Minnesota Vikings Roster
- NFC North
- Stadium
- U.S. Bank Stadium
- Head Coach
- Kevin O'Connell
- Offensive Coordinator
- Wes Phillips
- Defensive Coordinator
- Brian Flores
- Special Teams Coach
- Matt Daniels
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) is ahead of scheduled in his rehab this offseason, but the Vikings are committed to ensuring he is fully healthy before he plays. Last year's contract cemented the team's belief that he is one of its cornerstone players when he's healthy, and they aren't just going to rush a player like that back from a severe injury. Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt will fill in if Hockenson needs to miss the first couple weeks of the 2204 season. Hockenson suffered a torn right ACL and MCL in late December last year, and his recovery this offseason will be a big storyline for Minnesota's offense as they move to a new era without quarterback Kirk Cousins. When healthy, Hockenson is a high-end TE1 in fantasy, but he'll come at a discounted price in drafts this fall if it's looking like he won't be ready to start the year on time.
The Minnesota Vikings have exercised the fifth-year option on standout offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft has earned a Pro Football Focus grade of at least 82.4 over the last two seasons and is widely viewed as at least an above-average player at the position. With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy slated to take over the franchise at some point in the 2024 season, locking up key offensive linemen should be a priority. With this move, Darrisaw will be under contract with the Vikings through the 2025 campaign.
Following this year's NFL draft in which the Minnesota Vikings didn't take a single receiver, Brandon Powell, Jalen Nailor and Trent Sherfield are all candidates to fill the No. 3 receiver role heading into the 2024 season. All-Pro Justin Jefferson is the team's unquestioned No. 1, with second-year man Jordan Addison settling in as the No. 2 after a strong rookie campaign in 2023. K.J. Osborn left for the New England Patriots in free agency this offseason. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is coming off a torn ACL, so Powell could see more looks early on in 2024 if he actually wins the No. 3 job in training camp this summer. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida set career-highs in catches (29) and receiving yards (324) with one touchdown in 17 games (two starts) in his first year in Minnesota in 2023.
Despite taking a brief pause in contract negotiations during NFL draft weekend, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team and wide receiver Justin Jefferson continue to make progress. "We continue to have great dialogue with their representatives," Adofo-Mensah said. "The process is still ongoing. We did say, 'Hey, [let's pause] a couple days.' The draft's coming. They have players they represent. We have our process." The two sides have been discussing a new deal for more than a year, with the GM saying previously they got "unbelievably close" to a deal last summer. Despite going on Injured Reserve in 2023 with a hamstring injury, Jefferson still went over 1,000 yards receiving and scored five touchdowns. Sooner than later, he's going to become the league's highest-paid wideout.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in this year's NFL draft for him to be their future starter, but the team is poised to err on the side of methodical caution with their young signal-caller. "We're not going to rush his development," general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term." McCarthy will be required to hit specific benchmarks in his development, and head coach Kevin O'Connell will have full authority to make the decision on when he thinks McCarthy is ready to start. It's a big reason the Vikings spent $10 million to sign veteran Sam Darnold as a bridge starter. McCarthy just turned 21 in January and played in an offense at Michigan that had him throw an average of 22.1 passes per game in 2023, fewer than 93 other college QBs.