Top among those unresolved responsibilities was the contract of Josh Metellus. After vastly outpacing his last extension, the Vikings and their hybrid defender have been trying to work out a new contract one and off for over a year.

Josh Metellus signs contract extension with Minnesota Vikings

But in recent days, the two sides were able to come together on an extension that works for all sides, and one that was officially announced early Saturday afternoon. According to Adam Schefter (ESPN), Metellus’ new deal is worth three new years and $36 million ($42 million max value), with $25 million guaranteed.

Safety Josh Metellus and the Vikings reached agreement today on a three-year, $36 million contract extension with a max value of $42 million that includes $25 million guaranteed, per agent Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/AWExTq3axq

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2025

Related: 4 Vikings Defenders Who Could Earn Bigger Role During Training Camp

Last season, Josh Metellus played 1,201 total snaps, 991 of which were on defense. He totaled 103 tackles, 6 QB hits, 5 passes defended and 1 forced fumble. It was the second straight season in which Metellus racked up over 100 tackles and over 1,200 total snaps.

According to reports, Metellus’ contract negotiations were held up by the fact that Josh plays so many different positions. But in the end, he gets $12 million per year, far less than what former teammate (and fellow “safety”) got in Indianapolis ($15 million per season).

Up in the front office, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed his own extension, before he gave his top confidants, Ryan Grigson and Demetrius Washington, promotions from vice presidents of player personnel to co-assistant GMs.

While there have been some coaching departures, the most notable being assistant QB coach and OC, Grant Udinsky, now offensive coordinator for the Jaguars. But for the most part, the 2024 Minnesota Vikings coaching staff remains in-tact entering 2025, something that was far from guaranteed three to five months ago.

The Minnesota Vikings have employed Wes Phillips as their offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, since Kevin O’Connell took over as head coach. But he’s been with KOC longer than that. In fact, Wes and Kevin first coached together in 2017.

Minnesota Vikings sign OC Wes Phillips to contract extension

That’s when O’Connell first joined the Washington Redskins staff, as QB coach under then OC Kyle Shanahan. Since meeting up in DC, however, Wes hasn’t left Kevin’s side. They went from Washington to LA (Rams), then Minnesota together.

And after Wes Phillips agreed to a contract extension with the Vikings late Friday night, it looks like the two friends will continue their coaching journeys together, into the foreseeable future. Wes was entering the final year of his previous deal, prior to inking this one.

The #Vikings agreed to a contract extension with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips on Friday night, securing a key member of Kevin O’Connell's coaching staff with a new deal: https://t.co/dyTM3N9L6Z

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) June 14, 2025

“The deal they reached on Friday night secured one of O’Connell’s key confidants, who helps organize the team’s game plan during the week and provides a crucial voice for the coach as he calls plays on Sundays. Phillips turned down a job calling plays for the Chargers after the 2022 season, deciding to stay in Minnesota on O’Connell’s staff; he will work with the head coach and the Vikings’ offensive staff in 2025 as the team prepares 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to take over as starting quarterback.”

Ben Goessling – Star Tribune

Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) broke the news on Wes Phillips’ extension late Friday night. But the “one of us” beat writer first reported Wes’ new deal as being imminent about two weeks ago, on his Access Vikings Podcast. There, he also noted that a Brian Flores extension is likely coming soon too.

Wes’ new contract ensures he stays with Minnesota beyond 2025, unless he receives an offer elsewhere that would promote him to either head coach or play-calling offensive coordinator. Phillips doesn’t call plays for the Vikings, because Kevin O’Connell does.

Phillips’ time with Vikings has been up and down

Just a couple of years ago, this new contract was far from guaranteed for Wes Phillips. With a bunch of young, up-and-coming offensive coaches around him, many wondered how exactly the 45-year-old (now 46) fit into the future of Minnesota’s coaching staff.

Then in December 2023, while the Vikings were still in the midst of KOC’s only non-playoff season as head coach, Phillips was arrested on DWI charges that he would eventually plead down to “Careless Driving”. Instead of firing him, Kevin O’Connell gave his friend another chance. One and a half years later, here we are.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign New O-Lineman, Cut Safety

This is arguably the most important season in recent memory for the Minnesota Vikings. Wes Phillips, QB coach Josh McCown and KOC are all tasked with getting the most out of new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. We’ll see if they can work some more magic on yet another different QB.

