The Vikings’ incredible 2024 season came to a screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs on Monday night. A team that won 14 games went 0-4 against the Lions and Rams, with the latest two losses sending the franchise to an earlier-than-expected start in a critical offseason. As the Vikings prepare to regroup and build toward championship contention, here’s our list of their top five orders of business in the coming months.
First and foremost, the Vikings need to make sure O’Connell remains their coach for the long haul. Yes, he practiced in the loss to the Rams. Yes, he is 0-2 in the playoffs, which is currently a blemish on his resume. But he’s also 34-17 in the regular season since being hired by Minnesota. Winning two-thirds of your games during a three-year stretch is hard to do in the NFL, and it’s all the more impressive when you consider O’Connell did it without the luxury of a top-tier quarterback.
Even after one of the worst games of his tenure, it’s pretty clear to me that O’Connell is among the best coaches in the league. He is a fantastic leader of men who is exceptional at getting the most out of his QB, which makes him the ideal person to lead the Vikings in the JJ McCarthy era (whenever it starts). He has a lot to work on, including pressure responses and converting in the red zone, but O’Connell is the real deal. He shouldn’t go into next season without a long-term extension.
The decision on GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — who is also heading into the final year of his contract — is a little less certain, but I’m willing to extend him as well. His free agency haul in 2024 was nearly perfect.
From a roster perspective, this is the second year in a row that the Vikings’ biggest decision is at the sport’s most important position. They did well last season when they let Kirk Cousins walk in free agency and added Darnold and McCarthy. Now they face a similar dilemma. Darnold peaked higher than Cousins in 2024, he’s younger and injury-free. And yet, it looks like the Vikings will probably go the same route this time around and let someone else pay big bucks for a non-elite veteran QB.
Darnold’s struggles over the past two games have really changed the discussion. The Vikings could consider franchise tagging him or offering him a multiyear deal on their own terms, but the most likely outcome would seem to lean toward McCarthy in 2025.
A big part of McCarthy’s appeal is that not paying Darnold frees up a lot of cap space to use elsewhere on the roster. The most obvious areas that need improvement are between the two lines. Offensively, the Vikings could look to replace at least two of their starting inside linebackers (guards Blake Brandel and Dalton Risner and center Garrett Bradbury). O’Connell is aware that they need to be better there. “We’ve got to find a way to stiffen the inside of the pocket,” he said after Darnold was sacked nine times against the Rams.
Minnesota also needs differentiators who create their own pressure on defensive tackles. They need their version of the Rams’ Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, who were added with Day 2 picks in the last two drafts. Whether in free agency or the draft, adding a pass-rushing DT will be key for a Vikings team that is loaded with talent at running back and linebacker.
There is a lot of uncertainty on the back end of the Vikings defense this offseason. Four of their top six defensive backs are free agents (Byron Murphy Jr., Camryn Bynum, Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin). The fifth, Harrison Smith, turns 36 in a few weeks and will weigh retirement versus returning for a 14th season. Only Josh Metellus, who will get a big boost in overtime, is a sure thing, though the Vikings will also get rookie linebacker Mekhi Blackmon back from his ACL injury.
If you pencil Metellus and Blackmon as a beginner, that’s still three or four key points to fill. Re-signing Murphy feels like a priority. Could Theo Jackson step into one of the safety spots for Smith or Bynum? Will Dwight McGlothern be an option at CB in his second season? There is work to be done in the secondary. Smith’s decision looms large, as do Brian Flores’ coaching interviews.
Aaron Jones gave the Vikings everything they could have hoped for when they signed him to a one-year deal last offseason, playing in every single game while recording over 1,500 yards from scrimmage during the regular season. But he’s 30 years old and now one of their most visible and interesting free agents. Will the Vikings look to bring back Jones (and/or Cam Akers) on another one-year deal? They could also look to add a new stud at the RB position in the draft, possibly as high as the first round. It looks like their offense could use a back with a little more power to hit the ball when they get down near the goal line.
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