Minnesota Vikings Normal Supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed the media in regards to the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft from the TCO Efficiency Middle. The Vikings have long-term draft wants at quarterback, cornerback, and inside offensive line.
The Minnesota Vikings are 11 days from free company, geared up with over $60 million to spend.
Vikings GM Makes Daring Declaration forward of Free Company
This week, the staff’s common supervisor, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, boldly declared that his franchise would “aggressively attack” free company, verbiage he hasn’t fairly used since taking the massive job in 2022.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
Adofo-Mensah instructed KFAN, “We know what we need to improve. We’re going to be intentional about attacking the things we need to get better at. That’s not just gonna be one thing — we’re going to really aggressively attack it because we believe in turning potential weaknesses into strengths, and that’s how we’re approaching the offseason.”
“To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” the Vikings boss additionally instructed reporters on the NFL Mix.
So, who would possibly the Vikings pursue? These are some common suspects per the membership’s three major roster wants.
Inside Defensive Line
Tim Heitman-Imagn Photos.
Harrison Phillips, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are underneath contract subsequent season — after which that’s it for playable DTs. Nobody else. The Philadelphia Eagles offered a blueprint earlier this month of methods to pester a dynastic soccer staff en path to a Tremendous Bowl trophy.
From free company or the draft, the Vikings ought to add one other defensive sort out, the spot at present manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings followers request this each offseason and often find yourself with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Maybe the purple entrance workplace will lastly splash for an affect inside defensive lineman.
The twenty fourth decide, at present owned by Minnesota, may very well be a major spot for this roster want.
Draft Candidates:Kenneth Grant (Michigan)Derrick Harmon (Oregon)Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)Deone Walker (Kentucky)
Free-Agent Choices:Javon HargraveMilton WilliamsPoona FordB.J. HillOsa OdighizuwaLevi OnwuzurikeJarran Reed
Commerce Choices:Jonathan Allen
Inside Offensive Line
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Though Sam Darnold held the soccer approach too lengthy within the pocket through the season’s closing two video games, the offensive line’s inside did him no favors.
Figuring out iOL woes was obviously apparent, however O’Connell made positive to name out the trenches final month. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell instructed reporters after the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Inside offensive line tribulation has been a frequent scourge of Vikings soccer … for a couple of decade.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Fixes are coming.
Draft Candidates: (all guards)Tyler Booker (Alabama)Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)Armand Membou (Missouri)Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
Free-Agent Choices:Drew Dalman (Middle)Ryan Kelly (Middle)Trey Smith (Guard)Mekhi Becton (Guard)Kevin Zeitler (Guard)Will Fries (Guard)Brandon Scherff (Guard)Teven Jenkins (Guard)
Commerce Choices:Jonah Jackson
Cornerback
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos.
Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern are the CB options on the books, at the very least per doable taking part in time, proper now for 2025, so, sure, cornerback is the highest offseason want.
Professional Bowler Byron Murphy could return, which is unbelievable, however including another affect nook shall be important if Minnesota has Tremendous Bowl visions in 2025 and past.
The franchise is overdue to nail a CB draft decide from Spherical 1 or 2. That final considerably profitable instance occurred 10 years in the past — Trae Waynes.
Draft Candidates:Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)Jahdae Barron (Texas)Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State)Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
Free-Agent Choices:Byron MurphyD.J. ReedCharvarius WardAsante Samuel Jr.Rasul DouglasPaulson Adebo
Commerce Choices:Denzel WardJaire Alexander
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.
