To many, the Minnesota Vikings’ success in 2024 was perhaps the biggest surprise of the NFL season. The team vastly outperformed their preseason expectations, but all that success led to massive disappointment. Minnesota went 14-3 but fell apart over their final two games, resulting in a Wild Card exit.
As the dust settles, the Vikings will evaluate themselves and set the organization’s direction for 2025 and beyond. Let’s have a little fun from the outside and do the same.
Here is my report card for the 2024 Minnesota Vikings’ offense:
Offensive playcalling – A
In a league ruled by offense, Kevin O’Connell stands out as an elite play designer. The Vikings run an aggressive downfield attack that does an impressive job of using their perimeter talent. Minnesota had a top-10 offense in what was supposed to be a bridge year, with Sam Darnold at quarterback. There’s a reason Daniel Jones chose the Vikings to help rehab his image after the New York Giants cut him.
Minnesota’s run game improved significantly from O’Connell’s first two years, especially in the first half of the year with Christian Darrisaw healthy. They’ll need personnel and design improvement to help the run game. O’Connell could improve his situational play calling, especially on short-yardage downs, but it’s clear that O’Connell is one of the best in the game.
quarterback – A-
Perhaps I am grading this on a curve, but Darnold played at an extremely high level from Weeks 1 to 17. Throwing for 4,300 yards and 35 TDs is an impressive output for any QB. Darnold was also efficient, with 7.9 yards/attempt.
Darnold fell apart in the final two weeks and that matters. But we shouldn’t expect perfection from a reclamation project, and his positives showed sustainable performance, unlike Case Keenum in 2017. He hunts big plays but takes way too many sacks while doing so. If he can find a stable team in 2025, I believe he will continue to grow as a player and provide quality starting QB play.
Nick Mullens also threw two passes. They both resulted in third-down conversions. That was pretty sweet.
running back – B
The Vikings brought in Aaron Jones, who instantly improved their running game. Jones had a rash of uncharacteristic fumbles as he struggled with a rib injury. Still, his 49.8% success rate on the ground was Minnesota’s best since Dalvin Cook‘s incredible 2020 season.
Jones was also a big asset catching passes out of the backfield, and his 1,546 yards from scrimmage made up the second-best mark of his career, only 12 yards behind his 2019 season.
Behind Jones, Ty Chandler gave way to Cam Akers after a mid-season trade. Akers wasn’t as efficient as Jones but did a solid job in backup duty.
At fullback, C.J. Ham rarely received touches but played an important role as Minnesota’s go-to option in pass protection on third downs.
wide receiver – A
Justin Jefferson was his usual All-World self, with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 TDs. He finished second in the NFL in receiving yards behind LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase and 250 yards ahead of third-place Brian Thomas. Jefferson was one of only two players, along with Ladd McConkey, to average 10 yards/target on over 100 targets.
As a second option, Jordan Addison came into his own and added 875 yards and nine TDs despite missing two games. Addison was an extremely explosive player. Only Chase, Thomas, and Alec Pierce had more than his six catches of over 40 yards. Behind him, Jalen Nailor dealt with some drop issues but provided explosive plays, averaging 14.8 yards/catch and scoring six TDs.
Beyond that, neither Trent Sherfield nor Brandon Powell saw much action. The Vikings mostly used them as blockers. Jefferson and Addison make Minnesota’s WR room a top-five unit in the NFL, and anything beyond that is a bonus.
tight end – B+
T.J. Hockenson missed the first seven games of the season as he was recovering from an injury. As a result, he ended up third on the team in snaps at the position, behind Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt.
Once he was ramped up, Hockenson provided great value as a pass catcher and ended third on the team in receiving yards with 455 on 41 receptions. His role as a security blanket for Darnold on third downs was particularly important, and the overtime win against the Chicago Bears stands out as his biggest highlight.
Oliver also had a career year, and along with Mundt, Minnesota’s TE room combined for 855 yards. Oliver’s blocking was crucial in the Vikings’ run game. Still, Hockenson uncharacteristically struggled as a blocker, likely still recovering from injury. Mundt was also occasionally underwhelming as a blocker, downgrading Minnesota’s overall TE performance to a B+.
offensive line – C+
Minnesota’s OL had mixed results in 2024. They started off as a high-level unit with minor weak points in Garrett Bradbury and Ed Ingram, but then Christian Darrisaw got hurt. Darrisaw was playing at his typical elite level, and his injury caused a ripple effect along the OL.
In response, the Vikings acquired Cam Robinson, who came in and started off playing admirably as Darrisaw’s replacement. However, his play fell off dramatically, starting at about the Seattle Seahawks game. He ended the year with two disastrous games against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, where he allowed a combined 21 pressures.
The Vikings also gave Blake Brandel an opportunity at LG, which, like Robinson, worked well initially. Brandel fell off around the same time Robinson did, leaving a sieve on the left side of the OL. Brandel allowed 22 of his 46 pressures in Minnesota’s final five games.
Garrett Bradbury played up to his usual standard, which is a competent, if not great, center. His athleticism in the run game was a big part of Minnesota’s overall rushing success. Still, his struggles in pass protection against players like Dexter Lawrence and Grady Jarrett leave something to be desired.
At RG, the Vikings went from Ingram to Dalton Risner after the Week 10 game in Jacksonville. Ingram was a better run blocker but struggled in pass protection all season, with two or three glaring blunders each game. Risner provided more stability in pass protection, but Minnesota’s run game cratered after they started him. They went from a 40.0% success rate, 16th in the NFL, to a 37.6% success rate, 25th.
At RT, Brian O’Neill was his usual steady self all season. He suffered an injury in the Rams game, but he and Darrisaw will comprise one of the best OT duos in the league if both are back healthy next season.
Here’s a look at how Minnesota’s line stacked up against the rest of the league on the two left-most charts below. There was certainly positive play, but how the season ended means that the position group requires significant re-evaluation.
offensive Grade – B+
When you average out the grades above, they come out to a B+. The OL is dragging Minnesota’s GPA down, but they had almost every other piece right in the 2024 season, and that’s a big part of why they ended up with 14 wins.
Moving forward, the Vikings have several decisions to make. The first comes at QB, where Darnold is a free agent. The Vikings also have J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings, so it will be interesting to see if they feel they need to bring Darnold back at significant cost or are comfortable rolling with McCarthy.
At RB, Jones and Akers are also free agents. I like the idea of bringing back the aging Jones on a similar salary to his 2024 pay, but I would also look to inject youth into the position through the draft.
The remainder of Minnesota’s offense is almost fully locked up. Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson, Darrisaw, O’Neill, Brandel, Bradbury, Oliver, and Nailor are under contract for 2025. They need upgrades along the OL and find some depth pieces. Still, the Vikings’ offensive core is strong and ready to support whoever the QB is in 2025.