The Minnesota Vikings are in a state of transition. They moved on from quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason after a 7-10 season. They selected J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner in the first round of the NFL Draft to fortify the roster with premium players to take a step forward.
The entire roster is in a unique spot. There is a lot of talent on it, but it's paired with a lack of consistency and star power across it. Yes, there are wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darraisaw on the offensive side of the football but the defense is filled with question marks.
Vikings roster receives unfavorable ranking
The offseason is filled with different rankings for all 32 teams from across the media sphere. It's what keeps the conversation focused on the National Football League all year. Pro Football Focus' Jim Wyman and Dalton Wasserman ranked all 32 rosters and the Vikings didn't make the top 20, finishing at 21st, one spot ahead of the Indianapolis Colts.
The intriguing element about the Vikings' roster is the additions this season. They highlighted running back Aaron Jones as one of those players.
There should be a renewed emphasis on the running game for Minnesota in 2024. Aaron Jones proved last season that, when healthy, he can carry a full workload in every aspect. The Vikings finished 24th in rushing grade last season despite carrying a top-10 run-blocking unit. Jones and Ty Chandler should complement a developing passing attack well.
The Vikings running game was putrid in 2023. They were not good or consistent throughout the year with most of the issues coming from the running back position. Alexander Mattison wasn't good across the board and the aforementioned Chandler was still developing as a second-year player. If Jones stays healthy, the running game could take a major step forward.
They also focused on Turner, who could be a massive addition to a Vikings pass rush that could use depth.
Turner, a freakishly athletic standup edge rusher, is an ideal fit in Minnesota’s defense. He joins Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in a revamped edge group that should be significantly better than the one Flores worked with last season. Turner was one of just eight FBS edges last season who posted 80.0-plus grades in pass rush and coverage.
With Van Ginkel still sitting out due to a foot injury that caused him to miss the wild card game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Turner has gotten extra run during OTAs and it's going to spike his development.
Lastly, Wyman and Wasserman have them going over their win total of 6.5 using the injuries at quarterback as the reason why the Vikings will hit it. They won seven games with a litany of injuries, including starting a backup quarterback for the final nine games.
The Vikings are going to be out to prove they are better than this ranking early and often.
Make sure to check out our home page every day for the best and latest Minnesota Vikings news and analysis.
