Vikings Player Power Rankings: The 15 Best Players on the Roster
It’s quite hard to rank the 15 best players on Minnesota’s stacked roster. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has acquired a number of excellent reinforcements in the offseason, and both sides of the ball have the talent to form an elite unit.
Ranking the 15 Best Vikings Entering 2025
A few honorable mentions include Jordan Mason and Ryan Kelly. This list will be updated weekly throughout the season.
15. Aaron Jones
The Vikings wanted to upgrade the running back spot last year, and they did when Jones entered the building. He gained over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and was a weapon on the ground and through the air. Now, he’s on the wrong side of 30, and Mason will take some touches off him. That could help him from an efficiency standpoint, but it will hurt his total numbers.
14. Javon Hargrave
This one was tough to rank. Hargrave, at his best, is a Pro Bowler and should be higher, but he played only three games in 2024 and is 32 years old. If he remains healthy, he could rise up the board this year. The interior pass rush should look a lot better with him around.
13. Jonathan Allen
Allen is pretty much the same. After an injury-riddled season, the Commanders moved on, and the Vikings hired him to bolster the flawed interior defensive line. At the age of 30, it remains to be seen how close he can come to his heyday level.
12. Harrison Smith
Another old player, Smith was still excellent in 2024. Nobody can disguise coverages like he does. Despite losing a step, he’s irreplaceable because nobody has as much experience as he does. The immortal defender will miss Week 1.
11. Jordan Addison
Addison’s on-field play has been flawless, with nearly 1,800 receiving yards and 19 scores in two years. Without Justin Jefferson in the same offense, he might have already elevated to stardom. The former first-rounder is one of the league’s best WR2s, but his off-field antics will cost him three games to start the year.
10. Will Fries
Offensive guard Will Fries comes with high expectations to the Twin Cities after signing a massive guard deal. The sample size was quite small last year due to a fractured tibia, but he demonstrated that he’s one of the better guards in the business.
9. Blake Cashman
Linebacker Cashman was a homerun free agent a year ago and was clearly a Pro Bowl snub. The complete backer accumulated 112 tackles and 4.5 sacks, captaining Brian Flores’ defense masterfully in his first season.
8. T.J. Hockenson
Tight end Hockenson came off a torn ACL halfway through last season and never reached his previous heights. Yet, he turned heads in camp and is already a favorite target for J.J. McCarthy. It’s reasonable to expect him to produce Pro Bowl numbers again.
7. Byron Murphy Jr.
Murphy Jr. was a free agent in March, but the Vikings re-signed their CB1. After a Pro Bowl season, he aims to prove that he can take the next step towards establishing himself as a shutdown corner.
6. Brian O’Neill
A true cornerstone offensive tackle, O’Neill has gone to two Pro Bowls and was likely snubbed a couple more times. He’s one of the league’s most consistent players and provides veteran leadership as well as flawless play on the right side of the offensive line.
5. Joshua Metellus
Nobody in the entire league is as versatile as Metellus. He can play all over the defense, and Flores has been taking full advantage of that fact. Metellus received a contract extension this offseason, and he deserved every penny.
4. Andrew Van Ginkel
Another 2024 free agent standout, Van Ginkel had his breakout season after reuniting with Flores. He logged two interception return touchdowns, became a sack master, and is highly interested in stopping the run. A smart and relentless player, Van Ginkel hopes to build on an All-Pro campaign.
3. Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw missed half of last season with a torn ACL, and the offense was clearly missing him. He has yet to earn any accolades, but he’s still one of the very best blockers in football. His status for Week 1 is still a mystery, but his presence would make a big difference.
2. Jonathan Greenard
Speaking of making a difference, Mr. Greenard had the most QB hurries in 2024 and sacked QBs 12 times, while also being a force against the run. Reports from training camp suggest that he was virtually unblockable, and he’ll go after Caleb Williams on Monday.
1. Justin Jefferson
Number one is not surprising at all. Jefferson is on an all-time great trajectory. He’s been quarterback-proof throughout his career, but that theory will be tested with McCarthy throwing the rock. Regardless, Jefferson is the best receiver in football and certainly one of the best players overall.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.