Vikings Players Facing Make-or-Break Stakes
Sportsbooks expect the Minnesota Vikings to win about eight or nine games this season, a vast departure from the 14-3 season one year ago.
The Vikings’ regular season is less than three months away, and these players face make-or-break stakes.
The team, of course, hopes to showcase a winning record and reach the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 2008-2009.
Along the way, a handful of Vikings players face “make or break” stakes, men whose 2025 campaign will drastically adjust their career outlook. These are those players listed alphabetically.
Brian Asamoah
Linebacker
The Vikings drafted Asamoah in Round 3 a few years ago, and fans were stoked about a replacement plan for Eric Kendricks, who vamoosed one offseason later. But Asamoah has never taken off as a linebacker in the Vikings’ defense, aside from a short spurt as a rookie in 2022, and really plays special teams exclusively.
This season is the last on his rookie contract, and if he wishes to find staying power with the Vikings and in the NFL on the whole, the time is now for Asamoah to make a splash.
Ty Chandler
Running Back
Similar to Asamoah per contractual standing, Chandler enters Year No. 4 of his rookie deal, meaning his off-ramp from the Vikings is scheduled next spring. Considering general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah always trades for running back Cam Akers before promoting Chandler to an increased workload, Minnesota may not be overly high on the speedy tailback.
Chandler must fight to keep his RB3 job this summer, and after that, it’s go-time to prove his mettle as a long-term halfback.
Zone Coverage‘s Tyler Ireland wrote about Chandler last month: “Chandler wasn’t particularly good or bad on special teams; he was simply unremarkable. While he didn’t muff any kicks, he never established himself as a dangerous returner like Kene Nwangwu. When you’re on the roster bubble like Chandler, you need to be making an impact on special teams to keep your job.”
“Your job is never truly safe even if you’re a key special teams player. Just look at NaJee Thompson, who carved out a role as a gunner, only for the Vikings to waive him once he couldn’t pass a physical. Tough luck. Chandler is facing steep competition on special teams, and his role as the third rusher on the depth chart is also in serious jeopardy. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are locked in as Minnesota’s one-two punch at running back.”
It’s worth noting that Chandler is one of the Vikings’ fastest players.
Ireland added, “I would be shocked if Jordan Mason didn’t take most of the snaps in the backfield whenever Jones isn’t on the field. Mason is significantly better than Minnesota’s backups last year, so I expect a tightened rotation at tailback in 2025. Chandler was once the third running back on the depth chart and the primary kick returner. Now he has to compete with four new players with kick return experience.”
“Plus, an elite backup running back in Jordan Mason, Tre Stewart, who received top-dollar in guaranteed money as an undrafted free agent, and potentially Cam Akers if the Vikings aren’t content with their depth at running back. All this is to say, this offseason is do or die for Chandler, who finds himself on the roster bubble in 2025.”
Jalen Nailor
Wide Receiver
Another member of the infamous 2022 draft class, Nailor actually caught on as a legitimate WR3 in 2024. He didn’t set the world on fire with gobs of receptions and yards, but he had a knack for finding paydirt.
Meanwhile, the Vikings drafted Maryland’s Tai Felton two months ago, in line to eventually earn a WR3 job or better.
Nailor faces a make-or-break campaign to earn an extension in the Twin Cities while keeping Felton at bay.
Jeff Okudah
Cornerback
Once upon a time, the Detroit Lions spent the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Okudah, who was supposed to be a can’t-miss commodity.
The Lions missed.
Okudah has bounced around the NFL since, and in 2025, he faces his last best chance to catch on as a trustworthy cornerback — and not just some guy with once fancy draft stock.
Isaiah Rodgers
Cornerback
Rodgers’ career will be fine, almost no matter what happens this season. However, the 2024 campaign will decide if Rodgers is a tried-and-true starter. He seems on track to get that audition with the Vikings this season.
If he gets torched fairly often or the Vikings choose Mekhi Blackmon, for example, over Rodgers, the speedster defender will revert to kick return duty while playing a “fourth cornerback” role in future seasons.
The here and now is Rodgers’ one big chance to prove he can be a Top 50 corner or so in the NFL.
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