I think it is a big game this week. They all are really. The Colts are going to be fired up to try and get a win and not have three straight losses. The defense is going to have to stop the run because I imagine the Colts will lean heavily on Taylor and try to win the time of possession battle. Jones will face blitzes, disguised blitzes, and hopefully a lot of pressure. When he faces pressure he completes 47.2% of his passes with 3 TDs and 4 INTs and has a passer rating of 73.9. I think the Vikings defense will continue to do what it does and try to make it as miserable as possible for Jones.
I am hoping for more of the same from the offense. The Colts will be without Sauce Gardner which might lead people to believe the Vikings will try to pass more. They will have Addison, Hockenson, and Mason back too. I could see an attempt at getting more rushing yards to slow down the Colts interior pass rush. DeForest Buckner is going to be a handful. As long as Murray continues to complete a high percentage of his passes and move the chains, the defense will stay rested and, at the very least, Reichard will get some chances at more field goals. I would love to see a 21 -10 victory with the offense kicking 7 field goals just so the folks can wail and gnash their teeth at the offense and bemoan the 6-0 start. But I like to see things burn.
The trade talk is ramped up and will only get louder the until the deadline passes. The Colts are a media favorite to tear it down just because they got rid of their GM. I am not sure they will. I suppose Nelson and Buckner could get moved if they indicate they will not re-sign next year. The Colts have 80M in cap space for next year and if they move on from Jones it goes up to 91M. If they make it a post June 1 cut then they will get up to 118M in cap space. The franchise tag amount for Nelson would be about 29M. They can easily do that and probably should. How many teams want to give up a all Pro future Hall of Fame guard? I doubt he goes anywhere.
My target would be Taylor but they just extended him and probably wont move him. They are going to need him with any QB and to go with Nelson. It makes too much sense to try to get him though. The Vikings top two backs will be free agents and I am not sure they should bring either one back. Maybe Mason? The available free agents right now do not look good at all. If you give up a 2nd round pick plus other stuff to get a proven All Pro back like Taylor, what is wrong with that? If they do not then they might have to use a first or second on a rookie back who may or may not pan out.
I would give the 2027 2nd, 2027 5th, and a conditional 2028 5th for Taylor. I’d throw in Mason just for them to have someone to finish the season. I doubt he gets moved though. Barkley is not going anywhere at the deadline because it would trigger a 26.5M dead money cap hit on the Eagles 2027 cap.
Since Buckner made his comment which was “I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year”, it is unlikely he signs an extension next year. It would ne nice to get Buckner but he is 32 and will need an extension as he is a free agent next year. I am not sure the team could or should give anyone an extension that plays defensive tackle that is not named Jalen Redmond.
I know there are some in the media (Alec Lewis) who believe Teasley is going to be aggressive but there might not be a deal available. I do like Tyjae Spears RB Titans, Tuli Tuipulotu EDGE Chargers, and Jeremy Ruckert TE Jets. Who do you like?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings Jake Golday Isn’t Playing; Why 2nd-Round Pick Is Benched
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/minnesota-vikings/jake-golday-dallas-turner-cashman-wilson-nfl-news/
The Minnesota Vikings spent a second-round draft pick on linebacker Jake Golday, who also has a history in college as a pass-rushing defensive end. So why has he played just seven defensive snaps all season?
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Draft writer Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated offered his explanation as to why the Vikings haven’t utilized Golday.
“Golday looked outstanding throughout the preseason, but it’s notable when a second-round rookie isn’t playing any regular-season snaps,” Melo wrote on Friday. “Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has put him on the field just seven times. Now, it’s difficult to crack this 5-0 lineup right now. Golday also played defensive end in college before making the transition to linebacker, so it’s totally normal for his acclimation period to be taking a bit longer.”
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Minnesota might have used Golday more frequently if the team’s outside linebackers were not playing as well as they have throughout the team’s undefeated start.
Dallas Turner, a first-round pick in 2024, had to wait his turn for two full years before he became a full-time stater in 2026 after the team traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during this year’s draft for two third-round selections in return.
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Furthermore, Minnesota’s inside linebackers have been playing exceptionally well also through the undefeated start.
Blake Cashman ranks 10th in Pro Football Network’s player impact scores, while Eric Wilson ranks 44th in the same category among linebackers.
