The Top 5 Value Players for Vikings This Season
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season gets underway in two weeks with a date at the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Top 5 Value Players for Vikings This Season
The club has enormously reshaped the roster in the last three offseasons, saying goodbye to most long-term veterans in favor of younger players and fresh-faced veterans.
And excluding rookies — their contracts have obvious affordable value — these are the top five value players for the 2024 Vikings. They ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best value all around).
5. Jerry Tillery (DT)
Contract AAV = $3.4 million
Here’s Tillery’s Pro Football Focus scorecard since entering the NFL five years ago:
- 2023: 67.7
- 2022: 49.8
- 2021: 46.3
- 2020: 43.9
- 2019: 35.5
Tillery is a markedly better pass rusher than run-stuffer, though he shouldn’t be considered a quarterback-pressure savant. In NFL-speak, he’s fairly average and never totally effectuated his 1st-Round draft stock.
His best season was last year, an indicator he’s trending up. Now, he works for Brian Flores, which should work wonders for his career. If he replicates the 67.7 PFF production or improves, the $3.4 million is a bargain.
4. Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Contract AAV = $10 million
The Vikings will actually boast sweet EDGE rusher depth in 2024. The last time the purple team had this much preseason oomph at pass rusher was around 2016 and 2017, when Danielle Hunter was establishing himself as a stud.
Since then, the Vikings’ defense has showcased Hunter, plus another guy, like Everson Griffen or Za’Darius Smith. Now, however, Minnesota has Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, and Van Ginkel on the depth chart. And Adofo-Mensah onboarded Van Ginkel for $10 million per season — exceptional value. He tallied a 91.1 Pro Football Focus grade last year.
3. Blake Brandel (LG)
Contract AAV = $3.16 million
When Brandel re-signed this offseason for three years, many wondered — “What?”
Most believed Dalton Risner would return, and although that happened in May, Brandel kept his left guard job beyond the shadow of a doubt. After the news of Brandel’s re-signing settled in Vikings fans’ minds, he never relinquished the job.
He’s now Minnesota’s starting left guard at $3.16 million per year.
2. Josh Metellus (S)
Contract AAV = $4.0 million
The versatile-as-hell commodity is suddenly affordable. A team captain, Metellus can be moved all around Brian Flores’ defense, a luxury because Flores enjoys exoticism.
Metellus signed an extension last offseason, and at the time, folks praised the deal because it attached Metellus to the Vikings’ roster for the long haul. He felt like a sweet, up-and-coming prospect.
But now he’s arrived, and his $4 million-per-year production provides tremendous value. Before too long, Metellus may be considered the safety at the top of the ticket when Harrison Smith inevitably retires.
1. Sam Darnold (QB)
Contract AAV = $10 million
There’s a reasonable chance that he will pull off a Baker Mayfield-script tale in 2023, convincing everyone that he’s a decent starter after all. The Vikings’ offense was molded in heaven for any quarterback, Darnold included.
And if he turns into a decent QB1, $10 million is incredible value.
Unfortunately, J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season to a torn meniscus, handing the unabashed QB1 job to Darnold. A starting quarterback — if he’s any good — at $10 million is a bargain.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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