INDIANAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings’ decision-makers did not waste time at the NFL Scouting Combine. They met with agents, interviewed players and set the table for what is certain to be a busy next couple of weeks.

By Tuesday, the team must decide whether to place a tag on quarterback Sam Darnold. Deadlines late in the week will force the team’s hand on players like Byron Murphy Jr. and Aaron Jones.

The Darnold situation

Darnold’s market is topic No. 1. What does it mean that he is the premier quarterback available now that Matthew Stafford is staying in Los Angeles? Does that mean a first-year general manager like John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders will hitch his franchise to Darnold for multiple seasons? Will New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll bet their jobs on Darnold’s play?

League sources believe those are the two likeliest landing spots for Darnold, but the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers could also vie for Darnold’s services. The amount of money he’s offered will depend on how far ahead of the other available quarterbacks these teams see him as being. Any competition could then bring the franchise tag into play for Minnesota. Trading him for premium draft capital would be the best-case scenario, but another team would have to be head over heels enough to part with picks and pay Darnold a massive sum.

All of this said, Minnesota still would like to have Darnold back. The Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions still stings, but coaches have been open that they feel responsible for the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Bringing Darnold back only makes sense if his market is more depressed than expected. The Vikings have numerous holes to fill and must use free agency to do it. They see J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback of the future and don’t want to hinder his progression.

They think a better path to building the optimal roster is paying a quarterback like Daniel Jones around $10 million instead of giving Darnold around $35 million. The Vikings’ decision would get tougher if Darnold considered returning for somewhere in the $25 million range.

Byron Murphy Jr. update

The Vikings want to re-sign Byron Murphy Jr. This isn’t a surprise. A few weeks ago, the team extended the void date of his contract, creating more time to negotiate a new deal with the free agent.

The two sides met Wednesday in Indianapolis to gauge the level of interest. Murphy adores the Vikings organization and Brian Flores’ defensive system. The Vikings view him as a key defensive contributor because of his skill set: He can play outside, line up against slot receivers, blitz, drop into the deep half and track the ball. The marriage is close to perfect, but money matters.

Murphy would have plenty of suitors on the open market. While the free-agent cornerback class offers experienced options like D.J. Reed and Charvarius Ward, Murphy is younger. He is also more versatile and capable of providing a coordinator with man and zone possibilities. The next few weeks provide him a chance to cash in big, and while the Vikings are willing to pony up, they have numerous holes to fill.

Murphy’s representation could want him to reach the open market to maximize his financial opportunity. If so, his asking price is likely to hover above Carlton Davis’ number (around $15 million), but will it climb atop Deommodore Lenoir’s average annual value (around $18 million)? If Murphy and the Vikings can’t agree on a number, Minnesota must quickly adapt.

His departure would add urgency to finding another premier free-agent cornerback who fits Flores’ style. A player like Reed thrives in man coverage, but Minnesota’s defense requires zone traits and a commitment to playing a wacky system. Losing out on Murphy might also make the Vikings pursue a couple of players to replace him.

Vikings’ pursuit of guard help

Trey Smith intrigued the Vikings, and Minnesota’s brass met with Smith’s representatives in Indianapolis. It didn’t take much digging, however, for the Vikings to know Smith would remain in Kansas City. The Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to franchise-tag Smith shifts the Vikings’ strategy (less money spent on a guard means more to spend elsewhere), but it also creates more competition for the next tier of players.

Headlining the list is Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries. He fits the Vikings’ preferred free-agent benchmarks in that he’s young, versatile and productive. How his right tibia fracture affects his market remains to be seen, but the Vikings will likely be bidding against multiple teams, including the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears.

Securing Fries would go a long way toward fortifying an interior group head coach Kevin O’Connell has not been shy about wanting to upgrade. The Vikings interior has struggled mightily against stunts and other movement since O’Connell arrived in 2022. Moving defenders on run plays in the red zone has been another consistent issue. Position a player like Fries alongside left tackle Christian Darrisaw or right tackle Brian O’Neill, and the Vikings would be giving themselves a better chance.

