Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) reacts after a defensive play through the second half towards the Detroit Lions on Dec. 25, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. Murphy continued his sturdy season with one other energetic efficiency in a key NFC North showdown because the Vikings battled Detroit late into the sport. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos
The Minnesota Vikings’ common season received’t begin for 3.5 months, however within the meantime, it’s a good juncture to measurement up the membership’s greatest gamers. Kevin O’Connell’s crew will hope to go to the postseason in 2026 after lacking out on the enjoyable in 2025 by one win.
Minnesota’s greatest gamers are ranked from No. 8 to No. 1 coming into the guts of the offseason.
From a Might 2026 perspective, right here’s the pecking order of the crew’s high gamers.
Star Energy Nonetheless Defines the Prime of the Roster
The gamers are ranked from good to greatest (No. 1 = greatest participant).
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) intercepts a go towards the Arizona Cardinals throughout fourth-quarter motion on Dec. 1, 2024, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. Murphy delivered a pivotal defensive play late within the contest, serving to Minnesota preserve momentum because the Vikings battled Arizona in an essential regular-season matchup at dwelling. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos.
8. Byron Murphy Jr. | CB
Murphy Jr.’s 2024 marketing campaign was way more promising than his 2025 efforts. However that doesn’t imply he’d play poorly in 2025; he was simply improbable two seasons in the past.
Due to his consistency, Murphy Jr. checks in at No. 8 on this listing, narrowly edging Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Eric Wilson. Opposing quarterbacks encountered a 78.2 passer score allowed when focusing on Murphy in 2025. That’s fairly wonderful.
He’s related to the price range by way of the tip of 2027.
7. Blake Cashman | ILB
Cashman’s significance for 2026 stays crystal clear, regardless of the arrival of Jake Golday. Whereas the Vikings drafted Golday in Spherical 2 as a possible long-term off-ball linebacker choice ought to Cashman depart in 2027, Cashman’s 2025 efficiency was nothing wanting improbable.
Final season, Cashman averaged an unimaginable 11.07 tackles per recreation. Projecting that tempo over a full 17-game schedule would yield 188 tackles — a mark among the many highest in NFL historical past. Although he missed 4 video games, which dulled his last tally, his weekly impression was simple.
Furthermore, he’s a near-perfect match for Flores’s protection. The Eden Prairie native performs quick, finds the soccer, and injects the type of disruptive bedlam Flores calls for from his center linebackers.
6. Jalen Redmond | DT
Minnesota’s high revelation during the last two seasons, Redmond is right here to remain. He logged a 72.7 Professional Soccer Focus grade in 2025 after a 75.6 in 2024. As a result of he got here from the UFL, many have anticipated Redmond to hit a wall ultimately, and that simply by no means occurs.
He accrued 6 sacks final 12 months, which is improbable for a defensive sort out, and he simply will get higher and higher. Actually, he had a case for the Professional Bowl final 12 months, although voters didn’t pay attention.
You may name Redmond the Vikings’ greatest or second-best defensive participant with Jonathan Greenard not on the roster.
5. Kyler Murray | QB
Murray is the fifth-most correct quarterback in NFL historical past, he’s quicker than Justin Jefferson, and he can throw the ball 60-70 yards. His inventory is low proper now as a result of the Arizona Cardinals — of all franchises — kicked him to the curb. That can depart him ultra-motivated to achieve 2026.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray sits within the entrance row as Jonathan Gannon is launched because the franchise’s new head coach on Feb. 16, 2023, on the crew coaching facility in Tempe, Arizona. Murray listened through the introductory information convention as Cardinals management outlined the group’s imaginative and prescient and path coming into a brand new period for the franchise. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic.
He has a number of “proving it” to do that season as the brand new quarterback of the Vikings, however primarily based on his seven seasons within the league, he’s not a little-engine-that-could state of affairs. The person has a greater profession EPA+CPOE than Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, C.J. Stroud, and Trevor Lawrence.
4. Andrew Van Ginkel | OLB
Van Ginkel is the Vikings’ high exterior linebacker. How? Why? Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles final month. Whereas Dallas Turner gives excessive upside, Van Ginkel is the confirmed commodity: versatile, productive, and a trusted asset in Brian Flores’ protection.
Crucially, he’s the linchpin holding the go rush collectively. His skill to hurry, drop, disguise, and execute the distinctive assignments very important to Flores’ system makes him invaluable. This versatility is much more important now with Greenard’s departure and Turner’s promotion to a full-time beginning position.
With Van Ginkel turning 31 this summer season, the Vikings may contemplate an extension to retain one in all their most dependable defenders past 2026. In two seasons, Van Ginkel has tabulated 18.2 sacks, 32 QB hits, 133 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a couple of touchdowns in Minnesota.
3. Brian O’Neill | RT
O’Neill embodies the quietly wonderful participant each crew goals of getting at proper sort out. His sturdy efficiency is clear in his PFF grades since 2018:
2025 — 81.62024 — 79.32023 — 74.52022 — 82.72021 — 73.42020 — 78.02019 — 70.82018 — 63.0
By means of a number of roster eras, teaching staffs, quarterback adjustments, and offensive line rebuilds, O’Neill has nearly by no means been a part of the issue. Even when the Vikings struggled with offensive line points through the Mike Zimmer years, he remained the only regular presence.
Delivering sturdy seasons with remarkably few tough video games, O’Neill may be anticipated to carry out exceptionally nicely once more in 2026 — as a result of that’s merely his modus operandi.
2. Christian Darrisaw | LT
Darrisaw skilled his worst season as a professional in 2025, primarily as a result of his ACL didn’t heal proper. Minnesota put him again on the shelf in December and now hopes that he’ll be prepared for Week 1.
Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Christian Darrisaw (71) participates in a crew observe session on Oct. 4, 2024, at The Grove in Watford, United Kingdom. Minnesota held the abroad exercise whereas getting ready for a world matchup, with Darrisaw working by way of drills alongside teammates because the Vikings adjusted to the distinctive setting forward of the league’s international showcase. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
When wholesome, Darrisaw is a Prime 3 NFL left sort out. Some may argue that O’Neill deserves this spot, however on the peak of his powers, Darrisaw is a barely higher sort out than O’Neill. Not by a lot, however by just a little.
Darrisaw is overdue for a monster 12 months, and one in all these seasons, he’ll pull down his first Professional Bowl honor. It’s overdue.
1. Justin Jefferson | WR
We publish this listing of greatest Vikings yearly round this time on the calendar, and Jefferson has taken dwelling the highest prize 5 years working.
It’s a “no caption” wanted state of affairs.
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