Where Do the Vikings Go from Here?

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. After a surprising 14-3 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings ended their season this past Monday with a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Where Do the Vikings Go from Here? They certainly have another huge offseason ahead, but this time with higher expectations. Will Sam Darnold be re-signed? That does not look very likely now, given that he struggled in the season’s final two games, and Minnesota was one and done in the playoffs. Even if they lost in the second round, he very possibly would have been gone. Matt Krohn-Imagn Images. If they had made a deep playoff run or just advanced to the second round, the chances of him being brought back would have been higher. Instead, they should roll with J.J. McCarthy as the starter. Since they drafted him in the first round last year, it’s time. He is also on a rookie deal, which would make it much easier for Minnesota to keep adding to the roster. Only time will tell what kind of player he will be, but like Darnold, he will benefit from having Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and a head coach who is good with quarterbacks. If Minnesota had won the Super Bowl, it would have brought Darnold back. Why not reward someone who played a significant role in their championship win? This is especially true since no Minnesota quarterback has ever done so, not even the great Fran Tarkenton. Brett Favre fell short in 2009. Could they re-sign Daniel Jones and have him battle with McCarthy for the starting job? That would not be a shock, nor would it be a bad move. While Jones is nothing special, he does have starting experience. He, of course, was also the quarterback also when his New York Giants at the time defeated Minnesota in the playoffs two years ago. He would not be expensive either. According to Over the Cap, Minnesota has a little over $58 million in cap space. Rob Brzezinski has done a great job managing the salary cap every year and should once again find a way to get creative and add more cap space. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports What positions will they target? You have to think the interior of the offensive line will be one of them. The head coach also mentioned after the playoff loss that they need to improve in that area. “We’ve gotta find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the season-ending loss in Arizona. Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith is set to become a free agent. He would be a great addition. Even if they sign him, they could add another guard or a center. Fellow guard Teven Jenkins (left side) of the Chicago Bears will be available,e too. Maybe they could find a way to sign both. What about the center position? That has been Garrett Bradbury’s starting spot since he was drafted 18th overall in 2019. According to Over the Cap, Minnesota would save $3.622 million if it released Bradbury. Given his struggles throughout his career, it would not be shocking if they went that route. He has had his moments where he looked okay, but overall, he certainly has not lived up to being a first-round pick. Drew Dalman (Atlanta Falcons) and Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis Colts) are among the centers available in free agency. Dalman is only 26 years old and will likely be very expensive. Ryan Kelly, who will be 32 at the start of the season, will not cost as much and would be the better option. Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images. If they do not sign a center but two guards, then keeping Bradbury would not be a bad move. Ed Ingram and Dalton Risner, they should move on from. Risner will be a free agent, and if they release Ingram, they will save $3.325 million. That is a no-brainer. Blake Brandel could be kept as a backup or released. They could also keep him as the starter if they sign a center and right guard. He played better when Darrisaw was in the lineup. Smith should be their number one target. He is one of the best guards in the league and will be only 26 years old at the start of the season. Minnesota’s offensive line has also struggled for too long, dating back to Mike Zimmer’s first season as head coach. They need to do whatever they can to address the line in free agency, and you can definitely bet they will. Cornerback is another crucial position for them. Byron Murphy Jr needs to be re-signed. Stephon Gilmore will likely not be re-signed. Shaquil Griffin could be brought back if needed. They could draft one, too, whether they sign a free agent or not. Carlton Davis (Detroit Lions), D.J. Reed (New York Jets), and Charvarius Ward (San Francisco 49ers) are among the cornerbacks available. Running back is another question mark for them. Aaron Jones is a pending free agent. He rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards but also rushed for a career-low 4.5 yards per carry. Despite playing in every game, he also dealt with injuries and is 30 years old. Last season, he earned $7 million. If he accepts less than that, Minnesota should definitely consider keeping him. He is still good despite getting older and is a great locker-room presence. If he wants more, they should move on and draft a running back. The good news is that running backs are not as difficult to replace as most positions, especially since the league continues to become increasingly pass-happy. Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports. While it was satisfying to see this team exceed expectations this year, how they performed in the final two games was also very disappointing. Fans have seen too many playoff losses, which is frustrating. Zero Super Bowl wins make it all that much worse. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done a great job in free agency, but his drafting has not been very good. That part needs to change if Minnesota will compete for Super Bowls. Can’t rely on cap space every year. Obviously, the biggest question mark is who starts at quarterback in 2025, but there are still many questions surrounding this team. There are reasons for optimism, though. There is plenty of cap space, and most of their key players will all be returning. This team had a great free agency last season. It would be very impressive if they could even come close to that this year. Once again, though, the drafting needs to improve.