They started by extending Kevin O’Connell, just weeks after the 2024-25 season ended. Then, they turned to 2025 player personnel, using their lut of salary cap space to spend more total dollars in free agency than any other team in the league.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah threw around all that cash carefully, using it to ink Vikings UFAs including Byron Murphy Jr and Harrison Smith, along with notable new faces on both sides of the football, especially in the trenches.

Then, after things cooled down for a little while, the Vikings turned their contract printer settings to “executive” and finally got a new deal done with their GM, an extension that was promised to Kwesi months prior, back when KOC got his new contract.

Minnesota Vikings make front-office promotions official

Included with the Adofo-Mensah extension came reports that his “top lieutenants” — Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington — were in for promotions as well. On Wednesday, those deals were announced, along with matching new titles of “Assistant GM”.

The Vikings on Wednesday announced they have promoted Ryan Grigson and Demitrius Washington to Assistant General Manager positions.

“We’re proud of the continued growth and evolution of our entire football staff as we enter 2025. Our success is built on the dedication of our talented individuals who bring unique strengths to the table as we push forward to our ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Minnesota.” — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Minnesota Vikings Press Release

Ryan Grigson: Senior Vice President of Player Personnel –> Assistant General Manager

Ryan Grigson is more of a household football fan name, due to his five years as GM of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012-2016. By the time he was fired, Grigson was painted as the reason why Andrew Luck retired early, after he failed to put a requisite team around his superstar QB, who wound up losing his love for football in the process.

I will forever hate Ryan Grigson & what he did to Andrew Luck and my mentals as a Colts fan#Colts #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/ZqldOmMd0D

— Ati (@atioberoi) April 12, 2025

Grigson drafted Luck No. 1 overall out of Stanford during his first offseason running the Colts show. While in charge, Ryan Grigson’s Colts went 49-31, in large part thanks to how good Luck was. After Grigson left Indianapolis, Luck spent all of 2017 out with injury, before retiring two years later (2019).

Related: Christian Darrisaw Looks Further Along Than Expected…

Before he came to the Vikings, prior to the 2022 season, where he’s served as Kwesi’s Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Grigson worked as an advisor and executive two different times for the Browns (2017, 2020-2021). In between stops in Cleveland, he was a “senior football consultant” for two seasons (2018-19) with the Seattle Seahawks.

Demitrius Washington: Vice President of Player Personnel –> Assistant General Manager

Demitrius Washington enters his fourth season with the Vikings in 2025, as well. He previously carried the same role as Grigson (Vice President of Player Personnel), but without the “senior” title.

Washington spent 2015-21 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he worked with Kwesi for the first time. He is the lesser-known of the two now-assistant GMs, but certainly the one with the brighter future, just given his age and career trajectory.

These next three days of minicamp workouts will also allow for more time (10 hours per day for a max of 24 hours total) than what has been allowed under the NFL CBA so far during phase three (6 hours per day for a max of three days). But then, as players were arriving in Eagan Tuesday morning, some surprising news broke.

Minnesota Vikings sign Josh Oliver to contract extension

As first reported by Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a contract extension with 28-year-old tight end Josh Oliver, who was selected 69th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver’s fresh new deal is worth three years, $23.25 million and will keep him in Minnesota through the 2028 season.

HERE TO STAY‼️

The #Vikings have agreed to terms with @JoshO_3 on a contract extension.

📰: https://t.co/JbC1pkdkC4 pic.twitter.com/Qq8ady7I0o

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 10, 2025

Oliver played three NFL seasons (in four years), mostly with the Ravens, before signing with the Vikings prior to the 2023 season. In two purple campaigns, the San Jose State alum has hauled in 44 receptions for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Related: Former Minnesota Vikings Running Back Lands Tryout in New Orleans

Prior to arriving in Minnesota, Josh Oliver had totaled just 26 receptions for 230 yards and 2 TDs. That, along with the increased priority from head coach Kevin O’Connell to run the football in 2025, re-upping on the best blocking tight end in football makes sense… on its face.

