Vikings Predicted to Part With Their ‘Best-Kept Secret’

It’s still a period of downtime in the NFL, and things won’t pick up for a a few weeks, so that leaves those who cover the NFL to look at some situations that might play into each team’s future. One can never be too prepared, right? For the Minnesota Vikings, they’re really set themselves up well for the 2025-26 season and have crafted a team that will build on the past.

Last season, the Vikings were No. 2 in the NFC North with 14 games won and three lost. Now, they’re poised to repeat that success, so long as things with quarterback J.J. McCarthy work out.

But, there’s one player who has been called the Vikings “best-kept secret” who they may opt to part with coming up. That could certainly hurt, but a team has to do what a team has to do.

Minnesota Vikings Could Part With Budding Player

While McCarthy has plenty of solid offensive players to use this season, that may not carry over into the 2026-27 season for the Vikings. As Anthony Miller explains in a Monday, July 7, feature for The Viking Age, “one of McCarthy’s projected starting wide receivers could very well be on the outs after the season.”

That guy is Jalen Nailor, who Miller notes “has slowly improved his performance over the last three years, but 2025 has become a pivotal one for the 26-year-old receiver.”

“This season will be important for Nailor in many ways, as it could be his last in the purple and white uniforms,” he adds.

So, what’s the state of Nailor’s contract? During an appearance on SKOR North’s “Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd” on Thursday, July 3, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson discussed how Minnesota is dealing with Nailor’s situation right now. He said that they aren’t talking about a contract extension right now, but he will be still be a big part of the upcoming season.

“On Jalen Nailor, there just hasn’t been any dialogue. Not that the Vikings are like ‘we drafted Felton. Guess what? Like Nailor, you are the No. 4 receiver,'” he said. “I think Nailor is going to have some good opportunities this year, but I think the idea is he’ll get paid pretty well elsewhere.”

NFL Analyst Hopes Vikings Player ‘Ends Up Elsewhere’

He added, “Think about Patrick Jones. Good year for the Vikings, gets paid in Carolina. I think with Jalen Nailor, hopefully in his case, Speedy can stay healthy, contribute to the Vikings winning this year, and he ends up elsewhere next March.”

So, Nailor’s days in Minnesota could be numbered. Even if the Vikings rely more on Nailor this season, that doens’t mean they’ll be willing to give him the big payout that he’ll probably require next season.

Back in May, Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder called Nailor is the Vikings’ “best-kept secret.”

“Nailor quietly proved to be a quality WR3 and fourth option in the passing game last season,” Holder stated on May 19. “If the 2022 sixth-round pick can cut down on the drops–four last season, per PFF–he can carve out an even bigger role in Minnesota this fall.”