Aug 2, 2024; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during practice at Vikings training camp in Eagan, MN. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2024 season with a great deal of uncertainty.
Sam Darnold is set to be the team’s QB1 after J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus during the first week of preseason play and now is out for the season. On top of the QB situation, Minnesota has seen a great deal of change to their defensive personnel, and star tight end T.J. Hockenson remains sidelined with his own knee injury suffered last December.
With these question marks, ESPN apparently is skeptical of the Vikings’ potential in 2024, ranking them near the bottom of the league in their latest NFL power rankings.
The power rankings, which were released on Monday following the conclusion of the second slate of preseason games, had the Vikings ranked as the No. 23 team in the league, placing Minnesota among the bottom 10 teams.
Ultimately, this isn’t a change from ESPN’s post-draft power rankings, which also placed Minnesota at No. 23. There was some change around the Vikings though as they were sandwiched between the Seattle Seahawks (No. 22) and Tennessee Titans (No. 24).
This edition of ESPN’s power rankings also listed a member of each organization that could be on the hot seat this year. For the Vikings, ESPN interestingly sees Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the hot seat this year.
Kevin Seifert wrote:
“For understandable reasons, Adofo-Mensah embarked on a quarterback transition as he entered the third season of a four-year contract. But rookie J.J. McCarthy will miss the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, making Sam Darnold the likely starter. And after he used seven draft picks in April to maneuver for edge rusher Dallas Turner, Adofo-Mensah has only three picks in the 2025 draft to further improve the team. A bad season wouldn’t necessarily cost Adofo-Mensah his job, but it could inform owners Zygi and Mark Wilf’s decision on whether to extend his contract or let him enter its final season in 2025.”
Indeed, the 2024 season could prove to be a turning point in Adofo-Mensah’s tenure as the Vikings’ general manager.
The GM’s stint got off to a rocky start with the 2022 draft class, but the 2023 class headlined by wide receiver Jordan Addison as well as UDFA stud Ivan Pace seem to have turned things around to at least neutral for the leader of Minnesota’s front office.
Regardless, the Wilfs have prided themselves on owning a competitive franchise over the years. Adofo-Mensah’s stint as GM certainly hasn’t brought the Vikings into tank mode, but it could be argued that an overall record of 20-14 and a disappointing playoff exit in 2022 has been a bit underwhelming.
Wins may not be at the forefront for Minnesota in 2024, but they will at least need to see development from some of the young Vikings in order for Adofo-Mensah to solidify his argument to remain in Minnesota past the conclusion of his four-year contract.
Most notably, first-round pick Dallas Turner will need to show signs of being a future star considering the amount of draft capital that was given up for Minnesota to move up to No. 17 overall and select the edge rusher.
It’s going to be a very interesting year in Minnesota, and the future of their GM is just another wrinkle being thrown into the mix.