5 Vikings Snubbed from Top 100 List
The Minnesota Vikings finished last year’s regular season with a 14-3 record. Many players had outstanding seasons and should be recognized as top players in the NFL. However, only two Vikings made CBS Sports’ list of the 100 best players in the league.
5 Vikings Snubbed from Top 100 List
Analyst Pete Prisco ranked Justin Jefferson 5th and Christian Darrisaw 59th. That’s the entire list of Vikings he acknowledged.
We’ll now check on some snubs, but first, we have to note that even the list of snubs is incomplete. There’s a really good case for Harrison Smith, Joshua Metellus, or Aaron Jones.
5. Brian O’Neill
Right tackle Brian O’Neill has been a franchise cornerstone ever since Rick Spielman made the call in the second round of the 2018 draft. In the last few years, he lost his spot as Minnesota’s top blocker to fellow tackle Christian Darrisaw, but his excellence is still on full display.
PFF ranked him 16th of 81 offensive tackles, and he allowed only 19 QB pressures in the regular season. He might have played the best season of his career, earning Pro Bowl honors for the second time.
4. Blake Cashman
Blake Cashman was signed in free agency. He had struggled with injuries in his career but had a breakout season with the Texans in 2023. With the Vikings, however, he made another step and was a critical piece in the middle of Brian Flores’ defense.
In 14 games, Cashman collected 4.5 sacks, 112 tackles, and eight tackles for loss. He was the anchor of an elite defense in the NFL, and when he missed three games, the Vikings undoubtedly missed him, going 1-2 in that stretch. Cashman is a do-it-all linebacker with coverage skills and pass-rush ability.
3. Byron Murphy Jr.
Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. made a huge jump in his second season under Flores. He was the top cornerback with inside-outside flexibility and logged six interceptions throughout his best season, earning a Pro Bowl nomination.
Murphy Jr. also received a substantial raise in free agency, signing for $18 million annually.
2. Andrew Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel was arguably just as much of a surprise star as Sam Darnold. He burst onto the scene with a pick-six in his Vikings debut and added another in London. Over the course of the season, Van Ginkel generated 11.5 sacks, 79 tackles, and two touchdowns.
He was all over the field as Flores deployed him in a versatile role, and he earned second-team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl.
1. Jonathan Greenard
It’s hard to rank Greenard and Van Ginkel, but Greenard’s impact might have been even greater. He finished the year with the third-most QB pressures, only trailing Trey Hendrickson and Myles Garrett, and he even ranked at the top in QB hurries.
Greenard was hired to replace Danielle Hunter as the primary pass rusher, and he made Vikings fans almost forget that their standout edge defender departed. A constant threat off the edge, Greenard was the full package as he did the dirty work, too, and was involved in stuffing the run.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.