The Minnesota Vikings are undoubtedly a team in transition going into the 2024 season. They moved on from quarterback Kirk Cousins and selected quarterback J.J. McCarthy at 10th overall to replace him. The moves they made in free agency and the NFL Draft focused on premium positions and building up those for a potential Super Bowl run.
Now, the 2024 season could end up being one where the Vikings took a step back with the loss of Cousins and Danielle Hunter. It wouldn't shock anyone to see them miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season, but one analyst took that a step further.
Are the Minnesota Vikings the least-improved team in 2024?
Sports Illustrated's Gilbert Manzano believes they are the least-improved team in the National Football League, framing his thoughts around losing Cousins and Hunter.
I would have felt better about the Vikings had they traded up to get Drake Maye in the draft. Instead, they waited to take J.J. McCarthy, the fifth quarterback selected in the draft. McCarthy was impressive during Michigan’s playoff games, but he has boom-or-bust potential because he wasn’t asked to do much in Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense. Minnesota could lean on veteran Sam Darnold, but he struggled with making quick decisions during his time with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
But this goes beyond the quarterback position. Minnesota didn’t do much to address the weak interior lines on offense and defense. There are also concerns with the cornerbacks. And there could be a case made that Danielle Hunter is better than free-agent addition Jonathan Greenard. The two edge rushers swapped places, with Hunter joining the Houston Texans.
Manzano makes some interesting points, but he does so in a poor way. All reports were that the Vikings wanted Maye, but the New England Patriots wouldn't move off of the third-overall pick. They also loved McCarthy, matching what general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said about the team loving multiple quarterbacks.
The points on Darnold are fair, but his situation matters. In fact, it matters a lot. He was drafted by the New York Jets in 2018 with a very poor roster and then was paired with Adam Gase. Darnold has never been in as good of a situation as he will be in 2024 with the Vikings: elite weapons and tackles.
The point on the defensive line is fair. It's a very thin position group, but the roster is not going to be perfect. Adofo-Mensah focused on the premium positions with his major assets this offseason, including Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Is Hunter better than Greenard? Absolutely, but Greenard is arguably a better fit since he has an elite get-off on the football, something Hunter has never possessed. He is arguably more versatile as well with his 35.5" arms.
The cornerback room is more about not having any defined great players but it's inarguable that there is talent.
Manzano is placing the bet that the quarterback position is going to be a massive downgrade from 2023, but he isn't taking into account that the team was very competitive in eight of nine games when Cousins didn't start. Overall, this looks like analysis that is too generalized and not take context into account nearly enough with the why behind the moves.
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