Questions Answered: The Vikings’ QB Plan, the Trenches, Dalton Risner
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the January 17th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: The Vikings’ QB Plan, the Trenches, Dalton Risner
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: If you had to predict, what will the Vikings roll with into the 2025 season at quarterback?
Answer: J.J. McCarthy at QB1 and Daniel Jones at QB2. Brett Rypien will probably remain as QB3.
If one believes Sam Darnold could still be back, he or she is likely overthinking it. His 36 touchdowns in 2024 were marvelous, but he utterly disintegrated in the playoffs.
Did you watch the loss against the Los Angeles Rams and think, “This is clearly a better alternative to J.J. McCarthy?”
If you did not, then McCarthy is coming to a lineup as QB1 near you. McCarthy is more affordable than Darnold, and there’s a decent chance that he doesn’t play like a buffoon when it matters the most. Daniel Jones, on the other hand, as the QB2 — call it insurance — for $10 million or so makes sense.
Q: Will Minnesota completely overhaul and fix the trenches this offseason?
Answer: Yes — we believe they will sign or draft an impact defensive tackle and two new interior offensive linemen. Our guess is that Blake Brandel stays while Garrett Bradbury, Dalton Risner, and Ed Ingram depart.
That was one of the “perks” to watching the Vikings’ playoff loss: the interior offensive line helped Darnold ruin the whole year, so much so that it cannot be ignored in the offseason.
Q: Will Dalton Risner be back for Year No. 3 in Minnesota?
Answer: Probably not.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah seemed a little skittish about re-signing Risner last offseason but ultimately did so in late May. Risner later took over the starter’s job from Ed Ingram.
But the veteran guard is a bit of a one-trick pony — good pass protection with sluggish run blocking.
We’ll stick to answer No. 2. The iOL will feature a new center, guard, and Blake Brandel. Just a guess, though.
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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