These Are the Vikings’ 7 New Players on Offense for 2024
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season begins in 11 days with a showdown with the New York Giants in New Jersey.
These Are the Vikings’ 7 New Players on Offense for 2024
The organization trimmed the roster from 91 players to 53 on Tuesday and posted an initial 53-man depth chart.
And to prepare the masses for Week 1, these are the seven new players on offense.
Quarterback
Newcomers:
1. Sam Darnold
2. J.J. McCarthy
The path cleared for Darnold to start in 2024 after McCarthy tore his meniscus 2.5 weeks ago — because, of course, something like that would happen to a promising Vikings rookie quarterback.
The good news? The franchise has identified McCarthy as the QB1 of the future, so no matter what Darnold does — or doesn’t do — in 2024, McCarthy is waiting to take the throne.
McCarthy is formally on IR, and Darnold has the QB1 title in 2024. If Darnold falters, Nick Mullens will be waiting for a reckless-but-fun sequel.
Running Back
Newcomers:
3. 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 has won 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:
4. Trent Sherfield
Trent Sherfield locked up a WR5-WR6 job this week following an impressive preseason showing, especially with his blocking. The veteran does the dirty work that some wide receivers avoid, not unlike Laquon Treadwell. Blocking kept Treadwell employed by the Vikings for multiple seasons.
Sherfield may not contribute much to the offense this season, but he’s a notable newcomer nonetheless.
Offensive Line
Newcomers:
5. Dan Feeney
6. Michael Jurgens
7. Walter Rouse
Depth — that’s what the Vikings pursued via OL transactions this spring and summer. Feeney, Jurgens, and Rouse made the active roster this week and are on deck for playing time if injuries hit Garrett Bradbury, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Ed Ingram, or Blake Brandel.
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 MIN 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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