Vikings Players Who Could Bust Out in 2025
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season is four months away, and fans are rather excited about the new era, mainly because quarterback J.J. McCarthy will take the throne.
The Vikings have quite a few players who could blossom in 2025.
In addition to McCarthy, several players on the current 90-man roster could bust out into stardom, as happens for each NFL team every season.
So, excluding rookies — it’s kind of a no-brainer that a rookie could break out — these are the Vikings players who bust out in 2025, ranked in order of likelihood (No. 1 = most likely to bust out).
6. Jalen Redmond (DT)
Redmond already scriped a miniature breakout campaign in 2024, but 2025 will be about sustainability, proving 2024 was no fluke.
Finding his way to Minnesota last year from the UFL, Redmond felt like a practice squad signing last offseason. He was much more than that, turning into a tackle-for-loss savant and an asset to Brian Flores’ defense.
Redmond’s challenge in 2025 will be standing out with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on the depth chart, but he’s younger than both men, so perhaps he’ll shine if injuries emerge.
5. Mekhi Blackmon (CB)
Blackmon was actually supposed to start in 2024, his second campaign as a pro, but a torn ACL ruined everything. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Stephon Gilmore because of the Blackmon injury, and he substituted admirably.
Healed from the injury, Blackmon is back to seize a starter’s job and could turn into a baller. Some fans have forgotten about him.
4. Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
Rodgers played 328 defensive snaps for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, tallying an 82.1 passer-rating-against along the way. He appears to be on deck as a starter in Minnesota this season, and if that 82.1 mark improves or stays steady, he’ll be considered a trustworthy starter in the pros.
It’s also worth noting that Rodgers is fast as hell with 4.28 speed.
3. Theo Jackson (S)
Most folks outside Minnesota have no idea what a “Theo Jackson” is, an underdog undrafted free agent who became a Viking a few seasons ago.
Because of Jackson’s relative anonymity, many draft pundits thought the Vikings would select Malaki Starks of Georgia or Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina in Round 1 a couple of weeks ago.
Yet, they have Jackson, an up-and-comer in Brian Flores’ defense, and if the Vikings trust him to start over Camryn Bynum, who dipped in free agency for the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson might break out in 2025. He already embraced the starter’s endorsement.
2. Dallas Turner (OLB)
Adofo-Mensah pulled Turner from the 2024 NFL Draft after an expensive trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first season, Turner only played about one-third of the time, mainly because Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were too damn productive to bench.
However, Turner is firmly lined up for OLB3 duty this season, and he could blossom.
Greenard said about Turner this offseason, “He was still here as soon as the season ended, in the weight room with me, working out. He hardly took any time off, even though I told him, this is the only time after your rookie year you’re going to be able to have a break, downtime, ’cause the season never stops. It’s just great to see him absorb all this information, retain it really well, and obviously, just put it to use.”
Vikings analyst Janik Eckardt wrote about Turner’s proposed breakout this week: “Turner is an easy bet to make for breakout honors. While he, barring injuries, will still not be a starting edge, his snap numbers will undoubtedly rise. Even doubling them from 300 to 600 is easily possible now that Jones is gone.”
“Turner is an easy bet to make for breakout honors. While he, barring injuries, will still not be a starting edge, his snap numbers will undoubtedly rise. Even doubling them from 300 to 600 is easily possible now that Jones is gone.”
Turner turned 22 in February. A young’un.
Eckardt concluded, “He’s too talented to be stuck in depth roles for too long. Regardless, at the age of 22 with otherworldly athletic tools, ‘the sky is the limit,’ as Greenard added. If he takes that next step, the Vikings will have a fun rushing trio for at least the next two seasons.”
1. J.J. McCarthy (QB)
Sam Darnold set the bar pretty damn high, delivering over 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024, so McCarthy probably won’t approach those lofty levels.
However, Minnesotans merely need McCarthy to “look the part,” regardless of statistics, while hopefully engineering a winning record.
Vikings fans don’t really know how to handle this, but there’s a reasonable chance that McCarthy turns into the next big thing in the NFL. He has the talent, size, weaponry, defense, coaching staff, and quarterback whisperer in his arsenal.
Because of his position, youth, and upside, McCarthy is the top breakout option for the Vikings. Could it really be anyone else?
You must be logged in to post a comment.