So, How Has the Vikings Offense Improved?
The short answer is: by adding beef. The interior of the offensive line has been an issue for the Vikings since I began watching football almost 10 years ago. And most likely, you all will say that it has been longer. What doomed the offense (and the team) last season was the inability to play in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but mostly on offense.
So, How Has the Vikings Offense Improved?
Aaron Jones had the best season of his career yardage-wise and was in the top 10 in rushing yards, but he had the worst rushing success of his career, with just 5 TDs on the ground. For those unfamiliar with this stat, a successful play is measured by the down and the yardage it gained. So, success on the first down is gaining 40% of the yardage needed for a new set of downs, on the second is 80%, and on the third and fourth downs is moving the chains.
This problem was in the spotlight every time the Vikings were at the goal line – and it’s nothing new. In 2023, the Vikings scored their first rushing touchdown against the Packers in Week 8. Alexander Mattison wasn’t good as a starter, but his offensive line didn’t do him any favors.
Pass protection also needs to improve for 2025, especially with the bad taste the last two games of 2024 left everyone. Ed Ingram was traded to the Texans, Cam Robinson signed with the Texans, and Garrett Bradbury was cut. These three were arguably the worst players on the offensive line last season. Cam Robinson is tough for me to be too harsh on because he came as an emergency after Christian Darrisaw’s injury. Still, he had two naughty games against the Lions and Rams to close out the season.
To replace them, the Vikings signed C Ryan Kelly and OG Will Fries, both from the Indianapolis Colts. Christian Darrisaw’s recovery timeline should put him in line to play Week 1, but Kevin O’Connell has shown caution when players come back from injury. In case Darrisaw can’t start right away, the staff brought in OT Justin Skule from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even if the offense has to play without Darrisaw for a couple of games, having Kelly and Fries should greatly improve the offensive line. It’s true that both dealt with injuries last season and that Kelly has had an injury problem throughout his career, but when healthy, he can still be one of the best centers in the league.
His experience should also help J.J. McCarthy a lot, as Kelly has seen virtually every look a defense can give, so he will be a key part in sorting out blitzes.
Will Fries was arguably the best guard available after the Kansas City Chiefs franchise tagged Trey Smith. Although his sample size in 2024 was small (he broke his leg in Week 5), Fries looked like one of the best guards in the NFL last season. The 5 years and $88M the Vikings gave him shows their faith that he can recover and, at the very least, play on the same level he displayed in those five games.
The final “infinity stone” of the offense is RB Jordan Mason. I believe this move surprised almost everyone, as the Vikings had already re-signed Aaron Jones. Even with a stellar running back class in this year’s Draft, I think bringing Mason was a good move.
You guarantee that you have two competent running backs, giving you flexibility on what to do at the position in the Draft, and it doesn’t stop the staff from taking an RB in the Draft, either Omarion Hampton in the first round or someone like Damien Martinez later. Mason is a very good runner who showed his ability to gain additional yards last season with an average of 2.3 yards after contact.
To put this number in context with the Vikings’ running game in 2024, Aaron Jones wasn’t far off Mason in that regard. In yards after contact, Mason had an average of 2.3, and Jones had 2.1. However, Aaron Jones had 2.4 yards before contact, while Mason had 2.9. Having two outstanding running backs means that Kevin O’Connell can manage the load between them (Jones had his highest rushing attempts in 2024), and with a better offensive line, they should have better opportunities to find the gaps.
An improved running game is always crucial, especially in the red zone. With a young QB in J.J. McCarthy, this is only more important. The conversation around McCarthy is a whole different, but regardless of who is under center or carrying the football, trying to improve your offensive line is always good.
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