The NFL Scouting Combine has descended upon Indianapolis, and with it comes a whirlwind of speculation, athletic feats, and behind-the-scenes chatter that could define the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 season. On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, host Tyler Forness—sipping Tecates in spirit from a Mexican beach—and producer Dave Stefano break down what fans need to know as the Vikings approach this critical offseason juncture. From Sam Darnold’s franchise tag potential to the rise of GPS data in scouting, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone tracking the purple and gold.

Sam Darnold and the Tag-and-Trade Temptation

The Combine isn’t just about 40-yard dashes and bench presses—it’s the NFL’s gossip central, akin to a high school senior hallway. One of the juiciest topics swirling around the Vikings is the future of quarterback Sam Darnold. With his contract status up in the air, Tyler posits a fascinating scenario: Could Minnesota opt for a franchise tag-and-trade maneuver?

“There’s going to be a lot of conversation about Sam Darnold’s contract status, the franchise tag, as we go into the NFL Scouting Combine,” Tyler says. “Will the Vikings choose to tag him for a potential trade? Tag and trade isn’t necessarily the most fruitful thing, but it could complicate things in a positive way for the Vikings.”

He points to a historical precedent that might influence head coach Kevin O’Connell’s thinking. Back in 2008, O’Connell was on the New England Patriots roster when Matt Cassel stepped in for an injured Tom Brady, leading the team to an 11-5 record. The Pats tagged Cassel and flipped him to the Kansas City Chiefs for two second-round picks—a haul that Tyler finds tantalizing.

“Because of that experience, so many people will derive things from their past,” Tyler notes. “I’m very curious if Kevin O’Connell will see that, having seen it work, and decide, ‘Hey, I want to try this.’”

But it’s not a slam dunk. Dave chimes in, emphasizing that any tag-and-trade hinges on demand. “It’s going to be at the Combine where they get the talking, the gossip,” he says. “If they can get Tennessee, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Steelers all talking about ‘we want Sam,’ then you start a bidding war.”

Tyler agrees, drawing a parallel to Kirk Cousins’ 2018 signing, where a Jets bidding war pushed the Vikings to a fully guaranteed $84 million deal. “If they can get a bidding war, that’s how you get something like two second-round picks,” he says. “You don’t just get that because you decide you want to—you get that because other teams are fighting.”

The stakes are high. Tagging Darnold risks tying up cap space if no trade materializes, leaving the Vikings to either rescind the tag or settle for a compensatory pick—likely a third-rounder—in 2026. “You have to know that you’re going to get something,” Tyler stresses. “Whatever decision you make has to be the right one.”

The Combine: More Than Just Drills

Beyond the Darnold debate, the Combine is a multifaceted beast—part job fair, part medical marathon, and part rumor mill. Tyler paints a vivid picture of its role beyond the televised workouts. “It’s not just about the on-field workouts, not just about the interviews and the medicals,” he says. “It’s about, ‘Hey, I run into an agent. Why don’t I buy you a $40 million coffee?’ Those conversations happen. They’re discreet.”

Tampering, he adds with a chuckle, is rampant but rarely penalized unless someone—like Kirk Cousins—blabs about it. “Everybody does it, and because everybody does it, it’s just widely accepted—kind of like steroids in baseball in the ‘90s until they decided to stop it.”

For reporters like Tyler, the Combine is a goldmine of intel, even if he’s sidelined in Mexico this year. “Gathering that information is a huge part of this whole process,” he laments. “Understanding where players are going, what teams are interested in who—it’s a big part.”

Press conferences, however, are less revealing. With national media often asking rote questions already answered by local beat writers like Kevin Seifert and Ben Goessling, Tyler advises tempered expectations. “Don’t hold your breath that you’re going to get much out of them,” he warns. “You’re going to get a lot of coach and GM speak.”

Dave concurs, noting the disconnect between national and local press. “It’s generally not the local guys asking—they do a separate conference afterward and get more detailed answers on things we actually care about.”

