The Minnesota Vikings’ Top 3 Champagne Problems as the Bye Reaches its End
Not too long ago, Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used a catchy phrase to describe the then-unsigned extension for Justin Jefferson: champagne problem.
The basic thinking was that, yes, Minnesota was confronting a problem. A deal for Mr. Jefferson did need to get done. The reality, though, is that every single NFL GM would love to be facing that problem. Jefferson has been so good that he demands a uniquely-expensive deal. Oh, for every 1st-Round draft pick to offer such a problem!
Our current vantage point offers some benefits. In the end, Jefferson popped the champagne — Adofo-Mensah likely did, too — after putting pen to paper on a four-year extension that’s tipping the scales at $140 million. So, the problem found a solution. Even within the uncertainty of the present moment, though, there was an understanding that Minnesota was working with a good problem.
At present, Minnesota is navigating some other champagne problems. Consider a list of three on this Sunday without Vikings football.
The Minnesota Vikings’ Top 3 Champagne Problems
Champagne Problem #1: The Free Agents Have Been Excellent, So the Young Guys Aren’t Playing Much
Will Reichard has been the best player from the 2024 Draft Class. The kid has nailed every kick that’s been put in front of him, saving himself some time in the barber’s chair along the way.
Otherwise, the contributions have been modest.
J.J. McCarthy would have been the QB2 had he not torn his meniscus. Just think back to that moment in Week 5 when Nick Mullens lobbed a pass to Aaron Jones down the sideline; McCarthy would have been the one doing so had there been no injury.
Dallas Turner is getting onto the field, but he has been lapped on the depth chart. Patrick Jones is sitting on 5 sacks and has been very disruptive. Jihad Ward isn’t getting rewarded with stats but he’s making QBs skittish. Oh, and the actual starters — Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel — have been excellent.
Walter Rouse, Michael Jurgens, and Levi Drake Rodriguez all made the team, but opportunities have been scarce for the late-round linemen. Other young players like Ty Chandler, Akayleb Evans, and even Ivan Pace are seeing lesser roles due to free-agent adds.
Champagne Problem #2: There are Many Offensive Weapons, So they Don’t All Have Gaudy Stats
At the end of the day, there’s only one football. Can all of the mouths get fed?
No matter what, Jefferson is going to be featured. The WR1 is on another level from the other star players, operating in a stratosphere that’s uncommon to his peers. But then one thinks of whether Aaron Jones, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson will be able to remain happy with their production.
Kevin O’Connell is likely a kid in a candy store when he’s drawing up plays. Few, if any, have the array of talent that O’Connell gets to work with on Sundays. No doubt, any offensive mastermind would be thrilled to have the problem that Minnesota’s HC has right now.
It’s at least somewhat notable, though, that all of the skill has to share a single offense.
Champagne Problem #1: Sam Darnold’s Success Makes the 2025 QB Situation Unclear
The topic has come up a decent bit online. What happens if the success continues? Even more wild would be if the Vikings do damage in the playoffs. Could they really move on from a passer who pulls off a playoff win or two?
Keep in mind that Kirk Cousins was in town for six seasons and made a boatload of money while only delivering a single playoff win. Darnold, playing on a $10 million deal, has the potential to match or surpass the total in just a single season under Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage.
Assume things go splendidly. Maybe Minnesota makes it to the NFC Conference Championship. Time to bring back Sam Darnold? Be pretty hard to move on, wouldn’t it?
Yes, it would be a problem to solve, but it would also be a tremendous luxury. Is there such a thing as too much QB talent?
Behind one door is a 27-year-old passer who is living up to the prophecies about a career resurrection; behind the other door will be a 22-year-old passer who is believed to be the franchise quarterback of the future. Sounds pretty luxurious, all things considered.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.