Oliver extension goes against recent reporting

But it’s surprising the news drops today, less than one week after Darren Wolfson (KSTP) reported on SKOR North Thursday that he saw pretty much no chance of a Josh Oliver extension prior to the start of the Minnesota Vikings 2025 regular season, let alone training camp or (god forbid) minicamp.

ooooof… https://t.co/81Dk6vPOVT https://t.co/AYz0lJvKr6 pic.twitter.com/Or8yTU3oFW

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) June 10, 2025

I think, at this point, Josh Oliver hits unrestricted free agency next March, which my understanding, is he would be okay with…He’s moved around already. He sure likes it here, he is banking on himself having a good year this year, then being in a position to sign a third contract, maybe even back here. But not signing a contract extension like before training camp. I don’t think that is happening unless things change.

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

I have no doubt that what Wolfson was told last week was legitimate, at the time. Was he used by the Josh Oliver camp to induce more serious negotiations on the side of the Minnesota Vikings?

That’s certainly possible. Either way, Josh Oliver will be he for the foreseeable future, which is a much different reality than what we were told heading into last weekend. No matter how it went down though, the Oliver extension is a big time W for Kevin O’Connell’s offense and the MN Vikings’ chances in 2025.

From there, players will get a month or so off before they get ready to reconvene back in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities for Training Camp in mid-late July. Between now and then, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings front office will continue ongoing contract negotiations with coaches and players.

We’ve already touched on some of the coaches who are currently working on new deals, as reported by Darren Wolfson (KSTP) this week on SKOR North. Meanwhile, the most well-known and public player negotiation currently taking place is that of Josh Metellus, a deal Wolfson and others expect to get done eventually.

Minnesota Vikings tight end looking forward to free agency next offseason…?

The same cannot be said about tight end, Josh Oliver, however. The 28-year-old former 3rd round pick out of San Jose State is also due to hit the open market next offseason.

Unlike Metellus, Oliver appears content with playing out the final year of his deal, before entering free agency next March. Don’t get it confused. Just like everyone who works for the Vikings, the 6’5″ road grading tight end likes it in Minnesota and Darren believes he’ll be open to a return.

Josh Oliver is confident in his abilities to earn more money on the open market, after one more successful season in purple. Should the Vikings rise up next offseason, as his best option for 2026 and beyond, Josh Oliver could still be back. Just no early discounts.

“If I had to bet, I’d like to think the two sides come to a happy medium eventually. That this is the next extension to get done. That it’s not Josh Oliver. I think, at this point, Josh Oliver hits unrestricted free agency next March, which my understanding, is he would be okay with.

He’s moved around already. He sure likes it here, he is banking on himself having a good year this year, then being in a position to sign a third contract, maybe even back here. But not signing a contract extension like before training camp. I don’t think that is happening unless things change. But right now, in the moment, no movement on the Josh Oliver front.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

Losing Josh Oliver, who many consider to be the best blocking tight end in all of football, to free agency would be a big hit to what Kevin O’Connell wants to do offensively, especially since the Vikings are trying to be much more run-heavy, going forward with JJ McCarthy.

How much would losing Josh Oliver hurt the MN Vikings?

As a Viking, Josh Oliver has played 32 games, including 27 starts, racking up 44 receptions on 56 targets for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns, essentially doubling the numbers he had put up through the first four years of his NFL career, in Jacksonville and Baltimore.

Drafted in 2019 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oliver spent most of his first two NFL seasons on the injured list, including all of 2020. In March 2021, after playing just four total games (3 receptions, 15 yards) with the team that used a 3rd round pick on him, Josh Oliver was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

Related: Justin Jefferson Reveals Why He Attended Minnesota Vikings OTAs

Under John Harbaugh, Oliver became a crucial piece to the Ravens running game, but was utilized very little, outside of that role. He started only 10 games for Baltimore, in his two years there, catching 23 total passes for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Paso Robles (CA) native then hit free agency in March 2023, where he quickly found a new job with the Minnesota Vikings, inking a three-year deal worth $21 million. What’s followed has been the best seasons of his professional career.

Josh Oliver (84) is such a valuable part of the Vikings' offense and it probably doesn't get talked about enough.

9-110-1 receiving line over the last two weeks while also being maybe the best run-blocking tight end in football. A remarkable athlete at 6'5", 260. pic.twitter.com/vDwISoW3OM

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 12, 2024

Multiple times since arriving in Eagan, head coach Kevin O’Connell has gushed over how much Josh Oliver means to what KOC’s offense does on a weekly basis. But just one year from now, it sounds like one of the most underrated pieces of the Minnesota Vikings’ high-powered attack could very well leave.

