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Five storylines as the Vikings open training camp

dane mizutani, pioneer press
·3 min read
8

A good amount of Vikings players already have arrived at TCO Performance Center in Eagan for training camp.

The group already on campus is headlined by the quarterback room of Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.

The rest of the veterans report on Tuesday with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell scheduled to talk to reporters that day.

There are a lot of question marks as the Vikings try to replicate their success from last season. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on in training camp:

What comes next for Danielle Hunter?

It appears the Vikings are still at a stalemate with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter. He doesn’t have a contract beyond this season — he’s set to make $5.5 million for 2023 — and it’s clear he won’t step on the field for the Vikings without a longer commitment. It unclear if the 28-year-old Hunter plans to show up for training camp this week. He will be fined on a daily basis if he’s not present. If the two sides can’t come to an agreement at some point, the Vikings could be forced to explore trade options.

How will Kirk Cousins handle his newfound fame?

The smashing success of the Netflix docuseries “Quarterback” has given Cousins a major boost in popularity. He has long been a polarizing figure in the NFL with fans who either love him or hate him. That might no longer be the case as Cousins has emerged as a fan favorite over the past couple of weeks. It will be interesting to hear him talk about the response he has gotten since “Quarterback” started streaming. It also will be interesting to see how he handles his newfound fame during training camp considering he doesn’t love the spotlight.

Will there be consequences for Jordan Addison?

The darkest cloud hanging over the Vikings as they start training camp is what to make of rookie receiver Jordan Addison right now. The team’s first-round draft pick in 2023 recently got pulled over for going 140 mph in his Lamborghini in St. Paul, and while he says he was speeding because of an emergency with his dog, there could be consequences for his actions. As far as on the field, Addison is expected to be a big part of the offense this season. He stood out in rookie minicamp before missing all of organized team activities with an undisclosed injury.

Who steps up at cornerback?

There are position battles galore for the Vikings heading into training camp — and none more pressing that at cornerback. Let’s just say there isn’t a lot of depth there at the moment. Aside from Byron Murphy, who signed with the Vikings this offseason, there aren’t many players with NFL starting experience. There will be a couple of spots up for grabs with Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth Jr., Mekhi Blackmon, and Joejuan Williams among those trying to stand out. Who will step up?

When will Justin Jefferson put pen to paper?

Though this isn’t nearly as combustible as the situation surrounding Hunter, at some point the Vikings are going to need to give star receiver Justin Jefferson the bag. He is in line to become the highest-paid receiver in league history, and while he said he plans to participate in training camp with or without a contract extension, it would behoove the Vikings not to anger their star player. The conversations have been ongoing throughout this offseason, so it feels like only a matter of time before something gets done.

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