5 Vikings Under the Most Pressure in 2024

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 Minnesota Vikings enter the season with low expectations, perhaps the lowest since Kirk Cousins joined the team in 2018. Before that, there was some uncertainty at quarterback, but Mike Zimmer’s strong defense overshadowed some of the problems. Currently, the oddsmakers view the franchise as a seven-win team.

5 Vikings Under the Most Pressure in 2024

The Vikings might eclipse that number, especially if some of the key additions surpass their expectations. Here are the top five players under the most pressure. Some face tension because the team needs them, while others must perform well to save their careers.

5. Will Reichard

Kickers are used to facing pressure, especially those who have played in some big college games with Alabama. However, becoming the new kicker in Minnesota is automatically adding pressure. Vikings fans are used to disappointment from their place-kickers. Will Reichard is the franchise’s first kicker drafted since Daniel Carlson in 2018, but hopefully, he doesn’t repeat that debacle.

Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Will Reichard (16) reacts after a field goal against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reichard isn’t guaranteed to be the top choice when the season begins in September; he must first compete with ex-XFL kicker John Parker Romo. Still, he is expected to win the job and replace Greg Joseph on the field, who has been a clutch kicker but failed too often in other situations.

The good news for Reichard is that he can easily win the hearts of Vikings fans by simply hitting his extra points and field goals from under 50 yards while occasionally expanding his range. Consistency is key for kickers, and it will take time to earn the trust of Skol Nation, but the NCAA’s all-time points leader has the skills to do that. Early struggles would quickly generate rumblings in the fan base, though.

4. Lewis Cine

Safety Lewis Cine has been heavily scrutinized for years. At first, a fractured leg prematurely ended his season before he even made an impact on defense, and then the strong depth chart in the secondary didn’t help his chances to earn meaningful snaps. Josh Metellus and Camryn Bynum have emerged as borderline Pro Bowl-caliber safeties, and veteran Harrison Smith is still around.

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
Aug 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Cine’s problem is that Theo Jackson and Jay Ward, two unsung depth players, have usurped him and have better chances of making the team. Since rosters rarely include more than five safeties, Cine’s future with the organization is in doubt, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft pick might be off the team after only two seasons and only ten defensive snaps.

He must take a huge step in training camp and the preseason to qualify for the 53-man roster.

3. J.J. McCarthy

The franchise’s hope is all placed on rookie passer J.J. McCarthy. As the highest-drafted QB in team history, he is supposed to be the chosen one to become Fran Tarkenton’s successor as a true franchise quarterback.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy makes a pass against Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner during the first half of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Kevin O’Connell has already stated his intention to slowly prepare his first-year player for the starting lineup rather than just tossing him in. He will be protected from playing until he is truly ready for the bright lights. The problem with that, however, is he can’t showcase any good plays if he doesn’t see the field to compete.

There will be some patience early in the season, but when he doesn’t play in the second half of his rookie campaign, folks will be just as disappointed as if he plays and doesn’t look like a first-rounder. Everyone knows he is expected to be the organization’s future, so he could have been even higher on the list.

2. Justin Jefferson

Wideout Justin Jefferson has been nothing short of sensational in four seasons as a professional football player. In 2024, the expectations change because of his contract. Jefferson recently signed a four-year $140 million extension that catapults his salary to the top spot in league history for a non-quarterback.

NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

That, of course, raises the bar. After coming off a down year mainly because of injury, he must show that he earns that kind of compensation. Staying healthy and continuing to produce at an all-time level is crucial. As the face of the franchise, he will be held accountable if the team isn’t performing well unless he is an elite player, and the stats show that.

Fair or not, Vikings fans and pundits will point at his contract and the team’s record and blame him for negative results. That scrutiny used to be directed at Kirk Cousins, but he isn’t here anymore to be that player.

1. Sam Darnold

Nobody expects Sam Darnold to be the next MVP, but he is still facing enormous pressure as the team goes as far as he takes them. In addition, it might be his final chance as a starter in the NFL.

NFL: Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night
Feb 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is interviewed during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Darnold entered the league as a highly-touted signal-caller coming out of USC. His arm talent translated from his college days, but so did his tendency to make mistakes. He threw way too many interceptions early in his career, and the infamous “seeing ghosts” quote followed him all these years.

His supporting casts in New York and Carolina hurt his development, but he has played quite well in limited snaps in the last two seasons. The hope is that Jefferson and O’Connell can unlock some hidden potential.

Regardless, if he doesn’t play at an average level, the Vikings won’t go anywhere in 2024, and his starting career might be over.


Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt