Questions Answered: Best Offseason Signing, Robert Tonyan’s Role, Timberwolves Momentum
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the May 20th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Best Offseason Signing, Robert Tonyan’s Role, Timberwolves Momentum
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Other than rookies, what was the Vikings’ best offseason signing?
Answer: Andrew Van Ginkel.
Foremost, there were many to choose from in this exercise. These were the players added during the first two waves of free agency:
- A.J. Green, CB —1 Year, $1.05m (CLE)
- Jonathan Greenard, EDGE — 4 Years, $76m (HOU)
- Andrew Van Ginkel, EDGE — 2 Years, $20m (MIA)
- Blake Cashman, ILB — 3 Years, $25.5m (HOU)
- Sam Darnold, QB — 1 Year, $10m (SF)
- Parker Romo, K — XFL
- Aaron Jones, RB — 1 Year, $7m (GB)
- Jerry Tillery, DT — 1 Year, $3.75m (LV)
- Trent Sherfield, WR — 1 Year $1.79m (BUF)
- Dan Feeney, OL — 1 Year (CHI)
- Jonah Williams, DT — 1 Year (LAR)
- Shaq Griffin, CB — 1 Year (CAR)
- Kamu Grugier-Hill, ILB — 1 Year (CAR)
- Jihad Ward, EDGE — 1 Year (NYG)
But we’ll take Van Ginkel because he was ultra-affordable and provides the Vikings with the most EDGE depth they’ve experienced since Danielle Hunter’s rise in 2016.
Q: What role do you believe Robert Tonyan will have in 2024?
Answer: He’ll be the TE2-TE3 until T.J. Hockenson returns.
Tonyan has now played for every NFC North team, so it feels like he should get an NFC North tattoo or something. Minnesota has seven tight ends at the moment, but Tonyan should be a lock for the 53-man roster, with Hockenson on tap to likely miss the first handful of games in 2024.
Give us the role of redzone guy — and probably a player who banks 15-25 receiving yards per game while Hockenson battles back.
Q: Do you think the Vikings can capitalize on Minnesota sports momentum after the Timberwolves set an example on Sunday night?
A: Yes, but not until 2025.
The Vikings will be lucky to find seven or eight wins in 2024, outfitted with a brutal schedule, Sam Darnold as the temporary QB1 solution, and a 21-year-old rookie passer.
We firmly believe Minnesota will become the real deal as J.J. McCarthy matures, but that’s an expectation for 2025. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, can certifiably win the NBA Championship now. If they can dethrone the Denver Nuggets, they can absolutely beat any team in the NBA. It’s not a homer take.
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 MIN 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.