New Vikings, same as the old Vikings?
That ‘s the feeling national writers seem to have about Minnesota heading into the 2022 season. And it is not exactly unwarranted. While bringing in a new head coach and general manager and making several major additions, this roster still has the same shape and feel to it as the extension of Kirk Cousins.
The Vikings are betting on some key players to stay healthy, new players having big impacts, and most of all, a new coaching staff getting more out of the current core. It could work out. But judging by the four post-draft power rankings articles, it doesn’t appear that the national expectations for the Vikings are all that high right now.
Here’s where Minnesota is ranked, and why:
Bleacher Report Staff: No. 22
The Minnesota Vikings just can’t (or won’t) quit Kirk Cousins. There’s a new head coach in Minnesota this year at Kevin O’Connell. A new general manager in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. But the same old so-so quarterback, after the Vikings decided to extend Cousins again.
We can talk about free-agent signings like linebacker Jordan Hicks and edge-rusher Za’Darius Smith. Or about a draft class headlined by safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. — a duo badly needed to upgrade to a leaky Minnesota pass defense. But the most important respect in the 2022 Vikings isn’t much different than the 2021 Vikings. Or the 2020 Vikings.
This team will go as far as Cousins takes them. And that probably doesn’t mean bad enough for a top-five draft pick but not good enough for the NFC North championship.
Scroll to continue
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: No. 20
New coach Kevin O’Connell inherits a team that should be able to roll up big numbers on offense. The question is the defense, but they would be better off on the side than they were a year after spending a lot of draft capital on it.
Nate Davis, USA Today: 17
New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has quietly but wisely upgraded a 30th-ranked defense since free agency opened, and it may be enough to row this franchise into a dark horse postseason.
Dan Hanzus, NFL.com: No. 22
Do the Vikings have regrets about how their first draft went with new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the controls? It ‘s fair to wonder. Minnesota traded out of the No. 12th overall pick, passing on a potential generational talent at safety in order to land in Kyle Hamilton … a different safety (Georgia standout Lewis Cine) with the 32nd pick. The team they did business with – the division-rival Lions – used that 12th selection to add a hugely promising wide receiver talent to Jameson Williams. The Vikings did add an extra third-round pick to Detroit, but second-guessing is easy with this one. Do the Vikings feel better now than they did at the end of a disappointing 2021 season?
Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also, Follow me on Twitter And feel free to ask any questions on there.
General Chat Chat Lounge