Heading into every offseason, Minnesota Vikings fans and various media members manufacture some theories that come true — and some that don’t quite pan out. The following chronicles the takes that seemed likely at the time but later felt flat.
For example, during the 2025 offseason, many believe that Minnesota would sign Aaron Rodgers. That didn’t happen. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s the 2026 edition of poorly-aged Vikings theories.
Vikings Rumor Mill Missed on Several Big Names
1. Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman Was the Obvious Round 1 Draft Choice
For about four to six weeks, every NFL mock draft — like every single one — linked Thieneman to the Vikings. It was almost a variation of The Mandela Effect.
Despite no Vikings insiders validating the connection, the theory continued all the way up to draft night on April 23rd. With Thieneman indeed on the board, surely Minnesota would select Thieneman and call it good, right? They just had to fulfill the prophecy, correct? Absolutely not. The Vikings picked defensive tackle Caleb Banks, making the long run of Thiemenan-to-Minnesota theories look silly.
Meanwhile, Thieneman, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears, evidently did not run with the first team at OTAs this week. Bear Goggles On‘s Anthony Miller observed, “It’s very early on in the process to prepare for 2026, and there has to be some kind of method to the madness, but it’s interesting to say the least that.”
“Thieneman is not with the starters. Johnson’s decision might come as the team tries to avoid rushing him into the lineup and to let him learn before being thrown into the starting lineup.”
2. The Vikings Would Draft a Notable RB, WR, and C
Some thought Minnesota would draft a running back like Jonah Coleman or Emmett Johnson before the draft’s late rounds. The Vikings also hosted a litany of prominent mid-round wide receivers before the draft. And at center, Blake Brandel was the only decent option, a guy who started his career as a tackle and later switched to guard.
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski then selected no players at these positions until Round 6.
Instead, the Vikings will roll with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason at running back, Jauan Jennings at WR3, and the aforementioned Brandel at center. Fans will hope that Round 6 runner Demond Claiborne is a draft steal.
3. J.J. McCarthy Would Be Tradebait Because of Kyler Murray’s Arrival
Soon after the Vikings signed Murray in March, the world decided that McCarthy may not be able to coexist with Murray. Some claimed he’d request a trade; some said he was gone via trade during the draft.
None of that happened, and McCarthy is currently locked in a quarterback competition with Murray — just like the Vikings advertised in March.
If McCarthy is traded, it will probably be because he soured on the franchise and wanted a fresh start. That has not happened yet. NFL insider Jason La Canfora wrote this week, “Minnesota would likely not fetch much for McCarthy under these circumstances, and it might require an injury elsewhere to create more demand. If O’Connell couldn’t get much from him and opted to sell low on him, that would resonate around the league.”
“But it also stands to reason that obvious friction between a new QB you need to win with now, and one who has to quickly come to grips with watching games and not playing them so soon after being drafted that high, is far from ideal.”
4. Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson Would Be Cut
When the offseason arrived, many assumed that Minnesota would cut Jones and Hockenson because of their hefty 2026 price tags. It would then have March and April to use free agency and the draft as a blank canvas for new playmakers.
Yet, the Vikings proposed paycuts for both, and the pair accepted. Jones and Hockenson took lesser salaries in 2026 and are now slated to be unrestricted free agents in 2027.
The takes about Jones and Hockenson release indeed made sense, but they didn’t play out.
5. Jonathan Greenard Would Be a Longtime Viking
Danielle Hunter left the Vikings during the 2024 offseason, choosing his hometown team, the Houston Texans, for his career’s second chapter. Minnesota turned around and signed the Texans’ main pass rusher — Greenard — to replace him.
It lasted two years.
Six weeks after signing Greenard, former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finagled an expensive trade for Dallas Turner during the draft. That was apparently a pick to make Greenard’s stay short in Minnesota because the Vikings traded Greenard during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Most playoff-contending football teams don’t trade their best EDGE defender, but Minnesota did precisely that. In fact, when the Greenard trade rumors took hold in March, it just didn’t seem real that the Vikings would trade him.
But they did.
