The Vikings 11 Projected Starters on Offense
Dustin Baker
|
The Minnesota Vikings regular season begins in eight days, hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium, a team forecasted to finish around 6-11 or 7-10 this season.
The Vikings 11 Projected Starters on Offense
Minnesota’s 53-man roster for 2023 is 36% different than last year’s initial roster, as the club underwent some foundational upheaval with the departures of Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, Patrick Peterson, Za’Darius Smith, and Dalvin Tomlinson, among others.
But much of the offense stayed intact. Here’s a look at the Vikings’ 11 protected starters on offense.
Note: C.J. Ham was left off the list because he played just 15% of offensive snaps in 2022.
QB: Kirk Cousins
Back for a contract year, Cousins will hope to do enough in Year Six with the Vikings to prove he’s worthy of an age-36 season in 2024. Minnesota likely needs a playoff win or two for Cousins to see Year Seven in Minnesota.
RB: Alexander Mattison
Dalvin Cook is gone, and Alexander Mattison is in. Many didn’t expect the 25-year-old to return in 2023 — he was a free agent in March — but the man is now Minnesota’s RB1 after four years in the waiting.
He’s also the youngest running back on the Vikings active roster.
WR: Justin Jefferson
No caption needed for the OPOY.
WR: K.J. Osborn
Osborn told the world this on Friday, meaning he’s fully ready for the bright lights of WR2.
WR: Jordan Addison
In title, Addison is the current WR3, but he’ll use the early parts of the 2023 season as a canvas to prove he’s WR2 material.
TE: T.J. Hockenson
The richest tight end in NFL history will hope to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time. He’s also never recorded more than 6 receiving touchdowns in a season. The time is now.
LT: Christian Darrisaw
This man deserves a Pro Bowl nod. Concussions derailed his chances last year. And don’t look now, but all of those conversations about Hockenson and Jefferson’s contract extensions will soon involve Darrisaw and are coming to Vikings discussions near you next offseason.
LG: Ezra Cleveland
Like Cousins, Cleveland hits a contract year in Minnesota, and it may be his last in purple, as he was not drafted by this Vikings leadership regime. Staying with the Vikings will depend on his asking price next March.
C: Garrett Bradbury
Bradbury was a free agent six months ago, listened to a few offers from other teams, and returned home to run with Kevin O’Connell and the boys. His performance improved in 2022, just enough for fans to welcome him back.
RG: Ed Ingram
The largest question mark on the Vikings starting offensive roster, folks don’t know if Ingram will “take the leap” in 2023 and improve as a sophomore — or fall on the Vikings recent ash heap of failed offensive guards. Let’s hope for the former.
RT: Brian O’Neill
An OL stalwart after five seasons with the Vikings, O’Neill has expeditiously recovered from a partially torn Achilles suffered last year against the Green Bay Packers. He’s one of the handsomest paid RTs in the sport, and Minnesota needs him on the field if they are to repeat as division champions.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.