Unlike the 10 teams that have hired a new head coach, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t making any drastic changes to their coaching staff. The biggest difference in Minnesota will be the man in charge after firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
The Vikings still like the direction they’re headed in. With a few changes, a team that went 9-8 in 2025 could crawl back into the playoffs in 2026. Now that they’ve placed a new GM in charge, here’s what the Vikings should do next.
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Create Cap Space
Right now, the Vikings are set to enter the offseason above the expected salary cap by roughly $40 million. They won’t be able to make any roster additions until they get below the cap, which has to be done by the start of the new league year on March 11.
The good news is, their acting GM, Rob Brzezinski, is known as a salary cap wizard. He spent six seasons as the salary cap manager for the Miami Dolphins from 1993 to 1998. Yet, he’s also set to enter his 26th season with the Vikings, where he’s managed their salary cap since at least 2006, having successfully negotiated contracts with team legends such as Randy Moss, Steve Hutchinson, Brett Favre, Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson, and more.
If there’s someone who can get the Vikings’ cap sheet looking respectable again, it’s Brzezinski. With several veterans offering cap relief through a simple contract restructure, it shouldn’t take much to give the Vikings some much-needed wiggle room to address their needs.
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Trade for Kyler Murray
Shakeup in the front office could point the Vikings in a different direction when it comes to their QB plan. Whatever happens, surely head coach Kevin O’Connell will sign off on the move. The cold-hard truth is J.J. McCarthy just hasn’t been durable or consistent enough. As Justin Jefferson noted earlier this week, the Vikings would have benefitted from better QB play.
Perhaps that solution lies in Arizona, with the Cardinals rumored to be open to trading Kyler Murray this offseason. Of course, a coaching change could change plans in Arizona, but if the two-time Pro Bowl QB is available, the Vikings should express interest.
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After all, coach O’Connell has been able to work wonders with other, shall we say reclamation projects. Murray’s stock is at an all-time low after starting just five games in 2025. Yet, the 28-year-old former No. 1 overall pick could still have another level of performance to unlock. Like McCarthy, becoming more consistent is one area that would help Murray thrive.
Plus, getting a chance to throw to Jefferson, plus Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson (if he’s not a cap casualty), should raise Murray’s floor. Moreso, his ability to keep defenders guessing by being one of the most elusive dual-threat quarterbacks adds another element to the Vikings’ offense too.
Murray’s reported trade cost isn’t anything that should scare Minnesota away from potentially adding their franchise QB. If anything, figuring out a proper cap number for Murray rather than a $52.6 million cap charge in 2026 could be the biggest roadblock to a trade, but that’s where Minnesota’s new acting GM can help.
Sign Breece Hall
The Vikings have a great power back in Jordan Mason. While Aaron Jones thrived in his first season, he wasn’t nearly as effective in 2025. After Jones averaged just 4.2 yards per carry without a touch going for a gain longer than 31 yards, it’s clear the Vikings could use some more explosiveness in the backfield.
That’s where the Vikings should make a strong play for free agent Breece Hall this offseason. Minnesota could have an inside line to signing Hall after promoting OL coach Keith Carter, Hall’s running game coordinator from 2023 to 2024.
Yet, other teams will surely have interest in Hall after he compiled a career-high 1,065 rushing yards this season. Hall’s longest rush this season went for 59 yards, and he averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He’d also help replace Jones in the passing game, giving Vikings QBs another option out of the backfield.
Jones has tallied 79 receptions for 607 yards and three receiving touchdowns in the past two seasons in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Jets have had even worse QB play, and Hall compiled 93 receptions for 833 yards and four receiving touchdowns in the past two seasons.
He’d surely be an upgrade over Jones, especially if the Vikings can still pair Hall with Mason to form an extremely effective 1-2 punch. Not only would that duo help take pressure off whoever plays QB for the Vikings in 2026, it might be one of the best rushing tandems in the NFL.
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