The 3 Deepest Spots on Vikings’ Current Roster
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 roster construction will hit the gas pedal in about five weeks.
That’s when free agency begins — March 11th with “legal tampering.” Then, the NFL Draft commences on April 25th, and the Vikings own nine picks heading into the event.
The 3 Deepest Spots on Vikings’ Current Roster
Meanwhile, Minnesota has its work cut out, as over 25 internal free agents are scheduled to hit the open market. Since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over two years ago, the roster has undergone enormous change, with just 11 players on the team from January 2022 scheduled to be on the depth chart in 2024.
And with the offseason heating up after next week’s Super Bowl, these are the deepest roster positions. They’re listed in ascending order (No. 1 = deepest).
3. Wide Receiver
These are the Vikings’ wide receivers under contract:
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- Jalen Nailor
- Lucky Jackson
- Malik Knowles
- Thayer Thomas
- Daylen Baldwin
- Trishton Jackson
- N’Keal Harry
Notably, K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell are free agents, and it is unclear if the Vikings will re-sign either.
Of course, this group isn’t deep per the talent level of the seven men after Jefferson and Addison, but the Vikings’ famous WR duo provides enough oomph to make it so the 2024 WR3 and WR4 don’t have to be Pro Bowlers. In fact, this spot on Minnesota’s roster has the most bodies under contract in 2024.
Still, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will likely pursue a trustworthy WR3 in free agency or the NFL Draft. He could also re-sign the aforementioned Powell. A couple of free agents from the New Orleans Saints, Michael Thomas or Rashid Shadeed, would make sense in purple as WR3(s).
2. Running Back
Under contract in 2024, it’s these men at running back for the 2024 Vikings as of early February:
- Ty Chandler
- Alexander Mattison
- Kene Nwangwu
- DeWayne McBride
- Myles Gaskin
This group isn’t star-studded, and Minnesota desperately needs to improve its ground game in 2024 if it wants the offense to hum. The Vikings told the world last offseason that ground game would be a priority for the 2023 season, and then nothing improved.
Vikings Rushing Offense DVOA:
2022 = 27th
2023 = 27th
Thankfully, about a dozen decent or good free-agent running backs are available in March.
1. Safety
At safety, these players on the books for next season:
- Harrison Smith
- Camryn Bynum
- Josh Metellus
- Lewis Cine
- Jay Ward
This fivesome could subtract one if Harrison Smith departs via retirement or release, but in theory, Lewis Cine would finally emerge and see significant playing time. That’s the working theory, anyway.
Nevertheless, Vikings fans have spent the last two weeks daydreaming about Antoine Winfield Jr.’s free agency and how he’d look in purple if Smith walked away. Minnesota doesn’t need a safety for 2024, but Winfield Jr.’s free-agent profile is rather irresistible for many.
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 Vikings 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.
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