Next February/March, we’ll find out how much the Minnesota Vikings really value Oliver, compared to other teams across the league, who may be able to offer him a more prominent role in the passing game, something he has proved he can handle when asked.

Josh Metellus, Vikings struggling to find sweet spot in negotiations

Metellus skipped the first few voluntary Vikings OTA sessions in May, before showing up and VERY lightly participating in their most recent workout, on June 2. It’s pretty clear that the defensive leader’s disinterest this spring is due to ongoing contract negotiations that stretch all the way back to this time last year.

Related: Multiple Insiders Still See Kirk Cousins Landing Back in Minnesota

Oddly enough, it sounds like the trip up in negotiations between Metellus and the Vikings is his position flexibility. Josh wants to be the highest paid safety in the league… but he plays more in the box than he does in the secondary. Should that work against him, though?

“On Josh Matelis I think there’s been enough dialogue and [the Vikings] and [his agent] Drew Rosenhaus have worked out enough contracts: Christian Darrisaw, Aaron Jones, I mentioned Andrew Van Ginkel, go up and down the list…that I’d like to think eventually this gets done. But I’m telling you, I’m struggling to come up with what the numbers look like.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North)

Because linebackers and slot cornerbacks — where the former 6th round pick out of Michigan spends most of his time — are usually paid more than safeties. The problem with getting a Metellus deal done has nothing to do with lack of desire. He wants to be back in purple and, likewise, the Minnesota Vikings are motivated to bring him back.

What were they supposed to predict from a team coming off a 7-win season, that just lost its QB1 to free agency. Remember, prior to 2024, Sam Darnold was seen as an unfixable bust. So when the Minnesota Vikings entered training camp last year with just Darnold and rookie JJ McCarthy on the depth chart, there was too much unknown for much confidence, especially from the outside-looking in.

But that was far from the only uncertainty-turned-strength for the 2024 Vikings. Not only were they turning over the QB position, they were flipping much of the defense too. Even more so than this offseason, there were lots of new faces and all sorts of major questions throughout the defense.

Minnesota Vikings reward Andrew Van Ginkel

Arguably, outside (EDGE) linebacker was one of the biggest vulnerabilities. Those questions were answered rather quickly, though, when newcomers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel started blowing through blockers, sacking quarterbacks and returning interceptions for touchdowns pretty much from week one.

On Tuesday, the Vikings rewarded the latter, soon-to-be 3-year-old Wisconsin alum Andrew Van Ginkel, with a generous contract extension worth $22.4 million guaranteed.

A raise in Minnesota: Vikings reached agreement today on a one-year $23 million extension that includes $22.4 million guaranteed for LB Andrew Van Ginkel, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/CHvbOo9sBN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025

When the dust settled, the Minnesota Vikings finished the 2024 season 13-3, in large part thanks to Darnold’s Pro Bowl performance, but also because the new-look Brian Flores defense wound up being one of the best in the NFL.

Related: JJ McCarthy Says He’s Ready to Start for the MN Vikings… Plus Much More

The best player on that defense was that previous part-timer, Andrew Van Ginkel, who racked up 11.5 sacks, 79 total tackles, to go with his 6 passes defended and 2 interceptions, each of which he returned for touchdowns.

Van Ginkel deserves every penny of new deal.

In 2023, the MN Vikings relied almost solely on Danielle Hunter to bring pressure from the edge. Everything else came via blitz, where the defensive coordinator Brian Flores led the league in blitz percentage, by a wide margin.

Then, they let Hunter walk in free agency, in exchange for Jonathan Greenard — who was coming off one good season with the Houston Texans — and Andrew Van Ginkel, a part-time starter for the Miami Dolphins for most of his career. They did it because of the discount being offered, due to past injury issues, especially with Van Ginkel.

But in the end, it could not have worked out better for everyone involved.

For some of us, that narrative has never made sense. Sam is the best quarterback available, in a QB market that has way more needy teams than it does competent starters. Yet, we’re supposed to believe there isn’t one team out there — out of the Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Titans or Giants — who wants to cut the QB line for Darnold?

