In the latest episode of Skoldiers & Spice, a Vikings 1st & SKOL production partnered with the Fans First Sports Network, host Sally Spice and guest Dustin Baker dive into the Minnesota Vikings’ whirlwind 2025 offseason. Recorded on March 25, 2025, with the NFL Draft just a month away, the episode unpacks the team’s free agency haul, surprising departures, and the ever-present quarterback controversy that keeps Vikings fans buzzing. From blockbuster signings like Ryan Kelly and Will Fries to the ongoing QB2 puzzle, Spice and Baker deliver sharp insights and lively banter, blending optimism with the cautious realism only a Vikings fan can muster. For those searching for the latest Minnesota Vikings news, offseason analysis, and draft predictions, this episode offers a front-row seat to the team’s transformation—and the fanbase’s relentless QB2 obsession.

Free Agency Frenzy: Vikings Bolster the Trenches

The Vikings didn’t waste time reshaping their roster this offseason, and free agency brought a flurry of moves that left Spice and Baker buzzing with excitement. Dustin Baker, making his monthly appearance on the show, didn’t hold back his enthusiasm for the team’s new-look offensive line, singling out center Ryan Kelly as his favorite addition.

“I am going to say Ryan Kelly as the center is my favorite edition… We don’t have to be just complacent anymore at center,” Baker said. “Garrett Bradbury was a fantastic run blocker, but every Sunday when we would play the Packers or the Giants with Dexter Lawrence, we would just accept that Garrett Bradbury was going to be bowled over by a mean big defensive tackle. And we don’t have to do that anymore.”

Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler, brings a veteran presence at 32 years old—an age Baker admits he didn’t expect GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to target. Meanwhile, Sally Spice championed the signing of guard Will Fries, highlighting the long-overdue investment in the offensive line.

“I think I’m gonna go Will Fries, because… for years and years, we have been just complaining about this offensive line,” Spice said. “So to bring in Will Fries… with J.J. McCarthy hopefully starting out the season and these guys can stay with him for the next several years and build that chemistry and protect him.”

The duo marveled at how these moves, alongside others like defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, have transformed the Vikings’ trenches—a weakness turned into a strength. Baker called the Hargrave signing the offseason’s most surprising moment, noting it came hot on the heels of Allen’s arrival.

“Right after they signed Jonathan Allen… it felt like two minutes after that became quasi official, Tom Pelissero tweeted, they’re not done. They’re also signing Javon Hargrave,” Baker recalled. “The years-long thirst that we’ve had for a defensive tackle… when Jonathan Allen was signed, we were like, ‘Yeah, baby!’ And then like three minutes later they got another one just to get richer.”

This aggressive approach gives the Vikings flexibility heading into the draft, a point Spice emphasized: “It gives them so much more flexibility for what they can do in the draft now, especially with the limited capital that they’re working with.”

Surprises and Departures: Daniel Jones’ Exit Raises Eyebrows

While the Vikings’ additions stole the spotlight, a few departures caught Spice and Baker off guard—none more so than quarterback Daniel Jones opting for the Indianapolis Colts over a return to Minnesota. Baker had pegged Jones as the backup plan to Sam Darnold, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks.

“I thought he was the plan… for when Sam Darnold inevitably signed with another team,” Baker said. “I was told by a little birdie that they told him, ‘You want to come back up McCarthy?’ And he was like, ‘Wait, what? I thought I’d be able to maybe start.’”

Spice corroborated this intel from her own sources, noting the Vikings were blindsided when Jones bolted for a chance to compete with Anthony Richardson in Indy. The move leaves Minnesota without a clear QB2 behind J.J. McCarthy, fueling the fanbase’s perennial backup quarterback fixation—a topic the pair would revisit later.

Elsewhere, the Vikings’ trade for running back Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers impressed Spice for its low cost: a swap of sixth-round picks and a 2026 asset. Baker, however, remains hopeful for a draft addition to the backfield, citing the depth of the 2025 running back class.

Draft Predictions: Trading Back on the Horizon?

