After participating in rookie minicamp over the weekend, the Vikings 2024 draft class and undrafted free agents are joining veterans today for the third week of Phase 2 of the voluntary offseason workout program.
The enlarged group will advance to Phase 3 (Organized Team Activity practices) next week.
The rookie minicamp practice sessions — Friday was open to media and Saturday was closed — provided the group with its first taste of NFL on-field action.
Even though Head Coach Kevin O’Connell purposefully capped the intensity level, there were some competitive snaps in 7-on-7.
First-round picks J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner each participated in press conferences after Friday’s practice.
Make sure to check those out if you haven’t already.
McCarthy showed up early to walk through the script and kept his word to teammates by running gassers at the end of practice.
He had participated in a private workout with Vikings coaches before the draft but relished the opportunity to join his Vikings classmates.
Turner described seeing a mom and child with a backpack leash at a public venue to illustrate the limited nature of Friday’s practice.
His humorous explanation still has me laughing, and it was very befitting as part of Mother’s Day Weekend.
Publicity and promotion of the draft seems to get bigger every year, and the momentum continues after the selections are made.
There are good reasons for high interest in McCarthy around Minnesota and beyond, and some might see that as hype or at least a way-too-early speculation, particularly by people who won’t be involved in quarterback decisions.
We want to further introduce all the Vikings offseason additions (including McCarthy and Darnold) to our audience as we progress through the offseason.
O’Connell and the Vikings will be as detailed as they were in evaluating this year’s class of quarterbacks when they develop new and returning players in this system.
O’Connell and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have repeatedly said how they are excited to work with Darnold.
That will ramp up during Phase 3 and a mandatory minicamp in June.
