5 Vikings Set for Increased Role in Year 2
It was a difficult first year for the Minnesota Vikings 2024 draft class as they were struck with setbacks and tragedy. As we look ahead to the 2025 season, five Vikings are set for an increased role in Year 2 as things stand.
5 Vikings Set for Increased Role in Year 2
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah still comes under fire for his record in the draft, and the Vikings general manager could do with some players making significant strides this year. However, three of the five that make this list were undrafted signings — an area where Adofo-Mensah has enjoyed success.
The five players are the quarterback and four on the defensive side of the ball, who may not be stepping up into a starting role this season but should certainly have ambitions for an increased role and playing time.
J.J. McCarthy
Injury scuppered JJ McCarthy’s chances of seeing the field in his rookie season, but with a year in the building to learn Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Minnesota appears ready to let their first-round draft pick take the reins. With only Brett Rypien for company on the depth charts, the Vikings will add another QB to the roster at some point, but I don’t buy any potential move for Aaron Rodgers.
Adofo-Mensah should be looking for a backup QB with upside, although even those options are dwindling.
McCarthy was one of six QBs taken in the first 12 picks last season, and while the other five ended the season in the starting role on their team, McCarthy and the Vikings have had to wait. They will hope for no further setbacks as McCarthy takes the helm of an offense built to give him every chance of succeeding.
Dallas Turner
The Vikings’ other first-round pick in 2024 was edge rusher Dallas Turner. It reportedly took Turner some time to figure out the nuances of the Brian Flores defense, but glimpses of the talent caused excitement inside the Vikings camp when they drafted him. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel excelled as the starters on the edge, and I don’t foresee losing their spot any time soon.
However, Patrick Jones left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency, meaning that Turner is bumped up the depth chart as the clear third edge rusher. With another full offseason to acclimatize, the expectation will be for vast improvement from Turner, who had 20 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception in his rookie campaign.
A rise in his defensive snap count, which was at 28% last season — Jones was at 46% – should help him increase his production.
Bo Richter | Gabriel Murphy
With Turner’s rise up, the depth chart leaves his spot as the fourth edge rusher open. Two players signed as undrafted free agents last year look set to battle it out for that spot in Bo Richter and Gabriel Murphy. Murphy arrived in Minnesota to greater fanfare and was seen as a real coup. However, Murphy started the season on IR due to a knee injury, and while he was out, Richter was making a name for himself as a valuable player on special teams and suited up for every game from Week 7 onwards.
Richter didn’t see much time on defense, with just 29 defensive snaps across the 14 games he played, where he had eight tackles — he also had a fumble recovery on a blocked punt. Murphy only played in two games at the back end of the season but saw more time on the field with 35 defensive snaps, where he managed a solitary tackle and QB hit.
Murphy will hope for an uninterrupted offseason to showcase that he can step into the vacated role, while Richter will hope that his special team’s value and the relentless motor he’s shown will keep him in the Vikings’ plans.
Dwight McGlothern
Another undrafted signing from last year who hopes to make his mark in 2025 is cornerback Dwight McGlothern. Minnesota re-signed Byron Murphy following his Pro Bowl season, but the time he spends playing next to him appears up for grabs. Isaiah Rodgers was also signed after impressing as the third CB in the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl-winning season. He deputized three times for a banged-up Darius Slay, but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to be the starting outside corner.
McGlothern and Rodgers are set to battle it out with Mekhi Blackmon for the CB2 job unless the Vikings add someone new to the mix. That would appear plausible with Minnesota announcing they were hosting former first-round pick Jeff Okudah for a free agent visit.
McGlothern has been the subject of glowing reports since becoming a Vikings but only made it onto the field for five games last season – playing 19 defensive snaps. He will have the offseason to prove he has developed enough for an increased role, with the path to a starting job not heavily blocked as things stand.
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