelphia Eagles: +1800
- Houston Texans: +1900
- Cincinnati Bengals: +2000
- Denver Broncos: +2000
- Green Bay Packers: +2200
- Dallas Cowboys: +2200
- Chicago Bears: +2700
- Jacksonville Jaguars: +2700
- Indianapolis Colts: +4500
- Minnesota Vikings: +4500
- Washington Commanders: +5000
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +6000
- Pittsburgh Steelers: +7000
- New York Giants: +7000
- Atlanta Falcons: +7500
- Carolina Panthers: +8000
- New Orleans Saints: +8000
- Tennessee Titans: +12500
- Las Vegas Raiders: +12500
- Cleveland Browns: +35000
- New York Jets: +40000
- Miami Dolphins: +60000
- Arizona Cardinals: +100000
Oddsmakers pretty much plop the Vikings in the same boat as the Colts at +4500. That’s akin to reaching into a shuffled deck and pulling one specific card — like the Ace of Spades — on the first try.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with his team at U.S. Bank Stadium before a home matchup against Baltimore, staying active during pregame work. On Nov. 9, 2025, O’Connell moved through the field as the Vikings prepared for another AFC test inside their home venue in downtown Minneapolis again. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
NFL Spin Zone‘s Sayre Bedinger ranked Minnesota at — you guessed it — No. 22 in his recent power rankings: “The Vikings are going to be relying on defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his scheme more than ever before.”
“Even with the possibility of a breakout from Dallas Turner, this team has young players replacing the likes of Jonathan Greenard, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Harrison Smith. Those are huge losses. Factoring in the quarterback position coming down to Kyler Murray and JJ McCarthy, this is going to be maybe the biggest “test” year for O’Connell and his staff.”
The Vikings haven’t won a playoff game in 2,376 days.
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