4 Reasons for Vikings Fans to Be Optimistic in 2024
Having previously examined key issues that should concern Vikings fans, I will now examine four reasons for them to be optimistic heading into the 2024 season.
4 Reasons for Vikings Fans to Be Optimistic in 2024
It has been an offseason of significant change in Minnesota, with a roster turnaround overseen by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell now complete. The major domino in a roster overhaul is always the quarterback, and the Vikings kept Kirk Cousins around in a bid to stay competitive. He is now gone, and almost all the veterans remaining from the Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer era are gone.
Whether that fills you with optimism or concern will depend on your disposition. In truth, it should be a bit of both. Here are my four reasons for Vikings fans to be optimistic for this season and the future.
1. The Rookie QB Excitement
Nothing brings excitement and hope to an NFL fanbase quite like their team drafting a first-round QB. It’s not something the Vikings have done often, leaving sections of the fanbase clamoring for Minnesota to make that move. In the 2024 draft, the Vikings did just that with Adofo-Mensah pulling the trigger and making J.J. McCarthy the first rookie QB drafted in the top 10 picks by Minnesota.
It remains to be seen when McCarthy’s time will come to lead the Vikings’ offense. Sam Darnold was signed as the veteran who can be the starting quarterback until McCarthy is ready. Every step McCarthy takes from now until he gets his chance will be under a microscope. Vikings fans should enjoy the excitement of the rookie experience. Many of us have been asking for it for a long time.
2. Justin Jefferson Can Still Bid For Greatness
This time last season, there was talk of Justin Jefferson gunning for the 2000 receiving yards mark. Ultimately, the hamstring injury that saw him miss seven games ended any prospect of that happening in 2023. Can he become the first player to achieve the feat this year? That will depend on the quarterback play in Minnesota this season. However, Jefferson proved last season that he doesn’t need a top QB to put up big numbers — particularly when he put up 192 receiving yards against Detroit with Nick Mullens throwing the ball.
The uncertainty of two new quarterbacks vying to lead the offense will dampen Jefferson’s hopes of doing something special this season. Don’t write him off, though. I wouldn’t bet against him having another monster season and at least being up around the 1800 mark he reached in 2022. Before reaching 2000, there is Calvin Johnson’s season record of 1964 yards.
3. Lower Expectations Can Lead to 2022 Like Season
The Vikings head into this season much like they did in 2022 — little expectations from most, especially from onlookers from the outside. The Vikings had an underdog mentality in 2022 that drove them to 13 wins and a division title. O’Connell and his team need to bring that togetherness and fight back to the forefront if the Vikings are going to win more than their fair share of games this season.
One player who epitomized the 2022 Vikings was CB Duke Shelley, who was recently brought back to Minnesota after a year away. It was a good move to bring a player with his personality back into the fold. I don’t think the Vikings will win 13 games this season, but I also don’t think they would get anywhere near that back in 2022, either.
4. A Young Core of Players For The Future
The contract extension for Jefferson was flowed by one for Christian Darrisaw. This means the Vikings ensured that the two men who are arguably their best two players — and both only 25 — are signed for the long term. T.J. Hockenson, who is 27, signed a four-year contract last August, giving the Vikings three key parts of their offense. The time will come for the Vikings to decide on Jordan Addison (22), but not for a couple of years yet. The Vikings will hope McCarthy can become the centerpiece — time will tell.
On the defensive side, there is a lot of young talent. Josh Metellus and Camryn Bynum established themselves last season and will hope to kick on — both are just 26. New edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is 27, and the Vikings hope rookie Dallas Turner (21) will form a long-term partnership on the edge. Ivan Pace (23) is the last of the young crop of players who can be the foundation for the future of this Vikings team.
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