Another exciting and intentional free agency: check! Harrison Smith opting in for a 14^th season: check! Plus, good vibes galore – and no less, no more glaring roster holes – on the NFL Draft's doorstep: check!

Suffice to say, on the heels of a 14-win campaign, there are plentiful reasons to be bullish on the Vikings.

The most important story surrounding the franchise, however, will remain the growth of 2024 No. 10 overall draft pick J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Minnesota has continuously expressed confidence about McCarthy's recovery progress and excitement in where he was in his development before his rookie season ended with a meniscus tear in his lone, albeit stellar, preseason game last year.

Seifert made note of the biggest picture (McCarthy's ongoing journey to become the team's starting quarterback) in his assessment earlier this week of Minnesota’s effort to blueprint a deep playoff run.

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said last week at the Annual League Meeting that he kept McCarthy, as well as veteran players such as Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Brian O'Neill and Jonathan Greenard apprised of the dialogue the team had with Rodgers.

"J.J. knew of those conversations almost borderline in real time just because I do see him every day throughout the week," O'Connell said, "and I thought it was important just so that he was hearing it from me and my perspective from the very first time I had any communication, really in regards to Aaron and any of the other free agents that we've discussed at kind of all positions."

Here are three other items of seven things Seifert says the Vikings offseason has revealed. The full story can be read here.

• Vikings trust their medical staff to overperform

Seifert pointed out a slew of additions coming off injuries: Most notably, receiver Rondale Moore (right knee) did not play at all in 2024. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (torn right triceps) missed 14 games, guard Will Fries (fractured right tibia) missed 12 and DT Jonathan Allen (torn left pectoral) missed nine.

• RB Jordan Mason will have a big role

Seifert detailed a 1A/1B backfield structure: The Vikings have Jones penciled in as their starting running back. They paid Jones more to return ($20 million over two seasons) than they did to acquire Mason from the 49ers and pay their new backup. By all accounts, however, Mason isn't going to be a typical backup.

• CB Isaiah Rodgers is a Brian Flores special

Seifert expanded on the process of acquiring the former Eagles cornerback: O'Connell said that Flores identified Rodgers as a possible target early in free agent evaluations and that Flores' success rate on other suggestions in the past — including linebackers Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman — spurred action.

PFF lists best Day 2 fits

Of course, everyone and their mothers are busy guessing what Minnesota may do come Draft Day.

One popular pick for the Vikings at No. 24 overall in recent mock drafts is South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who catapulted to 15 in Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 player rankings after a ridiculously good showing of traits at the scouting combine, which included a 4.38 40-yard dash and 43-inch vertical jump.

Georgia safety Malaki Starks also has been linked to the Vikings, who are thinner at the position after losing Camryn Bynum to Indianapolis in free agency. Simply put, drafting a safety is one possibility.

But there's no guarantee of if or when it will happen.

Pro Football Focus analyst Mason Cameron on Tuesday identified the best fits and selections for each NFL team on the second day of the annual event. It seems like a valuable exercise because this year's class is deep at several positions and may lend itself to landing starting-caliber players well into Day 2.

And as of now, Minnesota won't pick again, after its first choice, until the compensatory range in Round 3 (No. 97). Cameron slotted in a safety at that spot, writing the following about Texas' Andrew Mukuba:

As it stands, Minnesota's only pick on Day 2 falls in the compensatory range of the third round, limiting the team's options. However, the Vikings can nab a safety with excellent coverage instincts like Mukuba to replenish a secondary hit hard in free agency. At Texas in his final season, the senior snagged six interceptions, contributing to his 89.7 PFF coverage grade — second highest in this year's safety class.

Cameron's suggestion to take Mukuba at 97 coincidentally aligns with the safety's overall placement in Dane Brugler’s Top 100 big board. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Mukuba led the SEC with five picks in 2024.

In case you're interested, Cameron filed Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson as a solid option for Chicago if it happens to miss out on drafting Ashton Jeanty, the consensus No. 1 RB, inside the top 10. Additionally, Cameron projected Ohio State EDGE JT Tuimoloau as a rotational piece for Detroit, and suggested Green Bay could improve its secondary by adding Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter.

Read the rest of Cameron's article on Day 2 draft targets here.

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