The Vikings’ Gift that’s Yet to Arrive
Christmas, in the best version of itself, should be about hope.
For some, that hope will take on a decidedly religious connotation whereas others place their hope in loved ones enjoying a special day filled with presents, delicious food, and time spent together. Still others, like yours truly, mix them both.
When it comes to the Vikings, there is a lot of hope to be found. Yes, the current season has proven to be an excellent one, but there’s a case to be made that what lies ahead inspires even more reason for optimism.
After all, we’re talking about a franchise that recently sank the No. 10 pick into quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The kid QB hurt his knee before the season, thus ending it before it began.
The upside of the unfortunate development is simply that he has been forced into taking a redshirt year. Not ideal, no, and certainly not what anyone wanted. The hope — that magical part of Christmas — is that McCarthy has been maximizing his time from a mental standpoint, better equipping him to thrive once he can physically take the field in 2025.
And then there’s the presence of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell leading the charge. Neither is perfect and yet both are strong at their jobs. Minnesota is going to continue moving ahead under their leadership and appear to be going in the right direction as a result.
One also thinks of the upcoming financial flexibility (see OTC).
Adofo-Mensah did wonders in last year’s free agency period, bringing in sensational talent that has made a tremendous difference in the 2024 season. Where would the Vikings be without Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Aaron Jones, Sam Darnold, Shaq Griffin, Stephon Gilmore, Blake Cashman, and even less-praised players like Jalen Redmond, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and Trent Sherfield Jr.? Not at their current record, that’s for sure.
If the GM can pull another rabbit out of his hat, the Vikings may be an absolute juggernaut in 2025. Already very good, Minnesota has a path toward becoming elite. If successful, Adofo-Mensah could actualize his vision of creating a team that’s a yearly participant in the playoffs, a team that’s continually giving itself a shot to go for it all.
That would be a gift that Vikings fans far and wide will gladly accept.
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.