Are we talking about the same MVP caliber QB who threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with a 66.2% completion rate last season? Maybe Kwesi should tell other general managers that Sam is only 27 years old, that he is a former No. 3 overall pick and one of the best pure arm talents in the NFL…

Minnesota Vikings unlikely to tag Sam Darnold; Extension gaining steam…

Late Monday, the third Sam Darnold emerged as a much more realistic scenario than what most of us believed previously. According to both Adam Schefter (ESPN) and Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) below, the Minnesota Vikings still do not plan to franchise tag Sam Darnold, but an extension is still possible.

Then Tuesday morning, Rapoport doubled down on his report from Monday night, going on Good Morning Football and stating that the “there is still a possibility that [Darnold] is their starter” next season and that, “one of the really strong options is for Darnold to return to the Vikings on a deal that is a little under the franchise tag”.

The #Vikings are not expected to franchise tag QB Sam Darnold by Tuesday’s deadline, per me and @TomPelissero. But all parties are working through options to potentially keep him in Minnesota.

Darnold, who is set to hit free agency, has a situation best described as fluid. pic.twitter.com/q3A8iGkYEQ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025

From @GMFB: It's franchise tag day, as #Bengals WR Tee Higgins got his second tag, the #Cowboys are likely to franchise tag DT Osa Odighizuwa, and the #Vikings are not expected to tag QB Sam Darnold, but would like him back. pic.twitter.com/ibDQqKr4wH

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025

“Here’s my understanding, and this is something I am reporting with my colleague, Tom Pelissero. [The Vikings] are not expected to franchise tag Sam Darnold today. There is still a possibility that he is their starter [in 2025]. In fact, there are various options here. One of the really strong options is for Darnold to return to the Vikings on a deal that is a little under the franchise tag. The two sides would like to work something out, no doubt.

If Darnold becomes free next week, he will likely be the top QB available. He is for sure going to have suitors. The Vikings would like him back, which would mean by the way, not yet for JJ McCarthy. Obviously, there’s a lot there. They would like to retain Sam Darnold, we’ll see if they’re able to do so.”

Ian Rapoport – Good Morning Football (NFL Network)

WTF is happening…?

This is obviously a very fluid situation. Obviously, these deeply plugged-in NFL insiders are being told by both the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Darnold that an extension is more likely than the franchise tag.

The obvious problem is the extreme 180 degree turnaround vs what we’ve been lead to believe for the last year, that Darnold is a bridge QB to JJ McCarthy and that head coach Kevin O’Connell is ready to hand him the reins, at some point in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Hire New Assistant Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach

So, are these most recent leaks legitimate? Or, are the Vikings hoping to use these reports for something else unexpected? We’ll be here to let you know, as soon as more reporting comes out on the situation.

Given all the O’Connell trade rumors that were floating around in the weeks leading up to the Vikings’ elimination in the NFC Wild Card round, something had to get done. Without signing or moving on from the head coach, the rest of the offseason (and the future of the organization) would have gotten awfully muddy.

Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about any of that. But while the deal with Kevin O’Connell did get done, details surrounding his new contract have been slow to emerge. On his podcast last week, MN Vikings beat writer Matt Coller (PurpleInsider.com) revealed the contract length to be five years. The money, though, has been rather elusive.

More details of Kevin O’Connell contract extension revealed

That is until local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) wrote about it in his latest column, which releases in the Sunday paper every two to three weeks. There, the longtime reporter laid out the approximate details of Kevin O’Connell’s contract extension as a 5-year, ~$65 million deal (just under $15M/YR), good for top six among NFL head coaches.

O’Connell’s new contract is expected to average nearly $15 million a year over four years, meaning the Vikings are committed to him for the next five years for about $65 million. The deal leaves O’Connell, 39, among the top half-dozen paid coaches in the NFL.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Some NFL pundits thought O’Connell was worth nearly $20 million per season, which is what head coaches like Andy Reid and Sean McVay make. Given the Detroit Lions hired Ben Johnson for a reported $13 million per year, $15 million makes a lot of sense for KOC, who is 34-17 has Minnesota Vikings head coach.

Minnesota Vikings owners thought about playing hardball with O’Connell?

Also included within Charley’s column this weekend was an alternative outcome to the Kevin O’Connell contract negotiations. One where, instead of meeting their head coach in the middle during negotiations, the Wilfs decided to play hardball.

