Dustin Baker’s 5 Bold Predictions for 2024 Vikings
Bold predictions are designed to be a little ‘out there’ and outlandish, so let’s dream big.
Dustin Baker’s 5 Bold Predictions for 2024 Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings set sail on the regular season in precisely one week, taking on the New York Giants in New Jersey, the club that banished them from the 2022 postseason.
To set the table for the Vikings’ 64th regular season in franchise history, here are five bold predictions for the 2024 club, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = boldest).
5. Defense Is the Vikings’ Foremost Signature
By mid-October, despite employing an offense-first head coach in Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings will very visibly look the part of a defense-first franchise. The offense will encounter ruts while the defense remains consistent even as the franchise battles a brutal schedule out of the gate.
Fans will think something to the effect of: “I can’t wait to pair J.J. McCarthy with this defense.”
Defense is the Vikings’ 2024 signature.
4. Will Reichard Erases Evil Kicking Memories
For about 25-30 years, Vikings fans have feared the worst from kickers — because of documented, horrid examples of malfeasance. The dread is warranted.
Reichard has performed well this summer, every step of the way, in fact. It won’t be a one-year process due to the scar depth, but the team’s faithful will begin to trust Reichard — so much so that the apprehension pre-snap with field goals and extra points will diminish.
The new kicker will be the real deal.
3. Ty Chandler Ends Up with More Yards from Scrimmage than Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones will turn 30 in December, and there’s only one knock on the man throughout his seven-season career — injuries.
If one had to wager, it’s safe to bet that Jones will miss time because of an ailment, and when Chandler steps in, he’ll thrive like he did down the stretch of 2023. Meanwhile, Vikings fans don’t mention this enough: Chandler is a speedster. He ran a faster 40-yard dash in 2022 than Adrian Peterson in 2007.
Because of injury or generalized wear and tear, Jones won’t play all 17 games, and by the time the season concludes, Chandler will have more rushing attempts and yards than Jones.
2. Blake Brandel Will Be a Baller
Minnesota’s coaching staff has trusted Blake Brandel with the starting left guard job all offseason. Put plainly, they know he’s good.
What’s more, his establishment as LG1 arrived so vehemently that Dalton Risner was moved to right guard as a total no-brainer. There was no competition.
When the 2024 season wraps up, Brandel will showcase a Pro Football Focus grade north of 70.0.
1. Myles Gaskin Takes a Kick Return to the House
Like the coaching staff trusting Brandel, it also believes Myles Gaskin is a true-blue kick returner with the NFL’s new rules. Gaskin is also the Vikings’ third running back behind Jones and Chandler.
Because of their faith, Gaskin will reward the team’s trust with one kickoff return for a touchdown.
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 MIN 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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