A quiet time has finally arrived on the Minnesota Vikings’ calendar. Organized team activities begin next week, providing the first opportunity to see the quarterback tandem of Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy in action.Given the long weekend ahead, we thought it would make sense to answer some mailbag questions. Many of you asked about the team’s search for a full-time general manager. So, we’ll begin there.Note: Some of the questions have been edited for length and clarity.How do you anticipate ownership will handle the interview process if they decide to go with a president and GM structure to lead the front office? — Jordan J.The general manager search continues to move toward a resolution. Next week, the Vikings plan to interview five candidates in person: Rob Brzezinski (interim GM), Reed Burckhardt (Denver Broncos’ assistant GM), Terrance Gray (Buffalo Bills’ assistant GM), Nolan Teasley (Seattle Seahawks’ assistant GM) and John McKay (Rams’ assistant GM). A decision is expected in the next couple of weeks.Jordan, though, raises a fascinating question: Could the franchise keep Brzezinski in a managerial role and also hire a “personnel guy” under him to help with roster decisions?In March, Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf said of the structure of the front office, “I think we’re going to stick to the way we’ve done it. It’s just a matter of getting the right person who’s a leader of the organization who can communicate and deliver.” This week, he reiterated that idea, telling Yahoo, “I think we still ultimately need to have a leader who represents ownership who can bring the building together.”These words carry a lot of weight, but Wilf and company could still change their tune after their final sessions with candidates.Team and league sources believe Brzezinski should and will factor into the mix in some fashion when this process concludes. Still, ownership’s reluctance to a structure change (at least publicly) would complicate the team’s options.Hire Brzezinski, and ownership will face questions about additional changes to infuse the front office with a fresh perspective. Pass over Brzezinski, and ownership will push the chips in on a bet similar to the hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, where an executive enters a building with many thorny dynamics.Burckhardt, Gray and McKay all present varying degrees of familiarity and youth, which could be advantageous in a dual structure with Brzezinski at the top. Teasley would represent a shift in process similar to the one Seattle used to win the Super Bowl last season. His lack of ties to the Vikings adds to the potential difficulty in establishing a new vision.Regardless of the outcome, Vikings ownership must figure out who has final roster control, who reports to whom and why it thinks that’s the best approach for an organization searching for its first playoff win since 2019.What are the benchmarks to look for in determining whether or not J.J. McCarthy has taken a step forward? — Luke J.In many ways, this sets the table for what’s coming in the next few weeks of workouts and training camp.Three specific aspects stand out: McCarthy’s accuracy, his touch and his consistency. Each warrants elaboration.The young quarterback’s ball placement wavered throughout the 2025 season, and coach Kevin O’Connell often attributed the inaccuracies to McCarthy’s footwork. McCarthy spent weeks with private throwing coach John Beck to smooth over some of these issues.The lack of touch coincides with McCarthy’s lack of precision as a passer in 2025. He uncorked passes on a line. When the Vikings drafted McCarthy, they knew this area of his game needed work. Half-speed practice sessions make it hard to assess growth here. Feedback from coaches in post-practice interviews should be revealing.Then there’s the consistency piece: how McCarthy shows up to work every day and how his habits progress in his third season. The Vikings have a high standard at the position. They want the starting quarterback to lift the tide for the entire team in 2026. This requires a level of discipline, which was up and down last season for McCarthy.Do the coaches really trust Blake Brandel to be our starting center all year long? — Eric C.This topic sent me to the film.Brandel started his first game at center in Week 5 last season in London against the Cleveland Browns. He commanded the operation. He cleared paths in the ground game. Stunts caused problems for him on the interior, but they tormented the team all season. Two weeks later, he returned to the position against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia’s defensive linemen rarely pushed him directly into the lap of quarterback Carson Wentz. That may explain Minnesota’s faith in him.Is Brandel going to be a Pro Bowler? Unlikely. Will interior pass rushers find a way to the edge of his frame? Yes. Will he keep the picture fairly clear for Murray (if Murray indeed wins the job)? Probably.The Vikings considered drafting a center in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. They also made some calls at the position in free agency. Ultimately, the team deemed Brandel suitable enough by comparison. Stunts, picks and games could trouble the front, but O’Connell said offensive line coach Keith Carter was going to focus on these areas throughout the spring and summer.Veteran offensive lineman Blake Brandel, No. 64, made nine starts for the Vikings last season. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)Any more information on Frank Smith’s role and how he might help build an offense around Kyler Murray? — Mason B.O’Connell hired Smith as the team’s assistant head coach. Smith most recently worked with the Miami Dolphins as Mike McDaniel’s offensive coordinator, where they developed a creative and adaptable offense built on speed.An offensive line coach by trade, Smith brings a deep understanding of the run game. At his last stop, the Dolphins took a more shotgun-style quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa and married those pass concepts with run designs originally intended for an under-center system.When O’Connell bridges some of the Vikings’ greatest hits with Murray’s strengths, he will defer to Smith’s history. Smith will also streamline some of the Vikings’ run strategies to establish a clear identity.What positions are the weakest links on defense and offense? — Craig H.Defensively, the Vikings desperately need at least one more edge rusher. Cupboards don’t get much barer.Behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, the roster features three undrafted free agents: Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss and Tyler Batty. If you could guarantee Van Ginkel’s health, that would be one thing. But he missed five games in 2025. Minnesota is banking on Turner continuing to ascend, but the bet at the position still feels like a parlay of epic proportions.The offense seems deeper. Center could be the weakest link, but how about running back? Lose Aaron Jones, and the offense will hinge on Jordan Mason, who has a mountain to climb in pass protection, and rookie Demond Claiborne, who fumbled five times in 179 carries last season at Wake Forest. Fullback Max Bredeson provides a small amount of insurance, but you can squint and see why the offense might go awry because of this position.Are there plans to use Jake Golday and Andrew Van Ginkel in tandem? — Dan B.Never say never, but for this to happen, Blake Cashman would probably have to suffer an injury.The Vikings don’t want to rush Golday’s acclimation. They view him as a defender who can do Van Ginkel-ish things, but mastering the off-ball linebacker role is his first challenge.If Turner suffered an injury, the Vikings could think about this possibility. In training camp, they may toy with different personnel packages to counteract offenses leaning into heavier personnel. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to add little surprises. So, don’t rule anything out.Who will be the biggest surprise coming out of OTAs or training camp? — Greg H.I thought long and hard about this one, and I came up with three names: James Pierre (free-agent cornerback signing), Dillon Bell (undrafted receiver from Georgia) or Jacob Thomas (undrafted safety from James Madison).