The Minnesota Vikings have their sights set on another key executive from the Denver Broncos' front office. After failing to lure general manager George Paton away from Denver earlier this offseason, the Vikings are now looking to interview his right-hand man.

According to a report from the Denver Post's Luca Evans, Minnesota has requested permission to speak with Broncos assistant general manager Reed Burckhardt for their vacant GM position—and Denver has agreed to grant the interview.

This development comes just weeks after the Broncos locked up Paton with a lucrative five-year contract extension, shutting down rumors that the Vikings were hoping to bring him back to the organization where he previously spent 13 seasons. Now, Minnesota is turning its attention to the man working directly under Paton.

Burckhardt's rise through the ranks has been swift. He joined the Broncos in 2022 as director of player personnel before being promoted to assistant GM last year, stepping into the role after Darren Mougey departed to become the New York Jets' general manager. If the Vikings ultimately hire Burckhardt, it would mark the second consecutive year Denver has lost an assistant GM to another franchise.

Interestingly, this wouldn't be a completely foreign destination for Burckhardt. Before landing in Denver, he spent 13 seasons with the Vikings, overlapping with Paton's tenure in Minnesota from 2007 to 2020. That history could make him a natural fit to return to the franchise where he first cut his teeth in NFL personnel work.

For Vikings fans, this interview represents the latest chapter in a front-office shuffle that has kept the NFC North team in the headlines. And for Broncos supporters, it's another reminder that success breeds interest—especially when it comes to the sharp minds behind the scenes building championship-caliber rosters.