But that doesn’t mean the scouting portion of the combine doesn’t happen. Already on Monday, NFL teams started meeting with draft prospects. One of those prospects in attendance this week is Minnesota Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who is homegrown out of Anoka, MN.

Minnesota Gophers linebacker Cody Lindenberg sitting out parts of NFL Combine

Cody will be in Indy, meeting with coaches and executives around the league, but he will not be a full participant. According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP), Lindenberg will not take part in any of the physical drills or tests at the NFL Combine late this week. It sounds like he is nursing some sort of injury…

Former #Gophers LB Cody Lindenberg (Anoka HS) will wait until Pro Day March 19th to do on-the-field testing. He’ll still do interviews this week at the Combine. The extra 3ish weeks give him a chance to be 100 percent. pic.twitter.com/rKtNNtOAYT

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 24, 2025

Cody Linenberg played five seasons of college football (2020-2024), all of which were played at home with the Minnesota Gophers. After dealing with injuries that plagued much of his collegiate career, Lindenberg played 38 games, totaling 209 tackles, 8 passes defended, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.

This season was only the second in which Lindenberg has stayed healthy throughout, and the numbers show that. In his final season as a Golden Gopher, Cody Lindenberg easily led Minnesota in tackles, with 94.

Related: Record Number of Minnesota Gophers Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

The second-most prolific tackler for Minnesota last season was Maverick Baranowski, who totaled 65 tackles. For those who struggle in the math department, that’s 29 less than his middle linebacking partner.

What will Lindenberg bring to NFL?

Lindenberg, a late-round projected pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, posted a 72.2 defensive PFF grade last season. His 79.3 run defense grade was good for 3rd on the team, behind only freshman safeties Kerry Brown and Koi Perich.

Every NFL team is looking for big 'backers who can run and Minnesota's Cody Lindenberg (6030e, 240e) is one of 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞/𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐬 in this year's LB class.

Checkout #45 run with shallow crosser here👇and then attack downhill with perfect timing for the sack… https://t.co/zHF79GkPhm pic.twitter.com/OJKO77gGlE

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 17, 2024

Lindenberg is one of those linebacker prospects that reminds me a lot of Blake Cashman or Jack Gibbens, who have both found regular roles at the NFL level, after being drafted out of Minnesota.

Related: Minnesota QB Max Brosmer Gets THE Invite

Cody Lindenberg is a smart football player who will work hard to make himself the best possible linebacker he can be at the next level. As long as he stays healthy, there’s no reason to bet against Lindenberg making an NFL roster out of camp, no matter where he ends up being selected.

The 2025 NFL scouting combine will be held from February 27 to March 2 at Indianapolis. While these days many see it as more of a gathering for top front office executives to mingle amongst each other and media members about how the NFL offseason will unfold, it’s important to remember that there are still college football players trying to prove to teams around the league that they should be on their draft boards.

Minnesota Gophers receive SIX NFL scouting combine invites

And in 2025, six Minnesota Gophers players received invites to the scouting combine, including QB Max Brosmer, DL Jah Joyner, CB Justin Walley, WR Daniel Jackson and OT Aireontae Ersery. That’s more Golden Gophers to attend a scouting combine than in any other year in program history.

A program record 6️⃣ @NFL Scouting Combine Invitees! Minnesota is one of just 13 programs to have at least six invitees at six different positions 〽️#RTB #SkiUMah #Gophers pic.twitter.com/u5Y1WPGnWZ

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) February 13, 2025

Quarterback, Max Brosmer | 6’2″, 225lb

A graduate transfer out of New Hampshire, Max Brosmer started all 13 games for the Minnesota Gophers in 2024. He set a single-season school record with 268 completions (403 attempts). His passing efficiency was remarkable, completing 66.5% of his passes for 2,828 yards (third most in school history) and 18 touchdowns (tied for eighth most) to just 6 interceptions.

Related: Minnesota QB Max Brosmer Gets THE Invite

Brosmer’s performance earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors once and a spot in the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he impressed scouts and evaluators in attendance. Max’s transfer in last season transformed the Golden Gophers’ offense faster than anyone thought humanly possible. In 2024, Minnesota averaged 31.7 pass attempts per game, significantly higher than any previous season under PJ Fleck.

