Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Tremendous Bowl ended this previous Sunday with the Philadelphia Eagles beating the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Yearly since 1976, Minnesota Vikings followers have puzzled when their crew will return to the large recreation.
Can the Vikings Be Legit Tremendous Bowl Contenders in 2025?
Effectively, since that season, they’ve nonetheless not made it again. The primary Rocky film was launched that very same yr. Followers nonetheless really feel unhappy each time the 1998 and 2009 seasons get introduced up. Each groups ought to have superior to the Tremendous Bowl. The 1987 crew had shot, too.
Wealthy Storry-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The query now’s, can Minnesota make it there in 2025?
They undoubtedly have a shot at doing so if they’ve offseason. Final season, they went a stunning 14-3. Many didn’t count on them to have a profitable file and could have most of their key gamers returning.
In line with Over the Cap, Minnesota is at the moment $58 million below the wage cap and may clear much more house with some cuts and restructures. Rob Brzezinski has continued to handle the cap very effectively.
Final yr, that they had an excellent free company, which included the signings of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman. All three have been very large contributors to the protection. Shaq Griffin and Aaron Jones have been additionally good signings.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has completed very effectively in free company since being employed after the 2021 season. He additionally traded for T.J. Hockenson through the commerce deadline in 2022.
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The difficulty, although, has been his drafting. Jordan Addison was the crew’s first-round choose in 2023 and has been a wonderful choose. Exterior of that, although, Mensah’s drafting has been very poor general.
Minnesota wants to enhance their inside offensive line, add a defensive deal with subsequent to Harrison Phillips, and enhance the secondary, too. They might enhance all these areas through free company, however they have to additionally begin hitting on draft picks. Counting on free company an excessive amount of can later put groups in cap bother and drive them to launch some key gamers to get below the wage cap.
The 2009 crew, which almost reached the Tremendous Bow,l did have Brett Favre, Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen, Pat Williams, and Antoine Winfield (all free brokers or acquired through commerce), however most of their key gamers that season have been draft picks, which included Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bryant McKinnie, Kevin Williams, E.J. Henderson, and Chad Greenway to call some.
SKOL TALK on X: “FA is a supplement to the roster but the draft is the foundation.” / X
If this crew has one more awful draft, they might nonetheless compete for a Tremendous Bowl this upcoming season if they’ve one other excellent free company, however having draft will give them a greater at competing for extra Tremendous Bowls down the highway. If they’ll get one promising rookie on this draft, it’s going to strengthen the crew in 2025.
Total, there are causes to be optimistic about this crew in 2025. J.J. McCarthy missed his rookie season and can possible be the starter subsequent season. It’s uncertain he’ll play in addition to Sam Darnold simply did for them, but when he can throw 20 touchdowns in his first yr as a starter, they are often in Tremendous Bowl competition if the remainder of the crew retains enhancing.
Byron Murphy Jr and Camryn Bynum are free brokers. Even when each are re-signed, they might nonetheless use a cornerback. Possibly D.J. Reed might be their man. Charvarius Ward, Rasul Douglas, and Carlton Davis III are a couple of others that might be accessible. If Bynum just isn’t again, Jevon Holland is on the market. He performed for Brian Flores in Miami.
Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.
A couple of defensive tackles accessible are Milton Williams (who performed nice within the Tremendous Bowl), Levi Onwuzurike, and Osa Odinghizuwa. Some good inside offensive linemen may even be accessible, reminiscent of guards Trey Smith, Teven Jenkins, Will Fries, and facilities Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly.
Loads of good choices accessible. Extra gamers may even be accessible as soon as groups make cuts to get below the wage cap. In fact, there’s the draft, too.
If Minnesota brings Darnold again, it’s going to make it more durable for them to handle different wants, given he’ll command a minimum of $35-$40 million, whereas McCarthy might be making slightly below $5 million. Daniel Jones might very probably be re-signed (it could not be costly) to problem him for the beginning job and will even start the season because the starter whereas McCarthy waits a little bit bit to get his shot.
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
One factor is for sure. Both McCarthy or Jones will profit from the supporting forged. Darnold having a profession yr definitely didn’t occur by chance. Kevin O’Connell, Justin Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson all helped him loads, and they’re going to assist whoever begins for them subsequent yr. Chrisitan Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill might be round, too.
To say this might be an important offseason for Minnesota is a gigantic understatement. It’s going to undoubtedly be one of many largest ones for this franchise prior to now 30 years.
Free company is barely a month away. Followers can not wait.
