2024 season: 14-3, second at NFC North, lost against Rams in the wild round
Preview: Before it collapsed at the end, it was the best season of the Vikings for years, which is remarkable since their recruit quarter did not play a single cliché.
The Vikings had a chance to land the seeded n ° 1 in the NFC, but they were humiliated in their regular season final against the Detroit lions. Then, they were exploded by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs in the second consecutive brutal match in the quarter-Arrière Sam Darnold.
Despite the box on arrival, the future in Minneapolis is brilliant. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and Managing Director Kwesi Adofo-Mensah both obtained contract extensions, and the team brings most of his key parts next fall. The biggest question that the Vikings are probably faced with is what to do with QB.
Darnold, apart from his last two games, has more than proved that he could lead the team if the Vikings want to bring him back. JJ McCarthy can get the call in place, because it was still the plan before his knee injury. We do not know what the Vikings will immediately obtain from him.
Anyway, Vikings fans should be very satisfied with the state of the franchise.
Key -free agents
QB Sam Darnold
S Harrison Smith
S Camryn bynum
CB Byron Murphy
OT Cam Robinson
CB Stephon Gilmore
RB Aaron Jones
RB CAM AKERS
CB Shaq Griffin
Who is in / out: There is no doubt that Darnold cost him a lot of money with his performances in the last two games for Minnesota. But he has shown that he is able to be a starter, and it is difficult to imagine that he will be happy as a backup in Minneapolis. Above all that the Vikings do this off-season must be made after having determined their plan at the quarter-tree. If they revised Darnold to a multi -year agreement or strike it with the franchise label, which could both cost dear, which knows what the future of McCarthy will look like. Or the Vikings can simply let Darnold walk and make sure that McCarthy has everything he needs to succeed when he starts his career.
Aaron Jones had a year of career with the Vikings last fall. The veteran carrier of the ball has accumulated 1,138 yards and seven affected in total on its one year agreement with the club. Vikings can afford to pay it, but Jones could choose to go elsewhere after proving that he is always a starter of the league.
Key needs for free agent
Back
Cornerback / Security
Strategist*
Why the holes? With Akers and Jones who should be free agents without restrictions, the Vikings should seek to bring in a veteran RB this offseason if they do not guarantee at least one of them.
The Vikings will also have several key members from their secondary free success agency This offseason, including the Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin corner half, and the safety Camryn bynum and Harrison Smith. The group led the NFL in the interceptions of many last season, so plug at least one of these holes in a free agency is like an intelligent decision.
QB is completely conditional on the Vikings, letting Darnold walk. If they do, the Vikings should bring a cheaper veteran backup.
Do they have the money?
The Vikings are in the offseason with roughly $ 61 million in wage spacewhich is the top 10 of the league.
Notable potential cuts
Te Josh Oliver
C Garrett Bradbury
OL Ed Ingram
Why they might have left: The first two here allow the Vikings a good game of money. Oliver should win $ 8 million in 2025, although only 22 receptions last season. Although this is a career summit, the Vikings do not need to pay it too much with TJ HoClenson on their list.
Bradbury is in the same boat. The Vikings should have their longtime center more than $ 5 million next season, but cut it while strengthening their offensive line – which they should absolutely do this off -season – could be an easy option.
Although Ingram does not save them a lot of money, cutting it makes sense. He lost his starting job halfway last year, so keeping him for the last season of his contract does not make much sense.
Draft choice
1st round: n ° 24
3rd round (compensatory)
5th round (brown)
5th round
Good draft adjustment
Shavon Revel, CB, Caroline de l’Est
Why him? The Vikings have a blatant hole to fill their secondary, so taking a corner here first is ideal. Even by treating an LCA injury torn for much of last season, Revel would be a good adjustment here for Minnesota. The 6 -foot 3 -inch star had two interceptions, one of which he ran for a touchdown, during his three games for the pirates before going down with an injury. Assuming that its recovery is going well, Revel could easily integrate and to immediately meet a great need for Minnesota.
It doesn’t matter who is behind Center for Minnesota next season, the interior offensive line of this team must be improved and improved. Sam Darnold was under pressure on 37.9% of his declines last season, according to PFF, among the highest rates in the league. And he put pressure on an astonishing rate of 54% in the defeat of the playoffs by the RAMs. If this offense will maximize high-end talents in its reception corps, the quarter will need time and space to operate.
While we provide hypothetical adjustments to the Vikings list, also go into the rear field, maybe with Omarion Hampton of UNC or Kaleb Johnson from Iowa. –Andy Behrens
(Tagstotranslate) Sam Darnold (T) Vikings (T) Stephon Gilmore (T) Minnesota (T) Harrison Smith (T) Rams (T) Aaron Jones (T) Camryn bynum (T) Cam Akers (T) Shaq Griffin (T) Detroit Lions (T) JJ McCarthy (T) ED Ingram (T) tj hockenson
