These Are the Vikings’ 15 New Players on Offense
Rookies report to Minnesota Vikings training camp this weekend, and two days later, on Tuesday, July 23rd, veterans follow suit.
These Are the Vikings’ 15 New Players on Offense
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah produced a transformative offseason in the last several months, flipping the script amid his competitive rebuild and welcoming new, would-be franchise cornerstones in J.J. McCarthy (quarterback) and Dallas Turner (outside linebacker).
But there were several more additions, and these are the Vikings’ 15 new players on offense, organized by position.
Quarterback
Newcomers:
Sam Darnold
J.J. McCarthy
These two will duke it out this summer for the QB1 gig. Darnold is expected to grab the job with about 70% probability, at least according to oddsmakers. Minnesota said goodbye to Kirk Cousins after six seasons — he joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency — and the Darnold + McCarthy sandwich is the replacement.
No matter what, before too long, McCarthy will receive an honest-to-goodness audition for QB1. Some fans believe Darnold can rekindle his career in the Twin Cities. We shall see.
Running Back
Newcomers:
Aaron Jones
Minnesota ranked near the bottom of the NFL in 2022 and 2023 per run-game efficiency, so Jones entered the chat this offseason as a fix-all. He left the Green Bay Packers, the organization that drafted him in 2017.
Jones is a shoo-in to win the RB1 job — he’ll earn a handsome $7 million this season — but don’t forget about Ty Chandler at RB2, who balled out in a couple of games down the stretch of 2023.
Pass-Catchers
Newcomers:
Ty James
Jeshaun Jones
Trey Knox
Sammis Reyes
Trent Sherfield
Robert Tonyan
This group is headlined by Robert Tonyan, who might win the TE1 job out of the gate in September if T.J. Hockenson misses the start of the regular season. Hockenson tore his ACL last December and probably won’t be a full go until October or November.
Then, Sherfield will battle for the WR3 job with Brandon Powell and Jalen Nailor. James, Jones, Knox, and Reyes will vie for 53-man roster spots.
Offensive Line
Newcomers:
Dan Feeney
Jeremy Flax
Michael Jurgens
Doug Nester
Spencer Rolland
Walter Rouse
Depth — that’s what the Vikings pursued via OL transactions this spring and summer. Feeney, Jurgens, and Rouse will probably make the active roster, barring something wacky.
Flax, Nester, and Rolland are undrafted free agents, likely on deck for practice squad duty, if any.
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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