Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) reacts during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have three games remaining in 2024, needing to win all three to clinch homefield advantage throughout the postseason. Losing one or more will likely result in a Wildcard assignment and road playoff games.
Minnesota has won its last seven games and is straight cruising.
New players have totally changed Vikings football for the better this season, their impact undeniable. And with 14 games in the rearview, these are the team’s top newcomers, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best).
In 2022 and 2023, the Vikings’ rushing offense ranked 27th per DVOA, and in each season, the lack of efficiency prevented the offense from unlocking its full potential.
Fast forward to 2024, and the ground game has improved, courtesy of Jones. It’s still not necessarily a team strength, but Jones has done his damnedest to aid in the repair.
He’s on pace for 1,580 yards from scrimmage and 8 touchdowns.
Minnesota might even bring Jones back for Year No. 2 in 2025.
Cashman ranks as the NFL’s 18th-best inside linebacker per Pro Football Focus, notably outpacing peers like Foyesade Oluokun and Roquan Smith.
He missed a couple of games earlier in the season — and Minnesota lost those contests. They’re undefeated with Cashman in the lineup.
The Eden Prairie native joined the Vikings’ roster as a free agent in March and seems like the type of player who could finish his career in purple.
Van Ginkel has accrued 64 total tackles, 15 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, and a forced fumble. He and his counterpart, Jonathan Greenard, are playing so efficiently that 1st-Rounder Dallas Turner doesn’t see the field as much as fans expected when the season kicked off.
He’s the almighty versatile defensive playmaker for Brian Flores.
This is Darnold’s statistical 17-game pace in 2024:
Purple fans would’ve been happy with 25 touchdowns and 3,200 passing yards. But nope — Darnold has vastly exceeded expectations.
Greenard is on pace for 13.5 sacks, ranks third leaguewide in quarterback pressures, and seamlessly replaced Danielle Hunter at the cheaper price tag.
He and Darnold are neck and neck for No. 1 on this list, but Greenard is probably a better EDGE rusher than Darnold is quarterback, though some might disagree.
Greenard does not have bad games, and his defensive presence is vital. He’s the top newcomer, earning the title by a smidgen over Darnold.
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.