Purple Q&A: Breakout Players, Vikings Contract Extensions, RB Plan
Today, on January 31st, with the offseason in full swing, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt answers a trio of questions about the Minnesota Vikings. If you have questions for future editions of the Purple Q&A, please email them to [email protected].
Purple Q&A: Breakout Players, Vikings Contract Extensions, RB Plan
Let’s get right to it.
Q: Who could be a breakout player in 2025?
A: There are a bunch of potential competitors.
The defensive line features three intriguing players, it just remains to be seen how much reinforcements arrive in free agency and the draft. Still, Jalen Redmond has shown flashes this year, becoming a playmaker on Brian Flores’ defensive line.
Taki Taimani has the talent to become a dominant force in the running game, and seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez earned some buzz last year but needed some time to develop.
Cornerback Dwight McGlothern is in a similar situation. He has already displayed some talent, and he could, with more playing time, enjoy a breakout season. Fellow cornerback Mekhi Blackmon will return from his ACL tear, and year three could be a big one for him.
Another defender, Theo Jackson, deserves a mention. The safety has always drawn praise from his coaching staff. With Cam Bynum and Harrison Smith potentially departing, he might be in line for a significant role. The Vikings need to re-sign him first, though.
Q: Which players will sign a contract extension this offseason?
A: The impending free agents aside, there are three major candidates for contract extensions.
Pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel signed a two-year contract, paying him $10 million per season, which is almost a laughable number for a player of his caliber. He has earned a raise, and the Vikings could be willing to give him more money in exchange for a longer contract duration.
Blocking tight end Josh Oliver is in the final year of his three-year deal. A new contract could lower his cap hit this season.
Perhaps the most obvious one is Joshua Metellus. The versatile defender signed a two-year extension in the 2023 offseason, and he has widely outplayed that deal. Because an extension isn’t possible in consecutive years, the Vikings restructured his contract last year with the clear intention of giving him a new contract this time.
Q: What are the options at running back?
A: With Aaron Jones and Cam Akers scheduled to become free agents in March, the Vikings need a new RB tandem. Nowadays, most teams feature a pair of runners rather than the workhorse RB1 from the past. That’s why we expect the team to acquire two RBs.
Those guys can arrive in the draft or via free agency.
The latter includes (besides Jones) Najee Harris, J.K. Dobbins, Rico Dowdle, and Javonte Williams as potential starters.
This year’s draft class is a strong one for running backs, and the Vikings could realistically invest either the first or the third-rounder to get their hands on one of them. Ashton Jeanty is likely out of reach, but Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Quinshon Judkins, Cam Skettebo, and Ollie Gordon II are just six of the intriguing prospects who could be drafted at some point between the 24th overall pick and the incoming third-round compensatory pick.
Jones returning for a second season and being paired with a day-two running back from the draft is a decent bet.
Looks Like the Brian Flores Sweepstakes Are 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