Related: Vikings Interested in Bringing Sam Darnold Back, Transition Tag Possible

In this hypothetical scenario, the Minnesota Vikings hold off on talks with KOC, while teams around the league fill their head coaching vacancies. That would have left little to no options for O’Connell, outside Minnesota, leaving him with little negotiating power. Then… a take it or leave it deal for much less than what they reportedly settled on in reality.

[The Wilfs] could have waited O’Connell out while a handful of other coaching jobs filled, limiting his options and then making a take-it-or-leave-it offer. If so, O’Connell would have had to decide whether to become a free agent after a year. And if the Vikings disappointed in 2025, which could happen, O’Connell would have lost leverage.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

Of course, that’s not what happened and Kevin O’Connell is now set to be the Vikings head coach for the foreseeable future. Now that he is under contract, KOC will not be judged on how the 2025 season unfolds. Instead, he’ll be judged on how he develops JJ McCarthy.

That is… unless Minnesota chooses to roll with Sam Darnold. Personally, I can’t say I’d place that bet, even if insiders are floating that possibility.

Adam Schefter expects a Kevin O’Connell contract extension soon

Well, NFL insider Adam Schefter (ESPN) weighed in on the discussion Friday. He does not see a world where the Vikings trade KOC. Instead, he believes a deal will get done between the two sides sooner, rather than later.

What makes him so sure? Schefter points to NFL history for his logic… “teams that have coaches that they’ve identified as their future, they don’t typically let [those] guys go into the final year of their deal”. Thus, the 35 year veteran NFL scoop artist expects an extension to be reached “in the coming days [or] weeks”.

"I don't see Kevin O'Connell getting traded and I think the Vikings are gonna hold onto him… I would imagine that they will figure out an extension”.

–@AdamSchefter on #Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
pic.twitter.com/tXTLH8tfEz

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) January 17, 2025

“I don’t see him getting traded. I think that the Wilf family’s gonna wanna hold on to him. He’s gonna be entering the last year of his deal. I think teams that have coaches who they’ve identified as their future don’t typically let [those] guys go into the last year of their deal. And so I would imagine, at some point in the coming days, weeks, whatever it may be, that the Wilf family and Kevin O’Connell sit down and figure out an extension.”

Adam Schefter – Pat McAfee Show (ESPN) | H/T: @TPPSkol

Per Schefter, the cost to extend O’Connell won’t be the highest paid head coach in the NFL, by any means, but it will be a nice raise to what KOC was getting on his rookie coaching deal. He “guesses”, Kevin O’Connell is making around $7-$8 million per year, if he remembers correctly.

How much is a KOC extension expected to cost the Minnesota Vikings?

To set the scale, Schefter notes that the top NFL coaches make $17-$20 million per season. Pat McAfee and the boys immediately assume that means O’Connell will be demanding that much. The most trusted NFL insider in the game says, not so fast…

Related: JJ McCarthy Update: Minnesota Vikings Future Franchise QB Back on the Field

The ESPN insider believes that, if the Vikings can get a deal done this offseason, it’ll cost them “in the low teens, maybe”. Schefter seems like he wants to set the floor at $10ish million, before stating that the Wilfs might think the “low teens” is crazy.

Schefter: “The top tier [coaches in the NFL], we’re talking about $17, $18, $19 million a year… $20 million a year.”

McAfee: “So he’s gonna get $17-$20 million per year?”

Schefter: “Listen, he’s gonna get as much as he can get. I don’t know, his first deal — if my memory serves me correct — he’s under $8 million. Like, I’m gonna guess he’s around $7 million. So the next deal, I think, would get him in the… I don’t know… the low teens maybe… like $10 m… like, the Wilfs might be watching this and be like ‘what, is he out of his mind’ but you know, Kevin O’Connell wants to play it out.”

Pat McAfee Show

Here’s the biggest problem for the Minnesota Vikings, when it comes to these contract negotiations. If they are not willing to give Kevin O’Connell what he is demanding, he can always ride out the final year of his deal, bet on himself, and then hit the open market at the end of 2026.

How much would Kevin O’Connell get if he hit the NFL coaching carousel in 2026?

And should the Minnesota Vikings get to training camp without Kevin O’Connell under a long-term contract, I am not sure why he would be interesting in negotiating during the season.

At that point, he may as well wait, so he can hit the open market and possibly see higher offers than what he can get in an extension with Minnesota. How much could he get on the open market? Schefty puts KOC’s open market value at $12-$14 million.

