Vikings $12 Million Safety Gets Concerning Take Ahead of 2026 Season

“Last season, Theo Jackson moved up on the Minnesota Vikings’ safety depth chart, playing 60 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.

After a step forward in his development, Jackson may be less productive as the Vikings’ No. 3 safety. He could lose his roster spot if rookie third-rounder Jakobe Thomas shows promising signs in the next phases of the Vikings’ offseason program.”

If Harrison Smith is to return, it may raise the chance that Jackson would get let go. Inversely, if Smith doesn’t return, then Minnesota could end up needing Jackson to stay. They are a bit thin at the position as it is, as Josh Metellus isn’t a traditional safety; he’s more of a rover.

This also all depends on how quick rookie Jakobe Thomas picks up on things in camp. He has quite the favorable path to starting quickly, especially if Harrison Smith calls it a career this offseason.

Regardless of who starts, Vikings fans always have something to hang their hat on. Brian Flores is still the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, and it’s likely that he will make whatever cast of characters he has look good.

Minnesota Predicted to Have ‘Mild’ Start to 2026 Season

GettyKevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before the start of a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently predicted a ‘mild’ start to the Vikings’ 2026 NFL season.

“The key to the start of the Kyler Murray era (He’s starting at quarterback. You know it. I know it.) will be surviving the first couple games of the season—NFC North tilts at home against the Packers and at the division champion Chicago Bears. Get past that, and the road gets exponentially easier—the Vikings are at Tampa, at home against the woeful Dolphins and at New Orleans.

A 3-2 record when the bye arrives is a reasonable expectation.”