Because of how well the linebacking corps has played specifically, and how well the Vikings defense has performed as a whole, there simply has been minimal need for Golday in the defense to this point.
Vikings Offer Major Update on Jordan Mason After Cutting RB From Roster
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/minnesota-vikings/jordan-mason-injury-deejay-dallas-cut-oconnell-nfl-news/
“Jordan Mason — practiced fully all week, really good week of work — we’ll work through what that looks like. But he is technically questionable right now,” O’Connell told reporters. “No other player will go in with a designation for the game. So, we’ve been able to get a little more healthy. We’ll talk to Jordan and see, but things are looking positive for him being available.”
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Also on Friday afternoon, the Vikings announced that they had released running back DeeJay Dallas from the team.
Vikings Have No Excuse to Keep Sidelining Forgotten Rookie Amid Safety Concerns
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/vikings-no-excuse-keep-sidelining-forgotten-rookie-safety-concerns-01m5n3s2rb9e
The Vikings have a real problem at safety. Veterans Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus are ranked among the ten worst safeties in the NFL this season, ranking dead last and sixth-worst, respectively, on Pro Football Focus. Despite the success of defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s unit, a change is needed.
That said, the answer to Minnesota’s safety issues might already be on the team’s roster—a 2026 NFL Draft pick has yet to make an impact this season.
The Vikings selected Jakobe Thomas with the 98th overall pick in April, yet he hasn’t played a single snap this season. The 6’1″, 211-lb defensive back was inactive for each of Minnesota’s five games before the bye, which doesn’t bode well for his chances against the Colts in Week 7.
Thomas played in one preseason game after working hard to recover from a back injury sustained during training camp. In that exhibition game against the Broncos, he had five tackles, three of which were solo efforts. His 79.4 tackling grade ranked second-best among Vikings defenders that game, according to PFF, while his 66.0 run defense grade was seventh-best.
Now that he’s healthy and the safety room needs all the help it can get, Thomas needs to be active on game day.
Note: Pretty bold (and dumb) to attempt to tell Flores who to play
Vikings Week 7: Potential Trade Targets Among Most Important Things to Watch for vs. Colts
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/vikings-week-7-potential-trade-targets-among-most-important-things-to-watch-for-vs-colts-01m5mm6e20kn
With Nolan Teasley Sitting in Wait and See Mode, 1 Vikings Player Gets Dropped into NFL Big Board
https://vikingsterritory.com/2026/news/top_news/nolan-teasley-nfl-big-board
The Vikings’ Dream RB Is the One They’re Facing on Sunday
https://zonecoverage.com/2026/minnesota-vikings-news/the-vikings-dream-rb-is-the-one-theyre-facing-on-sunday/
Vikings might have an ace up their sleeve in a potential Colts trade
https://thevikingage.com/minnesota-vikings-might-have-ace-up-sleeve-potential-indianapolis-colts-trade
Vikings don’t have to look far for a reason to trade for Jonathan Taylor
https://thevikingage.com/minnesota-vikings-dont-have-look-far-reason-trade-jonathan-taylor-indianapolis-colts
Colts Week 7 Preview: Brian Flores’ aggressive Vikings defense presents major challenge for Daniel Jones, Shane Steichen
https://www.colts.com/news/colts-week-7-preview-brian-flores-aggressive-vikings-defense-presents-major-challenge-for-daniel-jones-shane-steichen
Yore Mock
TRADE: MIN receive: 1.24 <-> DEN receive: 1.30, 3.94
TRADE: IND receive: 2.62, 5.156, 6.186 <-> MIN receive: 3.71, 4.107, 6.219
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Pick 24. – Jadan Baugh (RB, Florida): 6’0″, 227 lbs
Pick 70. – Princewill Umanmielen (EDGE, LSU): 6’4″, 251 lbs
Pick 71. – Luke Reynolds (TE, Virginia Tech): 6’4″, 250 lbs
Pick 107. – Duce Robinson (WR, Florida State): 6’6″, 230 lbs
Pick 157. – Keon Sabb (S, Alabama): 6’1″, 208 lbs
Pick 167. – Alani Noa (IOL, USC): 6’3″, 315 lbs
Pick 195. – Daniel Harris (CB, California): 6’3″, 195 lbs
Pick 212. – Devon Jackson (LB, Oregon): 6’2″, 242 lbs
Pick 219. – Hero Kanu (DL, Texas): 6’5″, 321 lbs
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