3 Concerns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a 7-10 season in 2023 and hoping to improve that record in 2024.
However, there are a couple obstacles in their way that could prevent an improvement from occurring this fall. Here is a look at three concerns that remain for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
Is the CB Room Better?
Other than the additions of Shaq Griffin and rookie Khyree Jackson, the main names stay largely the same for the Vikings heading into the 2024 season. This is a group that played a role in the Vikings allowing the highest completion percentage in the NFL last season at 70.3%.
Of course, the additions could point towards a change in philosophy for the Vikings this year. Brian Flores ran a very unique defense last season that blitzed more than any other team in the NFL (51.5% of snaps were blitzes, per Pro Football Reference) while also playing a ton of zone coverage. Griffin and Jackson have been productive players in man coverage, so Minnesota’s path towards improvement could result in a bit more man coverage this year.
QB Development
This concern is not necessarily to say that J.J. McCarthy will be a bust at the NFL level. There should be plenty of faith that the rookie QB can play well for the Vikings and serve as a quality starting quarterback in the future.
Will that development lead to immediate success in 2024, though? It remains to be seen. In all likelihood, McCarthy won’t be the Week 1 starter for the Vikings as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell have preached patience for the rookie QB. That would mean Sam Darnold is the starter for at least the first couple weeks of the season, who has gone 21-35 as a starter.
Kicking
The kicker spot is a position that has been infamous for the Vikings over the years, and this year, the Vikings will turn to one of two completely unproven options at the NFL level. After Greg Joseph signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, Minnesota now turns to either XFLer John Parker Romo or rookie Will Reichard as their potential kickers in 2024.
Seeing as Reichard was the first kicker to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings likely will turn to the Alabama product this year. He has kicked in some of the biggest college football moments, but will that experience translate to the NFL?
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.