With the NFL Draft looming on April 26, 2025, Spice and Baker peered into their crystal balls. Both predict the Vikings will trade back from their No. 24 pick, capitalizing on their newfound roster depth to stockpile assets. Baker offered a specific target: East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr.

“I think they will trade back maybe twice before they even pick a dude,” Baker said. “Right now I’ll say they trade back and they end up snagging Shavon Revel Jr., a cornerback from East Carolina. And along the way, they add two more picks.”

Spice agreed, noting the logic of trading back given the team’s aggressive free agency: “It makes the most sense for them, especially ‘cause they filled so many holes in this first three weeks of free agency.” The flexibility to target a cornerback, offensive lineman, or even a luxury pick like a wide receiver underscores the Vikings’ transformed offseason outlook.

The QB2 Obsession: A Vikings Fan Speciality

No Vikings offseason discussion is complete without dissecting the backup quarterback situation, and Skoldiers & Spice delivered. With McCarthy entrenched as QB1—rumors of an Aaron Rodgers pursuit mercifully fading—Spice and Baker tackled the fanbase’s relentless QB2 debate.

“Do you think that other fan bases argue or fret or stress out and lose sleep at night as much as Vikings fans do about QB twos?” Spice asked. “Not a chance. Absolutely not,” Baker replied. “I know why we do it, because we are the team that takes the QB two, empowers that guy and then he is awesome for three months.”

Baker urged fans to redirect their energy to McCarthy, trusting head coach Kevin O’Connell to handle the backup role. Still, the pair couldn’t resist speculating. Baker floated a nostalgic reunion with Case Keenum, citing their 2019 overlap with the Washington Commanders.

“Case Keenum at age 37, it’d be exactly what we needed,” Baker said. “We don’t need somebody to threaten McCarthy’s job this summer. And we’ve already seen the proof in the pudding eight years ago.”

Spice loved the idea but cautioned about fan over-enthusiasm: “I can imagine the conversations around me… ‘If Keenum was playing, we would be winning.’ Everybody knows Case Keenum.” Alternatives like Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, and Ryan Tannehill also surfaced, with Baker favoring Lock for his upside under O’Connell’s tutelage.

Former Vikings Watch: Diggs Lands in New England

The episode also checked in on former Vikings making waves elsewhere. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs, after a prolonged free agency wait, signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the New England Patriots—a move Baker endorsed.

“Good for him,” Baker said. “The Patriots certainly had the largest piggy bank this offseason… Diggs will get to really end his career as the WR one for a team, I think he can still handle that workload.”

Spice expressed mild surprise at the delay but saw the fit with rookie QB Drake Maye as promising. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold’s three-year deal with Seattle sparked debate, with Spice defending his choice against fan backlash.

“He took the Kirk Cousins deal as if he’s chasing the money,” Spice quoted from the chat. “To me, it’s chasing the security of three years… Why do you guys want him to suck?”

Baker agreed, noting Darnold seized his moment post-Vikings: “This was his one chance… He would’ve been stupid to come back and think that he could dethrone the chosen one.”

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Looking Ahead: A Bright Future?

As the Vikings head toward the draft and summer, Spice and Baker radiated cautious optimism. The trenches are fortified, McCarthy’s ascent seems secure, and the QB2 drama—while evergreen—feels less urgent with O’Connell at the helm. Whether it’s Keenum, Lock, or a surprise name, the Vikings appear poised to compete in a brutal NFC North. For fans, this episode of Skoldiers & Spice offered a blend of analysis, nostalgia, and hope—just don’t mention Aaron Rodgers.

“Let’s hope that they can finally do this thing in the next four years,” Baker said, eyeing McCarthy’s rookie contract window.

With the draft approaching, Spice promised more coverage: “We’re gonna chat about [it] the Tuesday before the draft.” Vikings fans, buckle up—it’s shaping up to be a wild ride.

Join Us and Fan!
Guest Dustin Baker @DustBaker of VikesNow joins Sal Spice @SalSpice on this episode of “Skoldiers & Spice” with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL show. We’re partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and their NFL feed @FFSN_NFL. #SKOL #Vikings!

⭐️ Read Dustin Baker over at the Vikings Territory: https://vikingsterritory.com