3 Vikings Players Snubbed by PFF
Each year, Pro Football Focus publishes a year-end list of the league’s Top 101 players.
3 Vikings Players Snubbed by PFF
The Minnesota Vikings earned a wee bit of representation on the pecking order, with Justin Jefferson checking in at No. 24, which felt too low. A trio of PFF writers noted Jefferson’s placement: “Jefferson may have spent his first season without Kirk Cousins, but his connection with Sam Darnold didn’t miss a beat. The Vikings’ star receiver remains the gold standard for deep threats in the NFL, leading the league with 45 receptions of 15 or more yards — a wide margin over the next closest receiver, who had 39.”
Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard earned the 82nd-best spot.
So, those two were included; others were oddly excluded. In addition to Byron Murphy Jr. (CB) and Blake Cashman (LB), who could’ve fetched rankings within the Top 101, these were the official snubs.
1. Sam Darnold (QB)
When the 2024 regular season kicked off, many forecasted a Baker Mayfield-ish season for Darnold. Then, he played 18 games as the Vikings’ QB1 and outperformed Mayfield’s 2023 campaign.
Darnold accounted for 36 touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl. Minnesota can thank Darnold, in large part, for its unexpected 14-3 record this season. He later collapsed when it mattered the most — perhaps why he didn’t gain placement on the PFF list — against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.
Still, Darnold’s 36 touchdowns don’t grow on trees, and the man was a Top 101 player in the sport. It’s not a bold declaration.
2. Brian O’Neill (RT)
O’Neill allowed zero quarterback hits in 2024, which obviously ranked tops in the NFL and should’ve commanded respect on the PFF list.
He served as the league’s 16th-best offensive tackle in 2024, according to PFF.
The man also grabbed his second Pro Bowl honor and is one of the sturdiest offensive tackles in the NFL.
3. Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Van Ginkel, an EDGE rusher, totaled 79 tackles, 19 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl trip this season, his first as a Viking.
He also played on a contract worth $10 million per season. The veteran defender is Minnesota’s best value player not on a rookie contract. Bar none. Van Ginkel might even get a pay raise this offseason.
Perhaps the strangest snub, Van Ginkel should’ve been recognized as a Top 101 player this season.
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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