The 10 Main New Players for the Vikings This Season
The 2024 Minnesota Vikings begin the regular season in a few hours, with a showdown in New Jersey versus the New York Giants.
The team added about 40 new players this offseason before trimming the roster to 53 players in August, fixated on change and a brand new era at quarterback.
The 10 Main New Players for the Vikings This Season
And with the regular season about to heat up in full effect, these are the 10 main newcomers, ranked in ascending order of intrigue (No. 1 = most intriguing newcomer).
10. Will Reichard (K)
The best collegiate kicker from 2023 is on tap for Vikings kicking duty in 2024, thanks to a draft pick by general manager Adofo-Mensah. Some think Reichard could surrender to the unofficial Vikings kicking curse, but eventually, that has to end, right?
Minnesota will have numerous new items in 2024, and an organically drafted kicker is on the list. Ryan Longwell was the last stable kicker for the Vikings, and he came from the cheese team.
Reichard kicked wonderfully at training camp and in the preseason.
9. Shaquill Griffin (CB)
Griffin became a Viking in March, an insurance policy for all of Minnesota’s young cornerbacks. He can be plugged-and-played anytime and will start for the 2024 Vikings.
He totaled a 72.4 passer-rating-against between two teams last season, which is one of the best among current purple corners. Minnesota needed another veteran presence in the CB room, and Griffin is exactly that.
He’ll patrol on the outside of Brian Flores’ 2024 defense.
8. Jerry Tillery (DT)
Some Vikings fanatics rolled their eyes when Tillery entered the chat this offseason, mostly because the club didn’t sign a high-profile defensive tackle like Arik Armstead. For some, Tillery seemed like a nothingburger.
But while he hasn’t lived up to his 1st-Round draft stock, Tillery fired up a 67.7 PFF grade in 2023. That little factoid flies under the radar. He isn’t Christian Wilkins, but the man is a decent lineman.
Many have already written his presence on the Vikings off as the continuation of a 1st-Round bust. But the decent PFF grade is a building block with Flores’ help.
7. Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Van Ginkel experienced ample playing time in 2023 when virtually every EDGE defender for the Dolphins was lost to injury. He had 6 sacks and 20 pressures, according to Stathead, along with a cyborg 91.1 PFF grade.
He’s a transfer from the Flores days in Miami. Van Ginkel will earn starter’s snap this season or a similar amount, depending on Dallas Turner’s usage.
6. Stephon Gilmore (CB)
Vikings fans asked for Gilmore in purple for about three months — and then the team obliged. Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, will start on the outside of the defense with the aforementioned Griffin.
Gilmore played tremendously last year in Dallas, notching a 74.4 Pro Football Focus grade.
5. Blake Cashman (LB)
A new defender via free agency from the Houston Texans, Cashman will replace Jordan Hicks from last year’s roster. He totally excelled in 2023, tallying an 83.7 PFF grade.
His pass coverage skills will fit into Flores’ defense like a glove. He and Ivan Pace Jr. will formulate the best linebacking duo in Minnesota since Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.
4. Aaron Jones (RB)
Aaron Jones was a Top 3 running back in the NFL during December and January, which is probably why the Vikings handed him an eyebrow-raising one-year contract ($7 million). The veteran halfback helped drive Green Bay to the postseason and chip off the Dallas Cowboys on the road.
With the injury caveat, he’s a top-five Viking this season, even at age 29.
These were Jones’ rushing-yard performances in 2023 to close out the season:
- 127
- 120
- 111
- 118
- 108
Yes, please.
3. Jonathan Greenard (OLB)
This guy directly replaced Danielle Hunter, and he just so happened to have 2.5 sacks in 2023, his age-26 season. The man is trending up and will definitely start the Vikings’ 2024 defense.
Greenard’s 78.2 PFF grade in 2023 is undeniable. He’s also a superb run defender — not all pass rushers can claim that.
2. Sam Darnold (QB)
When Darnold last started in the NFL two years ago, he didn’t play poorly at all.
QB Rankings | 2022,
EPA + CPOE:
(min. 125 att)
- Patrick Mahomes (.178)
- Tua Tagovailoa (.148)
- Jalen Hurts (.143)
- Josh Allen (.137)
- Sam Darnold (.128)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (.128)
- Joe Burrow (.126)
Those theories claiming Darnold could be “this year’s Baker Mayfield” aren’t totally outlandish.
1. Dallas Turner (OLB)
Draft analysts classified Turner as the best defensive player in the draft, and he somehow slid to Minnesota at the 17th overall pick. He and J.J. McCarthy were among the youngest players in the 2024 draft class, meaning youth in on the menu in Minnesota.
Turner’s talent and potential are off the damn chart.
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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.
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