2025 Vikings Prediction Isn’t Flattering
The 2024 Minnesota Vikings were the surprise team in the NFL, ending up winning 14 of the 17 regular season games and being in contention for the top seed in the conference until the very last game of the season. However, the following year might not be such a cakewalk.
2025 Vikings Prediction Isn’t Flattering
While Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores have worked some magic considering the club’s roster weaknesses in some key spots, it remains to be seen whether the Coach of the Year and his defensive commander can repeat that success.
ESPN’s analysts don’t think so.
They released their early predictions for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, nobody picked the Vikings to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but multiple people picked them as the regression candidate.
Jeremy Fowler, who recently dropped nuggets about Cam Bynum’s and Byron Murphy’s future with the franchise, said: “Vikings. A slight step back. They will remain playoff-caliber, but it’s tough to replicate a 14-win season when several key free agents are poised to leave, and the offense could be breaking in a new quarterback.”
It is indeed tough to win 14 games in a year, let alone do it in consecutive seasons.
The Vikings have a bunch of free agents they have to re-sign or replace. That includes the aforementioned staples in the secondary as well as Harrison Smith, Stephon Gillmore, and Shaq Griffin. The secondary desperately needs some reinforcements.
On offense, Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones are set to become free agents.
Darnold’s potential departure is the reason why Jason Reid picked the Vikings as his regression candidate, “Vikings. So many things went right for them in 2024. It’s difficult to imagine they will have as many things break their way, especially with a potential change at quarterback.”
Mike Tannenbaum shared that opinion, “Vikings. Sam Darnold played extremely well in 2024. But whether it’s him or J.J. McCarthy as the starter in 2025, it will be hard to replicate that kind of quarterback success.”
Darnold was acquired as the one-year bridge option between Kirk Cousins and the rookie tbd at that point. A few weeks later, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted J.J. McCarthy as the long-term solution.
The veteran was fantastic over the course of the season, throwing for 35 touchdowns and 4,319 yards in his revival season. His play peaked in December when he looked like one of the best passers in all of football. That stretch included a five-touchdown game against Kirk Cousins’ Falcons. In the regular season finale and the playoff game, however, his play was quite disastrous.
McCarthy, meanwhile, got hurt in the preseason, and his torn meniscus cost him his entire rookie campaign. If Darnold departs in March, there’s no doubt about it: McCarthy would be the front-runner for the QB1 job.
He has the athletic tools, and his intangibles have brought him a ton of praise throughout his time in Michigan and his ten months in Minnesota.
Still, there is no guarantee that he can adequately duplicate Darnold’s Pro Bowl season, especially in a season that can be considered his rookie year, although he might be slightly better prepared after sitting in meetings all year and having a few weeks in training camp. The talent level on the offense and O’Connell’s presence will help him.
The three ESPN analysts aren’t wrong. It’s fair to expect the Vikings to take a step back. Regardless, the club is in a decent spot with the requisite cap space to address the weaknesses and replace the departed players. There’s also some real talent on the team. The receiving corps is excellent, and so are the offensive tackles and the pass-rushing duo.
Another season with O’Connell and Flores at the helm gives the Vikings a solid floor.
There are some reasons for concern but also optimism heading into 2025.
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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