Fries signing elsewhere would complicate matters. Someone like the Baltimore Ravens’ Patrick Mekari might then be in play, but this type of circumstance — like the situation with Murphy — underscores how integral it is for front offices to give themselves plenty of paths during this period.

Interior D-line options

Defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard were on the field for 222 snaps last season against pass plays. Minnesota recorded a 24.8 percent pressure rate on those snaps. That number would rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in pressure rate. In short, the Vikings’ pass rush floundered when its biggest men were on the field.

Multiple team sources reiterated the team’s commitment to adding players — emphasis on the plurality — to strengthen Minnesota’s ability to push the interior of the pocket. Milton Williams, who starred in the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, could be in play depending on his asking price in free agency. Another interesting candidate who flies in the face of the Vikings’ typical free-agent checklist is Javon Hargrave, who is 32 and played minimally in 2024 because of a partially torn right triceps.

There are other acquisition channels for interior defensive linemen, too, including the draft. Flores flew to Indianapolis on Monday for formal interviews with interior defensive linemen. Cut candidates could also be in play.

The safety dance

You cannot overstate Flores’ respect for potential Hall of Fame safety Harrison Smith. It’s not just Smith’s staying power — he can also bring to life what Flores draws on the board in the meeting rooms. Smith’s on-field identification and communication skills are responsible for Minnesota often being in the correct coverage over the last two years.

As long as Smith, 36, wants to be back and is realistic about his value, the Vikings will have him. There’s a March 15 deadline to determine his future, but the Vikings will likely want a decision earlier so they can shift their plans from there. His decision may have ramifications for safety Camryn Bynum, whom the Vikings also want back, but not at too high a cost.

Only six safeties make $15 million in average annual value: Antoine Winfield Jr., Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Budda Baker, Xavier McKinney and Jessie Bates III. The salary cap increase should push contracts upward, but Bynum does not have the resume of those six. Smith’s decision and Bynum’s market are also likely to have ramifications for fellow safety Theo Jackson, who performed well enough in practice and camps throughout the last couple of seasons for Minnesota to want to give him a bigger role.

Feedback on Dallas Turner

One NFC evaluator, whose team considered drafting edge rusher Dallas Turner last year, laughed when asked about having any concerns following Turner’s quiet rookie season. “None at all,” they said. “Think of him like Nolan Smith.”

Smith tallied 11 sacks in his second season. Four of them came during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. The NFC evaluator believes Turner’s sophomore season could be similar. Even if he’s finding his footing early in the 2025 season, a breakout could come down the stretch. One team source expects Turner to arrive in exceptional condition for spring and summer workouts, hungry to prove he can contribute beyond his 300 snaps in 2024.

The Vikings staff also shoulders some responsibility to continue developing Turner. Refining secondary moves is critical for edge rushers like he and Smith, who cannot solely win on power.

Extra nuggets

• Last week, Minnesota’s brass met with Drew Rosenhaus, who represents a bevy of Vikings players including running back Aaron Jones. The Vikings want to re-sign Jones, but even if they do, they are seeking more of a by-committee approach. Expect the Vikings to take a running back in the draft.

• The Vikings are not satisfied with their number of draft picks. They can only blame themselves for having four (with the expected third-round compensatory pick), but make no mistake: They are being strategic about ways to generate more (potential trades back, compensatory pick formula, etc.).

• Minnesota’s coaching staff is eyeing special teams as another way to improve on the margins. A new punt returner is a primary target. Ryan Wright is not guaranteed to be doing the punting in 2025, either.

• One NFC executive, whose team interviewed defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, praised him. Jones, the executive said, is prepared for a bigger opportunity and will likely receive one in the coming years if Flores’ defense continues to succeed.

• According to team sources, defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, cornerback Dwight McGlothern and safety Jay Ward all have arrows angled upward.

• One NFC evaluator said they recently went back and watched J.J. McCarthy’s tape from the preseason game against the Raiders. “(I) did not expect it to look that good,” the scout said. “Anticipation throws. Athleticism in the pocket. Willingness to throw over the middle. (I) was very impressed.”