The Minnesota Vikings had a disappointing 2023, ending 7-10 after getting into the 12 months with excessive expectations. Following some vital modifications, the 2024 group is taking form, however a couple of positions throughout the franchise have to step up, or they is perhaps shipped out.
With that in thoughts, listed below are three hottest seats on the Vikings.
Middle Garrett Bradbury
After an up-and-down 5 seasons with the Vikings, it seems Bradbury would be the group’s beginning heart for one more 12 months. Nonetheless, this is perhaps his ultimate season to claim himself.
Final season, Bradbury typically struggled in safety, placing strain on a carousel of quarterbacks for the Vikings. In 2023, he graded twenty first (60.9) amongst facilities who performed 50 p.c or extra of their group’s snaps in 2023, per Professional Soccer Focus.
In 12 months six, the Vikings are most likely wanting for lots extra from a middle chosen 18th total in 2019. Although a possible future substitute is perhaps coming on this April’s draft, they most likely will not be chosen as excessive.
Quarterback Jaren Corridor
Kirk Cousins’s departure to the Atlanta Falcons left a large gap at quarterback, which many thought provided Corridor a possibility. Nonetheless, veteran Nick Mullens and offseason acquisition Sam Darnold are seemingly forward of him on the depth chart, placing his roster spot in peril.
The 2023 fifth-round decide obtained a short however uneventful shot at beginning final 12 months, showing in three video games (two begins) as Vikings quarterbacks dropped like flies. However that seems to be the one likelihood he’ll get except he steals away the No. 1 job in coaching camp.
Moreover, there is a distinct risk that the Vikings may choose a QB excessive on this 12 months’s draft, which might all however remove Corridor from the dialog.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell
Following a 12 months full of accidents and unhealthy luck, it might be laborious to say that O’Connell is on the new seat getting into the 2024 marketing campaign. Nonetheless, it is perhaps warming a bit heading into 12 months three with the franchise.
Final season wasn’t with out hopes of a profitable marketing campaign and maybe a deep playoff push. Certain, Kirk Cousins’ season-ending harm derailed issues, however the quarterback guru couldn’t proper the ship with every substitute supplied.
Now that Cousins is gone, whether or not or not issues enhance with Darnold or another person doubtlessly on the helm stays up within the air. If they do not, the Vikings may resolve to go in a special route as a result of, in spite of everything, the NFL is a “what have you ever executed for me recently” sort of league.