Max Brosmer (Minnesota) is probably my favorite Day 3 QB. Absolute machine on intermediate throws and is by far the best anticipatory passer that I’ve watched. I’d draft him just to specialize as my 3rd & medium QB.pic.twitter.com/wJCRgekYKi

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 17, 2025

Defensive End, Jah Joyner | 6’5″, 250lb

Jah Joyner’s combination of speed, power, and technique made him one of the most disruptive defensive linemen on the Minnesota Gophers last season. The junior defensive end racked up 4.5 sacks and 6 tackles for loss (32 total tackles) in 2024. He also forced 2 fumbles and 7 pass breakups.

Joyner’s impressive performance earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team, which helped get him his invite to the combine. According to PFF, Joyner hurried opposing quarterbacks 22 times in 2024, which led the team. He also posted an overall defensive grade of 76.7. Even more impressive is his consistency in both the run and pass — 75.4 both rush defense and pass rush grades.

Wide Receiver, Daniel Jackson | 6’0″, 200lb

The senior Minnesota Gophers wide receiver played in all 12 games, hauling in 75 receptions for 863 yards and 4 touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 receptions per game and 71.9 receiving yards per game, proving himself as far and away the best receiver on the Golden Gophers roster in 2024.

Jackson can play inside, outside and he’s determined in the block game. Daniel is a guy who will go into this draft very much underrated, but his hands and ability to get open will make him a viable candidate for whatever roster he ends up on.

Continuing our top 10 moments of the season countdown, we have our No. 3 moment… when @GopherFootball's Daniel Jackson had this absolutely unreal catch 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/85zSEFYPPl

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 29, 2024

Offensive Tackle, Aireontae Ersery | 6’6″, 320lb

Aireontae Ersery anchored the Minnesota Gophers offensive line at left tackle in 2024, showcasing his strength and athleticism. He started all 13 games last season for the Gophers and he was a key part of an offensive line that helped the Gophers average over 400 yards of total offense per game.

The senior LT posted a 77.5 overall PFF grade, which included a 73.6 grade. He was even better in pass pro, where he posted a 77.3 grade, which demonstrates probably Ersery’s best skill as a blocker. According to PFF, Aireontae allowed just one sack, one QB hit and 10 hurries all season.

Related: Gophers Finish Way Higher than Projected in Final Top 140 of 2024

Entering the 2025 NFL Draft, Ersery is projected as a potential first or second round draft pick. Mel Kiper (ESPN) has him as his 7th best offensive tackle in the class. Kiper notes Ersery’s ability to “drive defensive ends off the ball with his power and uses his movement skills to keep quicker pass rushers in check”.

Linebacker, Cody Lindenberg | 6’3″, 235lb

Cody Lindenberg was another huge cog in the efficient Minnesota Gophers defense machine in 2024. He tallied 94 total tackles, including 45 solo and 49 assisted, which easily led the team. The closest Gopher behind him was Maverick Baranowski, with 65. Lindenberg also contributed 5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Every NFL team is looking for big 'backers who can run and Minnesota's Cody Lindenberg (6030e, 240e) is one of 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞/𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐬 in this year's LB class.

Checkout #45 run with shallow crosser here👇and then attack downhill with perfect timing for the sack… https://t.co/zHF79GkPhm pic.twitter.com/OJKO77gGlE

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) October 17, 2024

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Lindenberg earned an overall grade of 72.2, with an impressive run defense grade of 79.3 to go with a 66.2 tackle grade and 65.4 pass rush grade. PFF does have him riding the struggle bus in coverage last year, with a 61.1 grade.

Linebacker, Justin Walley | 5’11”, 185lb

Justin Walley had yet another impressive season in 2024, as No. 1 cornerback for the Minnesota Gophers. He recorded 42 total tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack, to go with his 2 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and 10 pass breakups.

PFF liked Walley (70.7 overall grade), who played more defensive snaps than any other CB on the Minnesota roster (549). He was especially when he came up to support the run (71.4 grade) and when he dropped back in coverage (70.8 grade).

Related: Another Gophers Football Coach Plucked by NFL Team

Justin Walley will have to improve his tackle skills (56.5 grade) to produce at the next level but there’s no doubt Walley holds all the talent and skills necessary to be a starting CB in the league.

