The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason with a clear to-do list, and while they've checked off one key box, a couple of lingering concerns remain on the depth chart. Let's break down where the roster stands.
The biggest win of the offseason? Locking in Jauan Jennings as the new WR3. After losing Jalen Nailor to the Raiders, the Vikings needed a reliable target to round out their receiving corps alongside stars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jennings, fresh off a productive two-year stretch with the 49ers, brings exactly what this offense needs. In 2025, he hauled in 55 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns for a playoff contender, following a 2024 campaign where he posted 77 receptions for 975 yards and six scores. He's also one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league—a skill that doesn't always show up in the box score but makes a huge difference in the run game.
While Jennings doesn't have the breakaway speed of Nailor, he brings physicality, reliability, and big-play ability. The move also buys the Vikings time to develop 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton, giving him another year to grow before potentially stepping into the WR3 role in 2027 at a fraction of the cost. Jennings will earn $8 million this season (with incentives that could push it to $13 million), but swapping Nailor for Jennings looks like a wash—and a smart one at that.
However, the same confidence doesn't extend to the center and safety positions. The Vikings opted not to sign a top-tier center in free agency and then passed on several promising prospects in the draft before finally selecting Gavin Gerhardt in the seventh round. Counting on a seventh-round rookie to start immediately is a tall order. More realistically, Gerhardt will compete with 2024 seventh-rounder Michael Jurgens for the backup role behind Blake Brandel.
Brandel stepped in for nine starts last season after Ryan Kelly's concussion issues, playing adequately but looking more natural at guard or tackle. With a full offseason and training camp to focus on center, there's hope he can elevate his game. But for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the middle of the offensive line remains a question mark—and that's a problem that won't solve itself.