The 6 Former Vikings from 2024 Roster Now Tracking Toward Playoffs
The Minnesota Vikings cut over 20 players loose from the 2024 team during the most recent offseason, a standard process for NFL teams that change roster from year to year. And with the playoffs on the horizon, here’s a look at Vikings players from the 2024 roster who are virtually assured to visit the postseason, barring a mighty team collapse.
From Sam Darnold steering Seattle’s offense to role players like Ed Ingram and Johnny Mundt carving out playoff paths, this rundown tracks how familiar faces are resurfacing on January-bound teams.
The men are listed alphabetically and on tap to play meaningful January football.
The Former Vikings from 2024 Who Are Now Chasing Playoff Spots
These men evidently made wise career choices, at least for the time being.
1. Sam Darnold | QB, SEA
Darnold has slowed down just a bit from his start-of-season pace — sound familiar? — but his team has a 10-3 record and will reach the postseason.
When Darnold arrives at that destination, he must play better than last year’s faceplant as a member of the Vikings. The whole reason he doesn’t play in Minnesota anymore? He collapsed in the final two games of the season when the Vikings needed him the most.
Some have suggested that Darnold might even return to the Vikings next year. The Viking Age‘s Luke Norris noted this week, “But the Seattle Seahawks didn’t have any problems bringing him to the Pacific Northwest, trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and signing Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal.”
“And while McCarthy has struggled to find his footing in Minnesota, Darnold has thrived in Seattle thus far, leading the Seahawks to a 10-3 record while currently ranking sixth in completion percentage (68.1), sixth in passing yards (3,122), tied for fifth in TD passes (22), and fifth in passer rating (103.8).”
Darnold is under contract with the Seahawks through the end of 2026, although they could somewhat easily release him this offseason if he vaporizes in the playoffs again.
Norris added, “Naturally, one has to wonder if the Vikings would make a different decision on Darnold and McCarthy if the choice presented itself. Interestingly enough, ESPN has actually created a scenario in which that may be possible, as Dan Graziano included Darnold on a list of 10 players he believes could potentially be surprise trade or cut candidates during the upcoming 2026 offseason.”
2. Ed Ingram | G, HOU
Fans laughed when the Vikings traded Ingram to Houston for a 6th-Round pick. Now, however, Pro Football Focus ranks Ingram as the NFL’s 16th-best guard in 2025, up about 50 spots from his Minnesota days.
The Texans have a 94% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to The New York Times, meaning they’d have to utterly collapse (lose three or four games) to miss the dance.
Yes, Ingram will visit the postseason in three of his first four seasons as a pro.
3. Nick Mullens | QB, JAX
Mullens hasn’t been needed this year because Trevor Lawrence rarely misses offensive snaps, but there’s a chance that Mullens could get a look in the Jaguars’ offense if an opponent knocks Lawrence out.
The former Viking is a quintessential gunslinger, unafraid to sling the rock all over the man place. Jacksonville fans don’t know much about Mullens, but they will be pleasantly surprised if he ever gets under center. His lovable recklessness is addictive.
4. Johnny Mundt | TE, JAX
Mundt, the Jaguars’ TE3 and a teammate of Mullens, has 8 catches for 95 yards in 2025 — a very Mundtian stat line.
His Jaguars have a 98% chance of visiting the postseason.
5. David Quessenberry | OT, LAR
Quessenberry is the primary backup right tackle on the team with the best Super Bowl odds this season. If something occurs injury-wise to Warren McClendon Jr., Quessenberry will take over and be tasked with protecting Matthew Stafford, who is not overly mobile these days.
The ex-Vikings lineman has played 15 offensive snaps this season, as well as 47 special teams plays.
6. Nahshon Wright | CB, CHI
Remember Duke Shelley’s out-of-nowhere breakout in 2022? That’s essentially what Wright is giving the Bears right now. He’s allowing a 79.9 passer rating and already leads the league with five interceptions — a full-blown emergence for a team that needed one.
Meanwhile, Minnesota saw him as a fringe practice-squad type. When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shipped Andrew Booth to Dallas in the summer of 2024, the Cowboys tossed Wright into the deal almost as an afterthought.
If this isn’t a one-year mirage, both Dallas and Minnesota whiffed badly. Wright looks like a legitimate CB3 at minimum — and maybe something more.
His Bears have a 70% shot of making the tournament in January. They basically have to avoid losing three or more of their last four games.
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