Brosmer had a good 2024 season — 66.5% CMP | 2,828 YDS | 18 TD | 6 INT — one that now sits in the top 5 most prolific passing records in Gopher football history. Of course, Minnesota — who hasn’t had a QB drafted to the NFL since 1972 — isn’t exactly known as a QB hotbed, especially in the modern era.

But the closer we get to the draft, the more it appears that unfortunate 50 year streak is about to end. Since the completion of Minnesota’s 2024 season, Max Brosmer has slowly been creeping up big boards across the NFL Draft world.

A couple of weeks ago, Brosmer impressed at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which is considered the second-best All-Star bowl game for draft-eligible college football players. His impressive week came after he originally accepting an invite to the lower-tiered Hula Bowl. Now, he has parlayed those opportunities into his biggest one yet

Max Brosmer receives invite to 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

On Monday, local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP) is reporting that Max Brosmer has received an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine from February 27 to March 2 in Indianapolis.

Great to hear that former #Gophers QB Max Brosmer received an invite to the Combine later this month. He’ll also have a chance to impress #NFL scouts at MN Pro Day on March 19th. pic.twitter.com/l4G3PFBSpH

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 10, 2025

What will scouts and evaluators learn about Max Brosmer in a few weeks? Off the field, they will interview one of the better leaders and smarter football players in Indianapolis during that week.

Remember, this is a kid who — in just a matter of weeks/months — convinced about one hundred 18-25 year old kids that falling in line with his leadership would benefit every player on the roster. But what’s even more impressive is how Brosmer somehow got his incredibly stubborn (and overly safe by nature) head coach to hand him full control of the Minnesota Gophers offense.

Related: Accolades Raining Down on Gophers QB Max Brosmer

By the midway point of 2024, the former FCS superstar had earned so much trust from the Golden Gophers coaching staff that he had full autonomy at the line of scrimmage to change plays and adjust protections. For context, that is something Fleck has never allowed a quarterback to do during his eight seasons in Dinkytown.

Minnesota Gophers QB will impress on the field too

On the field, I expect Max Brosmer to test off the charts. Not only can he go through reads and make every throw, but the right-hander’s talent combined with his unmatched preparation is almost guaranteed to put the Golden Gopher QB at the top of all QBs at the combine.

At the East-West Shrine Bowl, Brosmer posted what the bowl game’s director of football operations Eric Galko called “highly impressive” metrics including release time (0.40 seconds), throw velocity (50 MPH) and spin rate (600+ RPM).

#Minnesota’s Max Brosmer hit a highly impressive trio of QB metrics per @WilsonFootball during our throwing session.

He had a release of 0.40 seconds on average (NFL Avg: 0.45), had an average velocity of 50 MPH (NFL avg: 44.8), and average 600+ RPM (NFL Avg: 592) per throw.… pic.twitter.com/mnV8KFUh0Q

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) February 5, 2025

As someone who has covered and followed Brosmer very closely since he committed to the Minnesota Gophers over one year ago, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t impress at least one team enough to draft him in late April. In fact, I’m starting to wonder if he could creep into day two (rounds 3 and 4).

If Max Brosmer is selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, as mentioned previously, he will be the first Golden Gophers QB drafted to the NFL since 1972, when Craig Curry was taken in the 8th round (No. 207 overall) by the Miami Dolphins.

Related: Another Gophers Football Coach Plucked by NFL Team

Through the course of University of Minnesota history, which goes back to pre-1900, there have been only three Gophers drafted to play QB in the NFL, a draft tradition that goes back to 1936. The other two were Bobby Cox (1957 – 4th round – LA Rams) and John Hankinson (1965 – 8th round – Vikings).

McCarthy needs an NFL home and the Vikings appear determined to take a shot at their QB of the future. Perfect fit, right? Well, after talking to Minnesota head coach, Kevin O’Connell, it appears JJ certainly thinks so. McCarthy spoke at the combine podium after his interview with KOC and he couldn’t stop gushing over how the meeting unfolded.

Here is the video of JJ McCarthy answering Ben’s question about his formal meeting with the Vikings

Video from @michiganinsider (full video below) https://t.co/sC5Dkzk7ew pic.twitter.com/nBpbnHdc0H

— Nick Miller (@NicholasMMiller) March 1, 2024

“It went amazing. Coach O’Connell led the whole thing and just being able to see him in person, he was a lot taller than I thought, and Coach McCown. Everything about what they were talking about, everything about what they wanted out of a quarterback, is something that aligns with what I want. Just being able to get on the board with them, have them go through their plays, it was something really special and I enjoyed it.”

