The 3 Riskiest Vikings Moves This Offseason
The Minnesota Vikings went 14-3 last season, and they hope to continue their regular season excellence under Kevin O’Connell, who is 34-17 as the club’s head coach. The front office also made sure to add some players who can help generate more success in the postseason.
The Vikings took some risks.
Because the team entered the offseason with various roster issues, the decision-makers had to take some risks. If those work out, the team is in a good spot. If they don’t, mistakes were made.
Here are the top three risks.
3. 2 Unknowns in the Secondary
It all starts in the secondary, and the fact that Brian Flores has to start two unknowns at the third level of his defense.
At cornerback, Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin haven’t been brought back for a second season. Instead, the coordinator has to rely on third-year player Mekhi Blackmon after a full-year absence due to a torn ACL and Isaiah Rodgers, a free agent who has yet to be a full-time starter. Jeff Okudah was signed as the insurance if either isn’t ready for the task. The hope is that at least two of those three can be reliable cornerbacks next to Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr.
Cam Bynum, the starting safety of the last three campaigns, was allowed to walk, too. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts. To combat his departure, the Vikings once again declined the option to draft a safety or sign a pricey one. No, it’s Theo Jackson, Bynum’s backup, who’s elevated into the starting role.
That strategy could pay off. It did when Jared Allen left and Everson Griffen was promoted. It totally busted when Alexander Mattison took over from Dalvin Cook.
2. Signing Injured Players
In free agency, the Vikings were near the very top of the NFL for spending. To be fair, they also had plenty of spots to fill. Will Fries and Ryan Kelly were signed to bolster the offensive line, while Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are supposed to make Flores’ defensive line scarier.
Those four make an annual average of nearly $60 million, and they combined for only 26 regular-season games last season. Only Kelly reached ten contests in the regular season.
Last year, the Vikings hoped they could keep Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and Aaron Jones healthy despite their medical history, and they succeeded outside of some minor Jones issues and Cashman missing three games. It remains to be seen if they can repeat that with another free-agency class.
1. Letting Sam Darnold Walk
Nothing beats the risk of letting a Pro Bowler at the quarterback position exit the building, however.
Although it was the logical move to enter the J.J. McCarthy era a year after drafting him, it’s still risky. Darnold had an unexpected campaign with 35 passing touchdowns and over 4,300 passing yards before falling off a cliff in Week 18.
He formed a connection with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and executed Kevin O’Connell’s vertical passing attack at a high level. Yet, it was not enough to secure a long-term deal from the Vikings, and he will now face his former team with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings, meanwhile, start another mystery at quarterback. Unlike Blackmon, Rodgers, and Jackson, who also count as unproven players, McCarthy has yet to see the NFL field. On the bright side, he brings all the talent to the table that a successful NFL QB needs. However, until he has shown it in a real game, nobody knows for sure.
There’s a world in which Darnold repeats his 2024 numbers while McCarthy looks like a rookie. Suddenly, questions would be asked about Minnesota’s big decision.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.