The Minnesota Vikings are heading into the upcoming 2024 NFL season hoping to get back into playoff contention.
While they have big goals, they are in the process of being ripped into by ESPN for a poor offseason.
ESPN analyst Seth Walder is not a fan of what the Vikings did during the offseason. He gave them a C- grade and didn’t have too many good things to say about the work that the front office put in.
Despite the low grade from ESPN, Minnesota feels very good about the moves they made and the roster they are building.
Examining The Minnesota Vikings’ Future After 2024 Offseason
Following their offseason moves, the Vikings have actually set themselves up well for the future.
Sam Darnold was signed to be the Week 1 starting quarterback. While fans want to see first-round pick J.J. McCarthy on the field, letting him develop and learn on the sidelines is wise. McCarthy simply isn’t ready to be thrown into the fire just yet.
McCarthy does provide long-term star potential for the Minnesota Vikings. He’s a proven winner and he has qualities that will help succeed at the NFL level.
Arguably the biggest move of the offseason was finally getting a deal done to lock Justin Jefferson up long-term. He signed a massive four-year, $140 million contract to remain with Minnesota.
Even though the money is huge, Jefferson is worth every penny. He’s the best wideout in the NFL and is going to be crucial in the development of McCarthy. Simply having him within the offense will help McCarthy find success early on in his career.
Letting Danielle Hunter walk and replacing him with Jonathan Greenard was a wise move as well. They saved money while still being able to bring in a player that will be able to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Where they sit at this point in the offseason compared to where they were last year at the exact same time is great.
The Minnesota Vikings have a much brighter future than they had last year. They have a future franchise quarterback, their superstar wide receiver locked in, and a talented, young roster that will grow and develop,
Even though the Vikings did not create a win-now roster, they got better overall. A C- grade is very low for the great work they put in.