JJ McCarthy – Scouting Combine (video via @MichiganInsider)

Will the Minnesota Vikings draft JJ McCarthy?

McCarthy is expected to be the fourth quarterback selected in next month’s draft, behind Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (UNC) and Jayden Daniels (LSU), all of which also met with the Minnesota Vikings. But we still have nearly two months between now and April 25, so a lot has yet to shake out. McCarthy is throwing at the combine this week. The other three are not.

But the 21-year-old kid from Michigan wasn’t done with his love for KOC and the Vikings as a landing spot when he got off the podium. McCarthy sat with former Minnesota GM Rick Spielman and CBS Sports and picked Justin Jefferson as the first wide receiver that he would like to throw to in the NFL.

1. Wants to throw to JJ
2. Had a "special" meeting with KOC
3. Fits KOC's and Kwesi's description of what they are looking for in a QB
4. It's realistic to get him
5. Viking. pic.twitter.com/0UE8rEuoRp

— Janik Eckardt (@JanikEckardt) March 1, 2024

Many see JJ as the obvious riser over the next 1.5 months as we creep closer to day one. He’s behind the first pack of quarterbacks mostly due to his lack of high end production through the air. But there’s an explanation for that. Michigan runs a pro-style offense and Jim Harbaugh plays football like a classic Big Ten coach.

Related: Vikings Surprisingly Release Alexander Mattison

Run the ball until they stop you. So, the 2023 National Champions ran the ball a lot this season. Those who are optimistic on McCarthy believe the Wolverines pro-style offense will only help JJ’s development as a young NFL franchise QB.

McCarthy’s wasn’t the only QB at the combine who was infatuated with Kevin O’Connell, though. Both Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr (Washington) took time out of their answer on their Vikings interview session to focus on the head coach. Clearly, KOC knows how to make a first impression.

Multiple top-end quarterbacks (J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix) praised their formal interviews with the #Vikings this morning. Unsurprising. Multiple folks — agents, team personnel — described Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores’ intentionality/responsibility this cycle as notable.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 1, 2024

General manager Kwesi Adofo had seemingly drawn a line in the sand and it appeared Cousins’ camp is of the belief that he can get more. Since, we’ve seen rumors and reports on both sides of the isle and numbers floated from $30 million per year all the way up to $51 million. Kirk wants more “term” and “fully-guaranteed money” which seem to be the two sticking points in talks to this point.

But on Wednesday, ProFootballTalk.com’s founder Mike Florio sat down at the scouting combine with Vikings play-by-play voice Paul Allen where the two friends chopped it up for about 15 minutes on his “Nine to Noon” KFAN Radio show.

Florio has been in Indianapolis for a couple of days and he’s been out and about chatting it up with league executives and others in the know around the NFL. One of Mike’s main missions this week, as a Vikings fan, seems to be finding out what’s happening with the Kirk Cousins situation.

Mike Florio spills beans on Minnesota Vikings plan with Kirk Cousins

Through his Indianapolis sleuthing, Florio believes he’s nailed down Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s thinking, with the Cousins negotiations. He says the Vikings are “confident” that Kirk will NOT find what he is looking for while his agent Mike McCartney shops his services this week at the combine. That, essentially, Cousins will come crawling back to the organization after he realized the grass isn’t greener outside Minnesota.

(Cousins talk begins around the 21-minute mark — Transcript below)

“My assessment of the situation is, [the Vikings] have a number that they are willing to extend, and that if Kirk Cousins is able to find anything else that he likes better, he is free to take it. They are very clear eyed about it, they are very confident.

They use the phrase, Kevin [O’Connell] did a couple of times, ‘[Kirk Cousins] has earned the right to bet on himself’ and they believe that when the time comes for [Kirk] to go see what else is out there, he will learn that whatever else is out there is not better. That the grass will not be greener in Atlanta or Las Vegas or back in Washington.”

Mike Florio – KFAN Radio with Paul Allen

Grass won’t be greener for Kirk on other side of NFL scouting combine?