"I don't see Kevin O'Connell getting traded and I think the Vikings are gonna hold onto him… I would imagine that they will figure out an extension”.

–@AdamSchefter on #Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
pic.twitter.com/tXTLH8tfEz

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) January 17, 2025

“If the the Wilfs don’t step up and give him what we all would agree, in an objective way, is a fair offer, then Kevin O’Connell could say, ‘I’m not going to sign that’ and then he goes into the last year of his contract and he’s a coaching free agent next year.

And if you’re a coaching free agent what would Kevin O’Connell get on the open market? If you’re asking me, I would say Kevin O’Connell would get — first of all, we have to see how next year goes — but if he had the kind of season next year, that he did this past year, my guess is Kevin O’connell’s in the 12 to $14 million per year range.”

Are Schefter’s contract projections for O’Connell too low?

After he hears Schefter’s projected price tag for O’Connell, he accuses his friend Adam Schefter of trying to hold down O’Connell’s value, to help out the Wilfs. He and his crew think KOC is worth just as much as any NFL head coach in the league.

Related: Vikings Assistant Coach Survives First Round of Cuts for Seahawks OC Job

By what Adam taught us above, that would put O’Connell’s value at as high as $20 million per season. to that, Schefter stands his ground, and refuses to move KOC’s price tag any higher. Nonetheless, he ends the conversation, opting not to negotiate publicly against a coach he agrees is one of the best in the league.

McAfee: Sounds like you’re trying to help out the wolf family here publicly. I respect that, I appreciate what you’re doing here. This guy won 14 games this season when the quarterback invade $13 million he’s never had success. Before that he had the Passtronaut playing quarterback…”

Schefter: Listen, I’m a huge Kevin O’Connell guy. I think he’s one of the best coaches in the league. He’s one of the best installers of culture. But again, I don’t wanna… I’m not gonna make a debate. I’m just telling you that’s that’s my opinion, that’s all I’m gonna say.

But Darnold isn’t the only overachiever on this roster. In fact, the one-word theme surrounding the Vikings’ 2024 season is probably “overachievers”. The defense has blossomed into one of the best in the league, under Brian Flores. Running back Aaron Jones has proven he still had plenty of gas left in his 29-year-old tank.

How good is the Minnesota Vikings offensive line?

But what about the Minnesota Vikings offensive line? Has it overachieved too, or does head coach Kevin O’Connell still have a major problem on the interior? Well, that’s a complex question to answer.

Statistics, advanced metrics and PFF grades tell part of the story. At the end of the day, though, judging OL play is difficult, no matter how trained of a football eye you have. The better question is probably, what do Minnesota Vikings coaches and front office members think?

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Those are the opinions that matter most. And from the sounds of it, according to a piece that dropped Thursday morning, Alec Lewis (The Athletic) seems to think those who matter have mostly liked what they have seen so far from the Vikings OL.

Contract extensions incoming for Vikings OL?

In fact, it sounds like Kwesi and head coach Kevin O’Connell may be thinking about contract extensions for multiple players on the Vikings front-5. First up, Brian O’Neill, arguably the team’s best offensive lineman. The 29-year-old is under contract through 2026, but his cap hit reaches it’s high point in 2025, at $26 million.

His current contract situation makes O’Neill an easy extension candidate. He’ll be able do add more term and a lot more guaranteed cash. In return, the Vikings can bring down that massive $26M cap hit for next season.

Brian O’Neill isn’t the only offensive lineman the Vikings may be eyeing up for a possible extension, though. According to Lewis, both Garrett Bradbury and Blake Brandel may be on the docket too.

All five [Vikings o-linemen] are under contract through 2025, but their deals do not become guaranteed until the spring, meaning there is always the chance some adjustments could be made.

The most interesting names are on the offensive line: Brian O’Neill is a fixture on the offensive front and adores Minnesota, so a contract extension to reshuffle his year-over-year numbers is not out of the question. Garrett Bradbury and Blake Brandel are worthy of deeper discussions come spring.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Outside of the disaster that has been Ed Ingram, the Minnesota Vikings OL has mostly been a 2024 success story. The group is holding up better than it had in previous years, even after losing its best player, Christian Darrisaw, to a season-ending injury.

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If Kevin O’Connell prefers continuity, which seems to be another theme with this o-line, then extending everyone but Ed Ingram makes a lot of sense.