15 Things You Need to Know about the 2024 Vikings
In about six weeks, the NFL’s regular season gets underway.
15 Things You Need to Know about the Vikings + Training Camp
The Minnesota Vikings are theorized to win about seven games, according to sportsbooks, and some consider this season a transformational or flyover year to get to 2025. Minnesota said toodles to Kirk Cousins in March, while the next few seasons are all about J.J. McCarthy’s development.
So, with training camp formally underway as of Tuesday, these are 15 things to know about the 2024 Vikings, ranked in ascending order of importance.
15. There’s a 3-Way Battle at Offensive Guard
Head coach O’Connell said on the Rich Eisen Show in June, “We bring back Dalton Risner, who’s gonna compete like crazy at the guard spot with both Ed Ingram and Blake Brandel.”
It’s a three-way tryst for two guard spots between Risner, Brandel, and Ingram. Before the O’Connell revelation, most fans didn’t know that Ingram’s job was up for grabs.
14. Justin Jefferson + J.J. McCarthy Contracts Line up
Justin Jefferson chose to stay in Minnesota for the long haul, and per his new deal, his contract and J.J. McCarthy’s expire after the 2028 season.
Vikings football is about how McCarthy and Jefferson mesh — with the hope the defense becomes even more daunting.
13. New Specialists (Kicker, Perhaps Punter)
Minnesota said goodbye to Greg Joseph after three seasons and onboarded Alabama’s Will Reichard in the draft. He’s in line to take full kicking responsibilities in 2024.
At punter, it’s a camp battle between the incumbent Ryan Wright and newcomer Seth Vernon. And Vernon impressed folks at June’s minicamp.
12. Danielle Hunter Is Gone. No Big Deal.
Folks freaked out about Danielle Hunter’s free agency, which was understandable. Hunter left for the Houston Texans. Now, however, Minnesota boasts its deepest overall EDGE room in years:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Dallas Turner
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Patrick Jones II
- Jihad Ward
- Andre Carter II
- Gabriel Murphy
- Owen Porter
- Bo Richter
11. New Starters Galore All over the Place
An example of the Vikings’ roster turnover during this offseason alone:
- Dean Lowry➡️ Jerry Tillery
- Greg Joseph ➡️ Will Reichard
- Kirk Cousins ➡️ J.J. McCarthy
- K.J. Osborn ➡️ Brandon Powell
- Jordan Hicks ➡️ Blake Cashman
- Marcus Davenport ➡️ Dallas Turner
- Alexander Mattison ➡️ Aaron Jones
- Danielle Hunter ➡️ Jonathan Greenard
10. It’s Really Just about the Turnovers, Stupid
This is the stat.
9. They Probably Need an Extra WR3 and RB3
For now, the frontrunner to win Minnesota’s WR3 job is Brandon Powell, with a side dish of Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield.
At RB3, well, it’s Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin, or DeWayne McBride.
Via late-August free agency, when leaguewide roster cuts shake down, or trade, the Vikings might enhance these two spots. Be on the lookout.
8. The Defense May Not Be Recognizable per Player Personnel
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added new defenders this offseason: Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Shaquill Griffin, and Jerry Tillery. While Brian Flores is still in charge, the personnel is totally recharged.
The blitz-heavy style will stay the same, but Minnesota’s defense may not be entirely recognizable.
7. The Rushing Game Desperately Needs Repair
In 2022, Minnesota’s ground game ranked 27th in the NFL per DVOA, an efficiency metric. Then, during the 2023 offseason, the club swore a fix was on the way. It then finished 27th per DVOA again in 2023.
Thankfully, Aaron Jones is in the house as a potential fix.
6. Rookie QBs Don’t Start Week 1 for the Vikings — Ever
It’s unlikely that J.J. McCarthy will start in Week 1 at the New York Giants, but if he does, he’ll be the first Vikings rookie quarterback in franchise history to start out of the gate.
Minnesota usually prefers a veteran — like Sam Darnold — to ease everyone into the party.
5. Total Coaching Continuity
The Vikings’ 2024 season will be the first time since 2015-2016 that they’ve cruised in a year with the same head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator in consecutive seasons. So, about 8-9 years since complete continuity.
The quarterback, of course, will be new.
4. Jordan Addison Still in Hot Water
“We’re disappointed in Jordan. We care about these players. We really do. We want to make sure we’re doing our part for the development on the field,” O’Connell said at the start of training camp. “The other aspect of that is the off-the-field, the life skills, and the development of decision-making and learning how important it is within our culture — which we’re very proud of — that our players understand personal responsibility and accountability.“
Addison was arrested by California Highway Patrol on July 12th for a suspicion of DUI while asleep in his Rolls-Royce, blocking a lane of freeway traffic.
A suspension of some sort is likely.
3. Fans Want Sam Darnold to Start — Not J.J. McCarthy
Fans want Darnold to guide the ship in 2024, at least initially.
2. The One Main Injury
The Vikings placed T.J. Hockenson on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Monday. He tore his ACL in December and will probably miss the start of the season. The organization will not rush his recovery.
Newcomer tight end Robert Tonyan could be the top pass-catching option to fill in for Hockenson.
1. QB Jobs Up in the Air
For the first time since 2014, the Vikings will enter a season where nobody knows what to expect from the quarterback(s). Some believe Darnold can find total career rejuvenation in Minnesota. We shall see. The new guy, McCarthy, will eventually get a crack at QB1, although the timetable is unclear.
Anything regarding the quarterback is just a big mystery right now. Kirk Cousins prevented that for six seasons, but it’s a new era in the Twin Cities.
Some even believe McCarthy will end up as QB3, a la Jordan Love as a rookie with the Green Bay Packers in 2020.
Former Vikings RB Linked to Giants
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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