What does Mr. ProFootballTalk mean when he says ‘the grass won’t be greener’ for Kirk Cousins? Well, most of it seems to come down to a lack of options. Much like the last time he was a free agent, landing spots seem to be more limited than what many seem to assume.

Related: Vikings Crush NFLPA Player Team Rankings Again but Fall Off Top Spot

Florio is hearing that potential landing spots like Washington and Las Vegas won’t be as soft as expected. He’s even hearing that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to run it back with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph for another season, instead of handing the reins to an outside-the-organization veteran like Cousins.

“I don’t think Pittsburgh [is happening]. Some people I was talking to last night [say the Steelers] really are gonna do this Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph thing, as crazy as it sounds. That’s what I get the impression is what they’re going to do.”

“Look, when [Kirk Cousins] was a free agent six years ago, 29 years old and healthy, it was the Vikings and Jets [who were interested]. That’s it, the Vikings and the Jets. So now he’s 35, coming off a torn achilles tendon and once you pop one, you’re more likely to pop the other one. So who’s gonna be out there?”

Mike Florio – KFAN Radio with Paul Allen

But what about Atlanta?

Atlanta? That’s been the hot spot rumor for some time now. Problem is, it sounds like the Falcons could complete a deal with the Chicago Bears any moment to acquire Justin Fields. And it’s not just Mike Florio who’s reporting the Fields to Atlanta steam.

Related: ESPN Expert Jordan Reid Reveals Likely Vikings Defensive Draft Targets

DraftKings had to take the futures bet off their board because so many people were betting on the Falcons to land Fields. Should the Atlanta domino fall, Florio believes we could see the Vikings plan of waiting out Kirk Cousins start to unfold in real time as his options start to fall off the board one after another.

PA: “But now you mentioned that with Pittsburgh and and I had not thought of that or heard that. Well, if Justin fields gets traded to Atlanta, which I would make them favored”…”I mean, if Justin [Fields goes to Atlanta] and Pittsburgh wants to do this [Rudolph + Pickett] thing, [Cousins] is gonna run out of options.”

Florio: Right, and I think that’s what [the Vikings] are counting on.”

Mike Florio – KFAN Radio with Paul Allen

Florio then riffs for a little bit on how Kwesi needs to be careful during this process with Cousins. That he cannot assume Kirk won’t up and move to another city, if he feels disrespected or if the Vikings overplay the whole, ‘my kids are already in school in Minnesota and my family is already comfortable’ card.

In fact, he says he has gotten tips that Kirk and Julie have already scoped out schools and neighborhoods in Atlanta, should he end up there. But in the end, Mike comes back to the same thought. If Atlanta trades for Fields, Kirk could be facing a return to Minnesota with his tail between his legs..

Florio: “It would be foolish to assume that Kirk and Julie Cousins haven’t already scoped out everything that they would be doing in Atlanta, including the school. I’m in a position where I get all sorts of crazy tips from people. Some of the tips I’ve gotten is they’ve already been down there and they know exactly where the kids would go to school if Atlanta is the place.”

PA: “Yeah, well [the Cousins’] absolutely have [scoped things out already].”

Florio: “But if they go Justin fields then it doesn’t matter. And I got the impression from hearing Raheem Morris, the new head coach of the Falcons yesterday, that it is going to be Justin Fields.”

If you don’t believe Mike Florio, and some certainly will not, then maybe you’ll soften a bit when you read the quote that came out of Kwesi-Adofo Mensah, on the same KFAN radio station, earlier in PA’s show.

Related: Vikings Meet Formally with LSU QB Jayden Daniels at NFL Scouting Combine

Kwesi-Adofo Mensah hinting that Florio may be right?

That’s when the Vikings GM talked about how he expects the negotiations with Kirk Cousins to go all the way to the very last moment, which is expected to be March 13, right before his $28.5 million dead cap penalty would hit the books if there is no new deal. This sure makes it seem like the front office is waiting for Kirk to shop around until he comes to the realization that, like Florio said, the grass isn’t greener on other teams’ fields.

#Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah via @KFAN1003 on when a likely decision on Kirk Cousins will be made 👀

“I think it probably go right down to the deadline. I hope it doesn’t. I don’t like hoping, but as I’ve learned in this league deadlines do just kind of get people to tighten… pic.twitter.com/kDUhpTS6Z0

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) February 28, 2024