Why Indy? Logistics Rule the Day

Ever wondered why the Combine stays rooted in Indianapolis? Dave poses the question, and Tyler’s answer is all about practicality. “It’s logistical,” he explains. “With all the medical facilities surrounding Lucas Oil Stadium, they move everything into this giant conference room. Everything is centrally located—easy for the teams, the players, the medical staff.”

Dave elaborates: “They’ve got the MRIs, the CAT scans, all the test facilities right there. Even the military moved contractor processing to Indy because the medical system was so robust.”

Talk of moving the Combine to bidding cities—like the NFL Draft—crops up, but Tyler’s skeptical. “Each city would have to have the appropriate medical and logistics needs ready to go,” he says. “In Minnesota, you’ve got the Mayo Clinic, but it’s an hour and a half from U.S. Bank Stadium. You’re wasting three hours a day driving.”

Indy’s centralized setup remains king—for now.

Old School vs. New School: The Data Revolution

The Combine’s testing—40-yard dashes, vertical jumps, bench presses—has long been the gold standard for evaluating prospects. But as Tyler and Dave discuss, a data revolution is underway, with GPS tracking challenging traditional metrics.

“We understand some athletic thresholds,” Tyler says. “Cornerbacks who run 4.4s are more likely to succeed than those who run 4.5s or slower. But with GPS tracking data, teams like the Rams pretty much skip the Combine because they have all the data.”

The catch? “We don’t have a long-term scope yet,” he admits. “We don’t have enough data to say, ‘This number translates to success X amount of time.’”

Dave digs into the nuance. “You can run a 4.4 and do lousy, but if your game speed shows you at 21.7 miles an hour covering a pass, that’s what matters. I’d rather have that than speed in shorts on the sideline.”

Traditional drills still hold sway—GMs love a 36-inch vertical or a 10-foot broad jump for linemen—but the blend with GPS data is murky. “The sensors don’t cover power or agility like a three-cone drill,” Dave notes. “I’m curious how they’re blending the two.”

Tyler shrugs. “I don’t have a good answer. Off the record, teams might tell you, ‘X matters because of this,’ but publicly? We’re in the dark.”

The Vikings, he believes, are leaning into GPS under GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. “They’ve shifted heavily towards it,” he says, citing Jordan Addison’s modest testing (56th percentile) but stellar on-field play. “The dude just wins at playing football. That matters more.”

Prospects to Watch: Freaks and Risers

With testing on the horizon, Tyler highlights players who could make waves. Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, a 339-pound defensive tackle, needs to prove his freakish athleticism. “Run a sub-5-second 40, jump 34 inches vertically, and call it a day,” Tyler says. “If he doesn’t, it could be bad.”

Colorado’s Travis Hunter, a two-way star, could solidify his top-five status with elite numbers. “Great testing might make teams more comfortable playing him more at wide receiver, which he wants,” Tyler predicts.

Running backs like Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, UCF’s RJ Harvey, and Florida State’s Trevor Etienne face pressure to break 4.5 in the 40. “Giddens is so good at reading blocks,” Tyler says. “A 4.49 would do wonders.” For the shorter, stockier Harvey and Etienne, speed is non-negotiable.

Then there’s Omar Stewart, a 6’5”, 281-pound edge rusher. “Guys that size don’t move like that,” Tyler marvels. “If he’s available at 24, you take him and figure it out. I think he goes top five.”

Trust the Film, Not Just the Hype

Tyler’s final word of caution? Don’t overhype Combine results. “The film is the most important thing,” he insists, recalling Oregon’s Bucky Irving. “He tested poorly—190 pounds, not fast, not explosive—but the film showed he does all those things well. I trusted it, stayed high on him, and he’s at 1,000 yards as a rookie.”

Dave ties it back to GPS: “That’s where the data might sway you versus the 40.”

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As the Combine looms, the Vikings’ path—from Darnold’s fate to their 24th pick—remains wide open. Tyler’s headed for margaritas, but he’ll be back Friday, tan (or beet red), to break it all down. “It’s going to be a weird draft class,” he says. “A very weird one.”

SKOL, Vikings fans—stay tuned.

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Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and its NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.