The Vikings’ Top 10 Players Entering 2024
The 2024 Minnesota Vikings begin training camp in 11 days, and the regular season is 60 away.
The franchise isn’t expected to reach tall heights in 2024, predicted to finish in last place inside the NFC North while accompanied by around seven wins, according to sportsbooks.
The Vikings’ Top 10 Players Entering 2024
And in an attempt to gnaw at a fringe playoff berth, the Vikings will need significant production from their top players. Therefore, these are the 10 best Vikings players on the current roster ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best player).
10. 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 blistering 91.1 PFF grade.
He’s a transfer from the Brian Flores days in Miami.
9. Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
All told as a rookie, Pace Jr. notched 102 total tackles, 9 QB hits, 2.5 sacks, and an interception. Not bad.
Pro Football Focus‘ Zolton Buday tagged Pace Jr. as the Vikings’ most underrated player this offseason and explained, “Pace burst onto the scene as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and was the third-highest-graded linebacker in the entire NFL after three weeks. While his performance tailed off a bit and his playing time was reduced, he remained very productive on pass plays. Pace was one of just two linebackers to earn PFF grades over 77.0 for both coverage and pass rush, the other being Fred Warner.”
8. Blake Cashman (LB)
A new defender via free agency from the Houston Texans, Cashman will replace Jordan Hicks from last year’s depth chart. He totally busted out in 2023, tallying an 83.7 PFF grade.
His pass coverage skills will fit like a glove into Brian Flores’ defense. Cashman could climb higher on this list before too long, but he needs another year to prove sustainability.
He’s also from Eden Prairie.
7. Jordan Addison (WR)
Addison performed marvelously as a rookie in 2023 — when Kirk Cousins delivered the pigskin. After Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall took over, the youngster’s production diminished, and Addison exited stage left from Rookie of the Year discussions. It’s worth noting, however, that Addison found some chemistry with Nick Mullens.
He hopes Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy play closer to Cousins’ aptitudes than Dobbs’.
6. Jonathan Greenard (OLB)
This dude will directly replace Danielle Hunter, and he just so happened to fire up 12.5 sacks in 2023, his age-26 season. The man is trending up and would’ve ranked higher on this list if he had back-to-back years of upper-echelon output. To a degree, he’s still in prove-it territory.
However, Greenard’s 78.2 PFF grade in 2023 is undeniable. He’s also a superb run defender — not all pass rushers can claim as such.
5. 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 a spiffy one-year contract. The veteran runner helped propel Green Bay to the postseason and chip off the Dallas Cowboys.
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
4. T.J. Hockenson (TE)
Hockenson might be missing to start the season, but he remains one of the most complete tight ends in the sport. He also fundamentally changed the Vikings’ offense — it only took about a week — when he arrived in 2022, and Minnesota’s trade with Detroit felt like a win-win for both sides.
Now, folks will monitor his injury recovery intently this summer. He’ll likely miss the first month or so of the season.
3. Brian O’Neill (RT)
A Viking through and through, O’Neill was accountable for keeping the offensive line afloat when the OL stunk from 2018 to 2021.
He hasn’t experienced a PFF grade below 70.0 in a season since his rookie year and is one of the cornerstones of Vikings football after six seasons.
2. Christian Darrisaw (LT)
Darrisaw needs Pro Bowl kudos sooner rather than later, but he keeps getting overlooked, mainly because several veteran OTs have votes on lock.
Fans craved a foundational left tackle after McKinnie left in 2011, and 10 years later, Darrisaw arrived. He consistently ranks in the Top 5 of all credible OT metrics and is Minnesota’s second-best player entering 2024.
1. Justin Jefferson (WR)
Jefferson is the standard-bearer at wide receiver in the NFL right now — and he just turned 25 last month. He’s the best player on the Vikings’ roster and might be the top commodity not named Patrick Mahomes in the business.
Honorable Mention:
Camryn Bynum (S)
Harrison Smith (S)
Josh Metellus (S)
Harrison Phillips (DT)
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 Vikings 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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.