Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky (8) walks in the bench area during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Most pundits around the NFL consider the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, as the roster stands in April, an eight or nine-win team. Of course, the NFL draft still has to occur, and free agents will still join the roster.
A former Detroit Lions quarterback has a different perspective, and that’s Dan Orlovsky who played for the Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.
An NFL analyst now for ESPN, Orlovsky considers the Vikings, along with Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC, a “sleeper” team for 2022. Orlovsky tweeted the opinion on Thursday.
The 2022 Vikings will largely resemble the 2021 Vikings as, on paper, the roster is eerily similar. Notably, Mason Cole, Tyler Conklin, Dakota Dozier, Michael Pierce, Xavier Woods, and Nick Vigil exited the franchise to different free-agent destinations.
Moreover, new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah welcomed Jesse Davis, Jordan Hicks, Nate Hairston, Johnny Mundt, Harrison Phillips, Chris Reed, Austin Schlottmann, Tye Smith, Za’Darius Smith, and Chandon Sullivan to the team. That may seem like a lot of roster turnover, but on the whole, it is minimal.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”984152″ player=”26279″ title=”WATCH%20What%20do%20NFL%20teams%20prioritize%20at%20the%20QB%20position” duration=”101″ description=”Draft Network’s Crissy Froyd joins Carolyn Manno to discuss the 2022 NFL Quarterback draft class.” uploaddate=”2022-04-01″ thumbnailurl=”undefined” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/984082/984082.m3u8″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Too, Minnesota retained and recommitted to quarterback Kirk Cousins through the end of the 2023 season, maintaining continuity at the position and attempting to match Cousins with a quarterback-friendly coach, unlike former head coach Mike Zimmer from the last eight campaigns. Zimmer’s specialty was defense. The new skipper, Kevin O’Connell, is an offense-first brain.
Orlovsky didn’t elaborate exactly what a sleeper means, only to imply the Vikings and Jaguars will surprise folks — and probably reach the postseason with such a noun attached to the tweet.
Beware, though. Orlovsky has a history of weird takes:
He’s also the guy who experienced so much anxiety, courtesy of Jared Allen, that he took a voluntary safety in a 21-0 ballgame a decade ago.
Outside of Olvosky’s relatively lofty expectation for the Vikings, Vegas oddsmakers perceive Minnesota as bedfellows for 2022 forecast with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins, teams theorized to win nine games per betting odds.
Last season, the Vikings ranked 17th in the NFL for offensive efficiency via EPA/Play, a proletarian ranking mostly a product of bland playcalling and stinky offensive line protection. After all, the quarterback, Kirk Cousins, tossed 4,221 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in a season when the Vikings tied the all-time NFL record for games decided by one score or less. Few quarterbacks do that. Ergo, under the playcalling tutelage of O’Connell, the working theory is that the product should perform better than the 2021 rendition.
The next step in the NFL offseason cycle is the NFL draft, taking place in Las Vegas on April 28th. The Vikings are expected to select a cornerback in the 1st Round.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).