2024 Minnesota Vikings Projected Finish, Key Signings and Fantasy Stars

In the 21st of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Minnesota Vikings.

Key Off Season Acquisitions

The Vikings were very busy in the offseason. They acquired four key players on defense, two key players on offense, and made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.

The defensive free agent signings were defensive end Jonathan Greenard (four years, $76 million), linebackers Blake Cashman (three years, $22.5 million) and Andrew Van Ginkel (two years, $20 million),  and cornerback Stephon Gilmore (one year, $ 7 million). The offensive free acquisitions were quarterback Sam Darnold (one year, $10 million), running back Aaron Jones (one year, $7 million). Meanwhile, the Vikings acquired Nahshon Wright of Hayward, California from the Cowboys for Andrew Booth Jr. of Dacula, Georgia.

Greenard of Hiram, Georgia played the last four seasons with the Houston Texans and had 52 combined tackles (36 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles), 15 tackles for a loss, 22 quarterback hits, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 12.5 sacks. The forced fumble came in a 19-16 Texans win over the Tennessee Titans on December 17.

Cashman of Eden Prairie, Minnesota is joining his third NFL team after three seasons with the New York Jets (2019 to 2021) and two seasons with the Houston Texans (2022 and 2023). In 2023 with the Texans, Cashman had 106 combined tackles (56 solo tackles and 50 assisted tackles), nine tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits, one interception, two sacks, five pass defections and one fumble recovery for two yards. The interception and fumble recovery came in a 37-17 Texans win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 24.

Van Ginkel of Rock Valley, Iowa played the last five seasons in Miami. In 2023, Van Ginkel had 69 combined tackles (42 solo tackles and 27 assisted tackles), eight tackles for a loss, 19 quarterback hits, one interception for a 33 yard touchdown, one fumble recovery for 29 yards, six sacks, and eight pass deflections. The fumble recovery for 29 yards came in the significant 70-20 Dolphins win over the Denver Broncos on September 24, and the interception return for a touchdown came in a 45-15 Dolphins win over the Washington Commanders on December 3. In 2020, Van Ginkel was the NFL leader in yards from fumble recoveries with 78.

Gilmore previously played with the Buffalo Bills for five seasons from 2012 to 2016, the New England Patriots for four seasons from 2017 to 2020, the Carolina Panthers in 2021, the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. This past season in Dallas, Gilmore played in 17 games and had 68 combined tackles (54 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles), two interceptions, 13 pass deflections and one forced fumble. The interceptions came in a 40-0 Cowboys win over the New York Giants on September 10 and in a 20-17 Cowboys win over the Los Angeles Chargers on October 16. The forced fumble came in a 33-13 Cowboys win over the Philadelphia Eagles on December 10.

Darnold of Capistrano Beach, California was previously with the the New York Jets from 2018 to 2020, the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and 2022, and the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Last season he was a backup to Brock Purdy. In 2023, he completed 28 of 46 passes for 297 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception last season. Darnold also had 21 rushes for 15 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

Jones of Savannah, Georgia is joining Minnesota after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. In 2023,  Jones had 656 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 30 catches for 233 receiving yards and one touchdown. He had two touchdowns (one yard touchdown run and a 35 yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love) in a 38-20 Packers win over the Chicago Bears on September 10, and a three-yard touchdown run on November 5 in a 20-3 Packers win over the Los Angeles Rams. Jones led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2019 and was a Pro Bowler in 2020.

Wright played the last three seasons with the Cowboys. In 12 games in 2023, he had five combined tackles (three solo tackles and two assisted tackles), and one pass deflection. The pass deflection came in a 49-17 Cowboys romp over the New York Giants on November 12.

Fantasy Star

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of St. Rose, Louisiana is ranked fourth at his position in fantasy. Last season he made 68 catches for 1074 receiving yards and five touchdowns in limited action due to a hamstring injury.

Projected Finish

You could make the argument that the NFC North is one of the toughest divisions in football this season. The Lions and Packers made the playoffs last year, and the Bears are improved. The Vikings take a step back with Kirk Cousins no longer at quarterback, but not a huge step as Darnold should be ok. That said, Jones makes the Vikings running back game better. Minnesota places third in the division.

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