Just 2 Vikings Make PFN’s Top 100 List
Minnesota Vikings training camp begins in Eagan on Sunday, with rookies reporting and veterans following two days later.
The team is expected to win about eight or nine games in 2023, per sportsbooks.
Just 2 Vikings Make PFN’s Top 100 List
And to effectuate that forecast — or win more than 8.5 games — the Vikings will need consistent standout performances from multiple players. According to Pro Football Network, a site that ranked the league’s Top 100 players, just two Vikings personalities fetched Top 100 praise.
Danielle Hunter, T.J. Hockenson, Kirk Cousins, and Harrison Smith received no love from PFN, but these men did.
Justin Jefferson
Of course, Jefferson could not be left on the list; he’s the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year and recently grabbed a perfect rating from Madden. PFN‘s Dalton Miller ranked Jefferson at No. 8, sandwiched between Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins, No. 9) and Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles, No. 7).
Miller explained, “Think about Diggs for a second. He’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and the Minnesota Vikings simply replaced him with a more athletic version of himself.”
The Vikings traded Diggs to the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and landed the draft pick needed to select Jefferson a few weeks later.
“Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL. He glides on the field, and his ability to manipulate defenders with pacing and stride length while attacking leverage is unmatched. But Jefferson can also go up and get the ball and makes no qualms going over the middle. He’s a three-level threat who should have an easier job in 2023 with a bit of help coming his way offensively in Jordan Addison and a full season of T.J. Hockenson,” Miller concluded.
Like last year, Jefferson hopes to chase the 2,000-yard mark via receiving yards in 2023, a feat accomplished in a single season by no man.
Christian Darrisaw
Last summer, folks started chirping at Vikings training camp that Darrisaw had Trent Williams’ ceiling as an offensive tackle. The smoke felt premature, but then Darrisaw arrived in 2023 and played like Trent Williams.
Miller plopped Darrisaw at No. 87 on his list ahead of Von Miller (Buffalo Bills, No. 88) and behind Za’Darius Smith (Cleveland Browns, No. 86). He wrote, “It was only ever a matter of time for Christian Darrisaw. Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater vacuumed up most of the buzz surrounding the 2021 OL class, but Darrisaw had that same kind of ability coming from Virginia Tech.”
Pro Football Focus graded Darrisaw as the league’s second-best offensive tackle last year behind — you guessed it — Trent Williams.
“Darrisaw played well but was very obviously a rookie in 2021. He was excellent at protecting Kirk Cousins a season ago, and he’s one of the most dominant run blockers in the NFL at the position,” Miller added.
Next year at this time, you’ll be reading and talking all about Darrisaw receiving one of the largest contract extensions by a lineman in league history.
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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