1 September 2024
Talking about expectations for the Vikings last week, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likened the team’s current trajectory to a popular table game in Las Vegas.
“It’s a collection of players at different points in their career,” he said. “You’re trying to hit that magical craps roll where a lot of things happen together at once.”
Essentially, the Vikings are sitting at the craps table with known commodities, like star receiver Justin Jefferson, that give them a baseline of competitiveness, plus unknown commodities, like veteran, mostly untested quarterback Sam Darnold, that could make or break the next few months.
The presumed ascension of a handful of players is the roll of the dice for the Vikings. That ultimately will determine if they get on a heater or if they crap out.
Here are five players (ranked in order of importance) who need to step up for the Vikings this season:
1. Sam Darnold
Nobody will have a bigger impact on this Vikings season than Darnold as he attempts to resurrect his career. The arm talent has been on display throughout training camp at TCO Performance Center. It’s not hard to see why he was the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The issue has always been his tendency to turn the ball over. It’s something head coach Kevin O’Connell will try to fix as he hitches his wagon to Darnold in the interim. If the Vikings can get consistent play from Darnold, they could find themselves flirting with the playoffs.
2. Stephon Gilmore
The inclusion of veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore on this list is almost exclusively because he’s getting up there in age. He turns 34 years old this month, and while the depth chart certainly looks much better on paper with Gilmore slotting in as the top cornerback, it’s unclear how effective he will be with the Vikings. The good news is Gilmore hasn’t showed any signs that drop off is on the horizon. Though he’s no longer the Defensive Player of the Year that he once was, he was solid while starting for the Cowboys last season. That’s exactly what the Vikings need this season.
3. Aaron Jones
It’s no secret that the Vikings have struggled to run the ball as of late. They haven’t gotten consistent play out of the backfield since former star running back Dalvin Cook was in his prime. That could change with the addition of veteran Aaron Jones. He shined down the stretch with the Packers last season, proving that he still has something left in the tank. He will turn 30 years old this season, so the potential for a decline is a part of the calculus. That said, the Vikings are betting on Jones being a dynamic part of their offense.
4. Dallas Turner
The talent is palpable when watching rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner compete. He has a unique combination of speed and quickness for his size that allows him to win with regularity when pressuring the passer. The only question is whether Turner will be strong enough to not get washed out in the trenches. He needs to put on some muscle so he doesn’t get overpowered in close quarters. It should help that Turner will get to play situationally alongside fellow edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. That trio could end up being a menace for opposing teams.
5. Jalen Nailor
There is no doubt that Jefferson and fellow receiver Jordan Addison will be the lifeblood of the passing attack. Especially with star tight end T.J. Hockenson not available for the first month. The rise of speedy receiver Jalen Nailor could offer an added dimension that could take the offense to the next level. His emergence was a storyline in the summer, and it could generate even more attention if he can keep it going in the fall. They key for Nailor will be staying healthy. He has struggled with that in the past.
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