ESPN Analyst Says Vikings Core Players Rank Just Above Average in 2023
The Minnesota Vikings moved on from a number of their veteran players this offseason, prompting many to wonder exactly how the team will fare during the 2023 season. That being said, the majority of what many would consider the main Vikings core group of players remained intact for at least one more season.
While Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and Eric Kendricks arguably should be considered members from the 2022 “core” that are no longer around, it would be hard to argue with the group that Seth Walder of ESPN considers Minnesota’s main core (or top five players) heading into 2023:
- QB Kirk Cousins
- WR Justin Jefferson
- OLB Danielle Hunter
- LT Christian Darrisaw
- TE T.J. Hockenson
Walder recently ranked the core players from all 32 NFL teams heading into the upcoming season, and for the Vikings group listed above, he placed Minnesota 13th on his list, making them a group that ranks just above average in the NFL.
Along with the list, Walder had the following to say regarding the Vikings core:
If you can’t have an elite quarterback, the next-best thing is an elite wide receiver. There’s perhaps no one better at the position than Jefferson, and he’s the primary reason the Vikings are in this spot.
The knock on Kirk Cousins throughout his career has been that he simply doesn’t do enough to raise the ceiling of teams he plays for. Folks will oftentimes point to meltdowns on Monday Night Football or the fact that the veteran has only won a single playoff game throughout his career as evidence of this point.
It is fair that Cousins may be a “good not great” player at the quarterback position, as Walder suggests. However, there is no denying that Justin Jefferson is, at worst, a top-five player at the wide receiver position and should get a very lucrative contract extension soon.
As a result of this duo, along with T.J. Hockenson at tight end who caught 60 passes over just 10 games for the Vikings last season and Christian Darrisaw at left tackle keeping Cousins upright, Minnesota will go as far as their offense can take them this season. Perhaps this doesn’t result in another 13-4 campaign, but they should certainly be a competitive team once again.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.