Ranking the Vikings' position groups: How high are the trenches after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's spending spree?
The Minnesota Vikings are a team to watch heading into the 2025 season. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did a great job fortifying the roster to make the Vikings a viable Super Bowl contender this season. With the Vikings still entrenched in the offseason program, it's a good time to look at the roster from a […]
The Minnesota Vikings are a team to watch heading into the 2025 season. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did a great job fortifying the roster to make the Vikings a viable Super Bowl contender this season.
With the Vikings still entrenched in the offseason program, it's a good time to look at the roster from a broad perspective. Where are the Vikings incredibly strong? Where are they weakest? Let's break it down.
Ranking Minnesota Vikings position groups
10. Cornerback
Even though this is the Vikings' weakest position, they aren't destitute at the position. Byron Murphy Jr. is a very good to great cornerback, and they have real upside with both Isaiah Rodgers and Mekhi Blackmon. Even with that, the Vikings don't have that true high-upside player that a first-round pick would have given them. They have plenty of time to add that player in the future. It's where the defensive line was last year.
9. Quarterback
This is very simple: J.J. McCarthy is a major unknown. We can make predictions about what we think he will end up being, but that's all they are currently: predictions. Pair that with the backups being Sam Howell and Brett Rypien and there are a lot of questions with this group. By November, the quarterback position could easily be in the top five, but for now, it's at ninth.
8. Linebacker
Both Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. are solid players, but the depth behind them paired with the injury history both of them have has them this far back. With that said, Cashman and Pace are a tremendous duo who can rush the passer better than most off-ball linebacker duos.
7. Safety
The top of the safety room is excellent. Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus are two very good safeties, but neither player is under contract after the 2025 season and that's a problem. Plus, the Vikings are trusting that Theo Jackson can expand upon the small sample size of really good play. It's a question mark for the Vikings, but one that could be answered quickly.
6. Running back
This is a group for the Vikings that arguably has two starters in Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. The good part about both of them is they can complement each other really well. Jones is a more versatile do-it-all style of running back while Jones is a bruiser between the tackles who can hit plenty of doubles while averaging more than five yards per carry. They are going to be a big factor why the Vikings will take a step forward this year.
5. Defensive line
Make no mistake about it, the defensive line is in a really good spot. Harrison Phillips, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave are a formidable trio up front. Plus, the depth the Vikings have is excellent with Jalen Redmond and Taki Taimani in reserve. The reason why they don't rank higher on this list is simple: they are uncertain considering their age. Having all three starters at age 29 or older isn't ideal, but they are all on shorter contracts, which makes it easeir to move on if things go south.
4. Tight end
This one is relatively simple. T.J. Hockenson is of the top tight ends in the National Football League and Josh Oliver is an elite number two who also doubles as another offensive tackle. The ability for the Vikings to use 12 personnel is a secret weapon in the passing game with Oliver being able to do multiple jobs, and Hockenson toasts linebackers with ease. The third spot is up in the air, but that's not a key contributor on the offense.
3. Edge rusher
Last offseason, the Vikings went all out to fortify the edge rusher position for the future and they did a great job in doing so. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were home run free agent signings and Dallas Turner flashed last season at the position.
After the top three, there are some interesting players, including fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Plus, with the defensive line in a much better spot, the Vikings likely won't be using the NASCAR package as much.
2. Offensive line
Can you believe that we are finally here? The offensive line is now a strength for the Vikings. From a group that was Christian Darrisaw, Brian O'Neill, and three interior guys, it's now a formidable group of ass kickers.
Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and Donovan Jackson make this group one of the best in not just recent Vikings history, but in the National Football League. Plus, Blake Brandel is an excellent sixth offensive lineman with flexibility to play all over the line and flashed high level play last year with Darrisaw healthy.
1. Wide receiver
Was it really a question as to which group was going to be the best on the roster? Not only is Justin Jefferson the best wide receiver in the National Football League, he might be the best player in the league as well. Plus, Jordan Addison is arguably a top-25 receiver in the league. That's a great duo to put up against any defense.
Plus, the depth players on the roster are solid player, with Jalen Nailor a solid number three and high upside options in Rondale Moore and Tai Felton. This is one of the best rooms in the NFL.
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