6 Winners and Losers for Vikings So Far
The Minnesota Vikings are enjoying a bye this weekend, on deck to host the Detroit Lions next Sunday in one of the most anticipated Vikings regular season games of the decade.
6 Winners and Losers for Vikings So Far
After a 5-0 start, Minnesota has experienced some “winners” along the way, in addition to “losers.”
These are the club’s winners and losers through five games ranked in no particular order.
Winner = Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Van Ginkel has recorded two pick-sixes in five games, and the most recent arguably won the game over the New York Jets in London. At $10 million per season, Van Ginkel’s value is one of the best in all of football.
He’s a winner because he could’ve somewhat easily lost a starter’s job to Dallas Turner, a shiny rookie pass rusher. But Van Ginkel is too good for that.
Loser = Ed Ingram (RG)
Here’s Ingram’s Pro Football Focus body of work through five games:
- at Giants = 51.9
- vs. 49ers = 51.9
- vs. Texans = 66.6
- at Packers = 69.5
- vs. Jets = 36.0
And the pass-blocking:
- at Giants = 9.3
- vs. 49ers = 50.3
- vs. Texans = 39.1
- at Packers = 68.3
- vs. Jets = 19.8
Finally, the run-blocking:
- at Giants = 63.9
- vs. 49ers = 51.6
- vs. Texans = 71.6
- at Packers = 66.7
- vs. Jets = 51.1
Ingram’s PFF scorecard tells the tale of several Vikings offensive linemen from the last half-decade or so: pretty damn effective via run-blocking and poor at pass protection. For unknown reasons, this happens frequently to the purple team.
So, if Ingram were benched — then what? Well, the solution is quite straightforward, and his name is Dalton Risner.
Risner should return from injury before too long, and if so, Ingram could be the odd man out.
Winner = Sam Darnold (QB)
Darnold ranks second in the NFL in touchdown passes right and ninth per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. Minnesota gave him an opportunity to win the QB1 job and excel in the role, and that’s what he did.
His reclamation-story season is well underway, and he deserves his flowers.
Loser = Akayleb Evans (CB)
Evans doesn’t really play on defense because Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy, and Shaquill Griffin have the jobs on lock. And then, when he does play, it’s a special teams assignment, with Evans usually standing out because of a gaffe.
He lost his job this offseason and isn’t doing much to retrieve it.
Winner = Stephon Gilmore (CB)
Opposing quarterbacks have a 62.2 passer-rating-against when targeting Gilmore in 2024. Thirty-four-year-old cornerbacks shouldn’t be this good. But Gilmore is.
Gilmore’s skill set will eventually diminish; it’s just not happening yet. In August, Gilmore looked around the NFL’s landscape to determine where he could start — and found the Vikings.
His decision has netted a 5-0 start, legitimate Super Bowl contendership, and a fabulous age-34 season.
Loser = Brian Asamoah (LB)
Asamoah doesn’t play on defense for the 2024 Vikings. He was drafted 2.5 years ago with the vision of perhaps taking over a starter’s role, but Ivan Pace Jr. scrapped that plan in 2023.
Meanwhile, when Pace Jr. missed two games with an injury this season, Kamu Grugier-Hill — not Asamoah — filled the open job. The same thing happened last year when Troy Dye saw action amid Jordan Hicks’ absence.
Third-round draft picks should see ample playing time during Year No. 3 of their careers. No luck for Asamoah.
Titans Sign Former Vikings QB
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.