TTP: Which General Manager candidate would be the BEST hire for Minnesota Vikings?
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What is the timeline and process for the Vikings' GM hiring decision?
The Minnesota Vikings select. He's a longtime NFL draft expert who's been sweating Vikings football since the Randy Moss era. Welcome to Thor Talks Purple. Hello and welcome into Thor Talks Purple, a Tuesday edition where me and the Sports Dad generally each give a modest proposal. But today, Judd and I are going to team up for one sort of group modest proposal. We are going to break down the Vikings general manager search, which appears to be heating up here. And we're each, by the end of this episode, going to tell you guys what we would do, who we would each hire. And we're also going to make a prediction on what the Vikings will actually do.
Judd, are you ready for this? I am indeed. I am indeed. I think we are within a week or a week and a half of finding out who the next general manager of the Minnesota Vikings is going to be.
Yeah, we have the round two of interviews for the GM position begin today. So we should see a ramp up here. And, Judd, are you thinking early June? We'll get your first prediction out of the way. Are you saying early June you're expecting the hiring? I think early June, yes. That's my guess. So, you know, everyone knows that the search here has been narrowed down to the finalists. Rob Brzezinski, of course, the interim Broncos assistant general manager, Reed Burkhart, Bills assistant general manager, Terrence Gray, Rams assistant general manager, John McKay. and Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley are going to be the guys getting those second interviews. Judd, I wanted to begin this episode by going through the resumes of all five of those guys' strengths and weaknesses, and then we'll answer those questions I mentioned at the top. Perfect.
All right, we'll begin with Rob B., the incumbent here for the Vikings. Of course, the EVP of football operations in addition to being the interim GM. Of course, he's been a fixture around the building for decades. Strengths of Rob Brzezinski. Institutional knowledge, of course, you would have to put up there. The transition would be seamless. It's already there. He executed, I think, a pretty solid offseason this offseason and his one offseason as the interim GM. If nothing else, did not botch it, right? If nothing else, hit it down the fairway, which is what they were promising us. They got Kyler Murray for the QB hedge. They signed Juwan Jennings at a steal of a price. I thought they got a great deal on James Pierre. They were fiscally responsible.
The Jonathan Grenard trade, when you add in the cost savings that led to Juwan Jennings, I thought was strong value. Two third round picks and Juwan Jennings for Grenard. And I thought the draft process was decent. It was the hit it down the fairway kind of a thing. But we didn't see the fumbles that we had seen in past couple of years and the obvious reaching up and some botched trades and stuff like that. I also thought it was interesting that the 22 year scouting director, Mike Charlton of the Vikings, called the 2026 draft process, quote, perhaps his most enjoyable end quote in Minnesota. That deserves to be said. He also and that speaks to the internal staff that Rob, of course, has. He has KOC's, you know, they're friends. There's no power struggle risk there.
The weaknesses on Rob B, as I see it, his strengths are cap and contract, not player evaluation. And the other one, his ascension would solidify the continuity of a scouting structure in the building that has botched four drafts with the fifth one pending. Obviously, the first four years there did not go well. The Wilfs want change. Would removing the interim take from Rob B, would that qualify? our first candidate. Judd, moving to our second one, Reed Burkhart, the Broncos assistant general manager. Now, Reed Burkhart, for those that don't know, he's a native Minnesotan. I believe he's from tiny Russell, Minnesota. Played quarterback at South Dakota State in college. And then he caught on with the Vikings as an intern, where he spent 13 seasons, almost all of them under George Patton, who Burkhart then followed to Denver.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the timeline and process for the Vikings' GM hiring decision?
0:01–5:19
2
What are Rob Brzezinski’s strengths and weaknesses as the interim GM?
5:19–11:02
3
How does Reed Burkhart’s dual scouting background impact his GM candidacy?
11:02–16:38
4
Why is Terrence Gray considered a strong draft‑focused GM prospect?
16:38–21:58
5
What would John McKay bring from the Rams’ championship culture to Minnesota?
21:58–27:38
6
How does Nolan Teasley’s outsider perspective differ from the other candidates?
27:38–32:52
7
Which candidate do Thor and Judd each prefer and what are their predictions for the hire?
32:52–33:10
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Purple Daily | a Minnesota Vikings podcast
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