The 4 Weakest Links on the Vikings’ 2024 Roster

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings are predicted to land in last place inside the NFC North this season, portrayed by oddsmakers to win about seven games.

We shall see.

The 4 Weakest Links on the Vikings’ 2024 Roster

If the sportsbooks and talking heads turn out to be correct and the Vikings aren’t any good, these will be the reasons. Ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = weakest link), these are the Vikings 2024 weak spots.

4. No Standout CB

and secondary
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) makes a touchdown over Minnesota cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) in the 4th quarter Paycor Stadium Saturday, December 16, 2023. © Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Who the Vikings Have:

  • Byron Murphy
  • Akayleb Evans
  • Mekhi Blackmon
  • Shaquill Griffin
  • Andrew Booth
  • Jaylin Williams
  • A.J. Green III
  • Dwight McGlothern

Why the Spot Is Weak:
No clear-cut Pro Bowl corner stands off the page. Instead, a hodgepodge of decent cornerbacks formulates the group. Perhaps a player like Murphy or Blackmon blossoms into a true or shutdown CB1, but such is not the case in July.

3. WR3

The Dalton Risner
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Who the Vikings Have:

  • Brandon Powell
  • Trent Sherfield
  • Jalen Nailor
  • Trishton Jackson
  • Lucky Jackson
  • Thayer Thomas
  • Malik Knowles
  • Ty James
  • Jeshaun Jones

Why the Spot Is Weak:
The men battling for the third wide receiver, well, should probably be the combatants for a WR4 competition. One of two of the nine could bust out and post WR3 numbers, but many believe Minnesota should’ve signed a player like Tyler Boyd, especially because T.J. Hockenson, the de facto WR3 when healthy, will likely miss the start of the regular season.

2. Defensive Tackle

Vikings Offseason
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

Who the Vikings Have:

  • Harrison Phillips
  • Jerry Tillery
  • Jonathan Bullard
  • James Lynch
  • Jonah Williams
  • Jaquelin Roy
  • Levi Drake Rodriguez
  • Tyler Manoa
  • Taki Taimani
  • Jalen Redmond

Why the Spot Is Weak:
Minnesota has notoriously glossed over the defensive tackle spot for about a decade, and right now, Harrison Phillips is the only for-sure starter of the bunch. After Phillips, it’s a bunch of maybes.

1. Quarterback

pundits
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports | Nov 18, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) on the field against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports.

Who the Vikings Have:

  • Sam Darnold
  • J.J. McCarthy
  • Nick Mullens
  • Jaren Hall

Why the Spot Is Weak:
The position is exciting — the start of a new era — but nobody knows if Darnold will revamp his career in Minnesota, nor is McCarthy’s future any clearer. For the first time since 2014, the Vikings enter a season with a huge question mark at quarterback, which is the price to pay when drafting a rookie.

It’s okay to be enthusiastic about the quarterbacks’ upsides, but until proven otherwise, it’s the weakest spot on the roster.


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.