Crucial New Additions Vital for Vikings’ Start to 2024
When the NFL season kicks off in September, the Minnesota Vikings will enter their 64th season. It will be the first season since 2017 without Kirk Cousins under center, giving the Vikings team a very different look.
Crucial New Additions Vital for Vikings’ Start to 2024
Minnesota goes into the season without a proven starting quarterback, and thus, the expectations are tempered. New signings are vital to Minnesota starting the season well, with five players being significant.
1. Sam Darnold
There is a chance that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has such a good preseason that he takes the reins of the Vikings’ offense from Week 1. I still think that’s unlikely, and I expect Sam Darnold to start against the New York Giants and until at least the Week 6 bye. The Vikings’ first five games include some tough matchups against San Francisco, Houston, and Green Bay. I believe the Vikings will ask Darnold to try to navigate through that first stretch of the schedule and then reevaluate.
The third overall pick in 2018, the 27-year-old Darnold has been allowed to show he has been a victim of circumstance so far in his career. He was drafted into a tough position with the New York Jets, and it got worse with a move to Carolina.
A year in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan should be good preparation to take over Kevin O’Connell’s offense. With the best receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson ready to catch his passes, Darnold won’t have a better chance of getting his career back off the ground. It is up to him to take it and get the Vikings off to a good start while staking his claim to continue as the starting QB.
2. Aaron Jones
Last season, the Vikings’ run game was poor, averaging 91.4 yards per game as a team — ranking 29th in the league. The blocking wasn’t particularly good. Alexander Mattison finally got his chance to lead the Vikings’ rush attack, and it turned into a nightmare. Cam Akers gave a brief spark before injury, and Ty Chandler finished the season as the Vikings’ RB1, finishing with 3 touchdowns over the second half of the season.
Minnesota’s answer to this problem was to sign experienced RB Aaron Jones. Over the last seven seasons, Jones has made a name for himself as a very good running back in Green Bay.
The Packers decided to get younger at the position and signed Josh Jacobs. Jones will turn 30 during the season, which is old for RB in the NFL these days, and his recent injury is cause for some concern. However, when he has been healthy, Jones has remained a threat both on the ground and in the passing game — something coach O’Connell will look to capitalize on. For the Vikings offense to be more consistent this season, they need a better run game, and all eyes will be on Jones to provide that.
3. Robert Tonyan
The Vikings have called on another former Packer in Robert Tonyan, who arrives via a year in Chicago, and need him to fill in for the injured T.J. Hockenson until he returns. Hockenson is a vital part of the Vikings offense, and if Tonyan can cover his absence adequately, he will be a good foil on Hockenson’s return. Minnesota’s offense should be in a good place.
Tonyan’s best season came in 2020 when he had over 500 yards and 11 touchdowns. If he can find that sort of form over a short stretch to start the season, it would be a huge bonus for the Vikings and will help their chances of winning some early games.
4 & 5. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel
It’s all change on the edge in Minnesota this year. Danielle Hunter left for Houston and was followed out the door by Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum. The Vikings turned to Jonathan Greenard as the major off-season addition, signing the former Texan to a four-year, $76 million contract. Greenard arrives in Minnesota on the back of a career-best 12.5 sacks in 2023 and will be expected to lead the Vikings’ pursuit of the opposing quarterback.
Andrew Van Ginkel became the Vikings’ second free-agent acquisition at the position and will provide an all-around presence at the position. The Vikings hope that Greenard, Van Ginkel, and first-round rookie Dallas Turner will be the strength of their defense this season. They must be with several question marks at other positions across the defense. If the Vikings can be destructive from the edge, they will have a chance of seeing an improved defense from last season.
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