Dustin Baker’s Training Camp Predictions for Vikings | 2024
The Minnesota Vikings will conduct roster battles and chemistry-building at training camp, which kicks off this Sunday with rookie reporting to Eagan.
Dustin Baker’s Training Camp Predictions for Vikings | 2024
Veterans follow suit on Tuesday, July 23rd.
And with training camp about to consume all things Vikings football, these are five predictions, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important).
5. An Unsung WR like Jeshaun Jones Does the Thing
Brandon Powell is probably the frontrunner to win the Vikings’ WR3 job, though Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield disagree. After those three, though, the situation begs for a Thielenian emergence from an undrafted player like Jeshuan Jones, Malik Knowles, Thayer Thomas, or Trishton Jackson.
Vikings fans adore falling in love with wide receivers at training camp, and 2024 will be no different. One guy — possibly Jones — will steal their hearts.
4. Will Reichard Steals Your Heart
Since the good portion of Blair Walsh’s career — 2012 to late 2015 — Minnesota has not employed a sturdy kicker that it discovered. The carousel has showcased Kai Forbath, Daniel Carlson, Dan Bailey, and Greg Joseph. It’s time for an organically-found kicker to thrive in Minnesota. Reichard can be the guy.
He is accurate, consistent, and has the leg strength. At training camp, folks will begin to learn about his upside.
3. The Defense Hype Is Humongous
In the last four months, in addition to retaining the hyper-aggressive Brian Flores as defensive coordinator, Minnesota added new defensive personnel: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Jerry Tillery, Shaquill Griffin, and 1st-Round rookie Dallas Turner. There’s a decent chance that the Vikings will morph into a defense-first enterprise.
And fans will be able to feel it at training camp. Any chatter of a defensive regression will fall by the wayside. In fact, Flores’ defense will improve in 2024.
2. Sam Darnold as the QB1 Is an Absolute No-Brainer
Fans are undoubtedly ready to see what J.J. McCarthy has in his toolkit, and that’s more than fine. However, by the time folks observe training camp for a week or so, it will be clear and evident that Sam Darnold is the undisputed QB1.
The Vikings didn’t draft McCarthy to hurry him along. In fact, he might contend for a QB2 job this season, not QB1. By mid-August, “Darnold or McCarthy” won’t even be a conversation. It might morph into “Mullens or McCarthy” at QB2. Remember, Jordan Love was the Packers’ QB3 for his entire rookie season.
1. Optimism Is Restored after a Bad July
In the last couple of weeks, rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson tragically passed away, and Jordan Addison was arrested in California. The Vikings’ offseason honeymoon tapered off, but fans will be reinvigorated after a few days of training camp.
Jackson will obviously be missed — like forever — Addison’s legal matter will find resolution, fans will see promising traits from J.J. McCarthy, and the Flores defense will excite the masses.
The team rekindles momentum — which continues all the way to Week 1.
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 MIN 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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