Grading the Vikings Position Groups: Offense
Josh Frey
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Now that the frenzy of free agency has begun to slow down a bit, this is a good time to take a look at the Minnesota Vikings roster and break down exactly what position needs the team still has heading into next month’s NFL Draft. In this article, we are going to take a look at Minnesota’s offense and grade each of the Vikings position groups on that side of the ball.
Quarterback
- Kirk Cousins
- Nick Mullens
- Grade: B
If this is the QB room that the Vikings roll into the 2023 season with, then it is good enough for them to compete for a consecutive playoff berth. Cousins has shown over the course of his career that he is plenty capable of keeping a team competitive at the NFL level.
However, the long-term outlook is where things get a little bit concerning with this group. Cousins doesn’t have a contract following the 2023 season yet, and this may be a result of the Vikings looking to find a new quarterback via the draft either this spring or in 2024.
Running Back
- Dalvin Cook
- Alexander Mattison
- C.J. Ham
- Ty Chandler
- Kene Nwangwu
- Grade: C+
At this point in time, the Vikings seem pretty content with simply running back the same RB room as they had in 2022. This is a little surprising considering Alexander Mattison’s desire to start as well as Dalvin Cook’s contract which gives him a $14.1 million cap hit this season.
Regardless, if Minnesota commits to being a more balanced offensive unit, this is a talented group of backs. Cook has had four consecutive 1000-yard seasons, and Ty Chandler has the potential to be a star at the position if given consistent touches. This grade could rise by the end of the season, but that largely rides on Chandler’s production.
Wide Receiver
- Justin Jefferson
- K.J. Osborn
- Jalen Reagor
- Jalen Nailor
- Brandon Powell
- Blake Proehl
- Trishton Jackson
- Grade: A-
Any time Justin Jefferson is the headline of a position group, you’re off to a good start. However, without Adam Thielen around, the Vikings certainly could bear to add another consistent player to this room, preferably a dynamic speed threat, but that problem can be solved fairly easily in the draft.
Overall, even if this is the group of receivers that the Vikings head into the 2023 regular season with, this is one of the more talented groups on the roster. Keep an eye on Jalen Nailor to take on a bigger role this year as well.
Tight End
- T.J. Hockenson
- Josh Oliver
- Johnny Mundt
- Ben Ellefson
- Nick Muse
- Grade: A
It’s hard to imagine there being a much better group of tight ends than the one that has been put together in Minnesota. Obviously, players like Travis Kelce and George Kittle are the cream of the crop in terms of individual play, but Minnesota legitimately has four players (potentially five if Muse shows any improvement) that can take snaps with an NFL offense.
The addition of Josh Oliver should be huge for Minnesota’s running game, and Hockenson averaged 6 receptions per game in the 10 games he played for the Vikings last season. This will be the deepest room in the roster heading into the summer.
Offensive Tackle
- Christian Darrisaw
- Brian O’Neill
- Blake Brandel
- Oli Udoh
- Vederian Lowe
- Grade: A+
Both of Minnesota’s starting tackles missed time with injury last season, but the crazy part is that we didn’t really see a drop-off in terms of production when the reserves came in. Both Brandel and Udoh made starts for the Vikings in 2022 and played well.
When they are healthy, Darrisaw and O’Neill are a top-five tackle tandem in the league, so having a pair of backups that can seamlessly step in without a hitch is truly incredible.
Interior Offensive Line
- Ezra Cleveland
- Garrett Bradbury
- Ed Ingram
- Chris Reed
- Austin Schlottmann
- Josh Sokol
- Grade: B-
This seems to be yet another group of offensive positions that the Vikings are content with simply running things back in. Bradbury earned himself a 3-year contract to stay in Minnesota this offseason, and all the familiar faces further down the depth chart are back as well.
The biggest uncertainty with this group is the future of Ezra Cleveland. Seeing as he has emerged as arguably the best player on this list, it seems necessary for the Vikings to get him a new contract at some point that will keep him in purple.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. 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.