The NFL Draft is now conclude and the Minnesota Vikings are preparing for a potential Super Bowl run in the 2025 season.

With a lot of internal expectations and hefty ones from the fanbase, this is when the real fun begins with the competitive rebuild that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has maneuvered brilliantly over the last three years. A 34-17 record is brilliant considering the circumstances, including 13 and 14 win seasons.

The only thing the Vikings haven't been able to do is go on a playoff run or even win a playoff game. The future is now, as they will be going into the season with J.J. McCarthy as the first-time starting quarterback. 

Click here to accept Marketing cookies and load this content

---

Minnesota Vikings are now underdog in NFL power rankings

As things look into the season, we got another wave of power rankings, just like we did when the first wave of free agency ended. However, the latest power rankings are out and the Vikings dropped significantly. 

Give them a read and see for yourself the hoops that analysts are jumping through to discredit the elite roster.

Bleacher Report's NFL Staff: 11th

• Previous Ranking: N/A

Under head coach and offensive play-caller Kevin O'Connell, Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold posted numbers worthy of Pro Bowl recognition. If O'Connell helps J.J. McCarthy get that accolade, he deserves to be on the same tier as Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay in terms of his play-calling acumen. Realistically, we should expect McCarthy to experience rough patches in his first full season in a starting role, assuming he outperforms Sam Howell through training camp. The Vikings revamped the interior of their offensive line, signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round. McCarthy just needs to play within himself and trust a defense that could be better than last year's fifth-ranked scoring unit with the addition of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.-Maurice Moton

---

Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr: 11th

• Previous Ranking: 6th

I suppose much will be made of the Vikings “dropping” in my power rankings from the post-free agency version I wrote a few weeks back. But, in reality, I did not drop them nearly enough after the team pivoted to a redshirt freshman quarterback. I think J.J. McCarthy will be great and, yes, I know we just watched Jayden Daniels take the Commanders to the NFC title game. But we need to be reasonable about expectations. Still, beefing up the offensive interior and adding to the embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position with the 4.3-speed Tai Felton is unnerving for opponents.-Orr

---

The Athletic's Josh Kendall: 9th

• Previous Ranking: N/A

First pick: OL Donovan Jackson

After adding veteran defenders Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave through free agency, the Vikings focused on offense during the draft with Jackson, third-round wide receiver Tai Felton and a Saturday trade for quarterback Sam Howell. The exception to the offensive approach was a big one — 6-5, 276-pound edge rusher Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins out of Georgia.-Kendall

---

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco: 13th

• Previous Ranking: 6th

They've improved on both the offensive and defensive lines in free agency and the draft. But this season will be all about quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first year as the team's starter. If he's good, they will be good.-Prisco

---

USA Today's Nate Davis: 18th

• Previous Ranking: 14th

Admittedly, they were devalued at this time a year ago – basically universally – given the unknown at quarterback. And while the totality of talent on the roster (and coaching staff) might be in sharper focus now, the unknown at quarterback remains.-Davis

---

NFL.com's Eric Edholm: 10th

• Previous Ranking: 7th

I was a little surprised with how the first round went. I was a fan of Donovan Jackson and pegged him as an early second-rounder, so seeing the offensive lineman go 24th didn't bother me. I just wonder, with the Vikings entering the weekend with just four picks (they made five after scooping up an additional sixth-rounder), did they consider a move down? One slot later, Houston received two third-rounders — one this year and one next — to move down nine spots. Then again, the Texans might have wanted Jackson at No. 25. It's an interesting call. I also worry a little about Minnesota's cornerback depth — is it enough? The Lions, Packers and Bears all added pass catchers over the weekend, supplementing already-strong groups. That CB position is one that might be worth re-addressing as we get closer to camp. But the Vikings already cast most of their lot with a strong free-agent class and realistically should be considered among a top group of contenders if J.J. McCarthy is solid.-Edholm

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJCyV9JTXHZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

---

Fox Sports' David Helman: 16th

• Previous Ranking: 15th

I want to put the Vikings so much higher than this. The roster is loaded, as we know from last year’s 14-3 record. They’re plugging a first-round pick into the offensive line. They even traded for a 4,000-yard passer in Sam Howell as insurance for J.J. McCarthy. There’s so much potential here, but I just can’t move them any higher until I’ve seen more of McCarthy. 

---

The Vikings have one of the best rosters in the National Football League with the trenches now very strong on both sides of the football. The one thing that they haven't been able to get over is McCarthy hasn't started a game and has yet to prove himself.

That wasn't an issue last year with Caleb Williams, who was in a worse situation than what McCarthy has now. Plus, head coach Kevin O'Connell has one of the best track records in the league at maximizing quarterback play. Remember what he did with Josh Dobbs in 2023?

National media is turning the Vikings into an underdog and they will surprise people this year, even if McCarthy is average. Don't sleep on them.

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shares thoughtful insight on teambuilding that explains his track record

Projecting forward has been a strength of the Vikings and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah confirms suspicion about Dallas Turner after signing Andrew Van Ginkel to extension

If you’re concerned about Dallas Turner, read this