Cover photo taken from Chron.
Welcome to 32 Teams in 32 Days, a daily series leading up to kickoff of the 2025 NFL season where I preview every team in the league as decided by a wheel spin and project what their season will look like. You can keep up with everything right here.
We’re finally back in the NFC North, where the Vikings enter the season with sky-high hopes despite a complete unknown under center thanks to completely overachieving in 2024.
This is a really perplexing set of circumstances. After a 14-3 season, you’d think a team would have high hopes for the following season, especially when they retain so much talent. But that doesn’t feel like the case in Minnesota, because 2024 felt more like a total flash in the pan rather than something that can be sustained. However, I think if all goes well, this squad can once again compete for a division title.
Just to touch on last year, because it was crazy, I honestly thought the Vikings were going to compete for a Super Bowl. We all know how it ended, with one-year rental QB Sam Darnold crashing out in the final game of the regular season to miss out on the NFC North title and 1-seed before putting on a worthy encore in the Wild Card game. He lost himself a solid chunk of change in the process. But, for those magical first 16 games, this team was a machine.
The offense wasn’t mind-boggling at 14th in EPA/play, but they were 5th in dropback success rate thanks to Darnold’s play and HC Kevin O’Connell’s brilliance. Sam ranked 12th in EPA+CPOE and 14th in QBR but fifth in passing yards and touchdowns with 4,319 and 35, respectively. Justin Jefferson did Jettas things with a monstrous 1,533-yard, 10-touchdown campaign, tying a career-high in scores. And the offensive line really held up despite a season-ending injury sustained by star LT Christian Darrisaw as they finished 2nd in pass block win rate.
But really, the story of that team was its defense, which DC Brian Flores turned into an absolutely fearsome one. 2nd in EPA/play, 5th in success rate, 1st in rush EPA, 5th in scoring, 1st in interceptions and 1st in total takeaways. I mean, good lord. Oh, and the defensive line was 4th in both pass rush and run stop win rate, with star LB Jonathan Greenard ranking 10th in the former and 4th in the latter.
You wanna know the crazy part heading into this year? I think this roster genuinely got better across the board. The defensive interior got a boost with the additions of veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The offensive line got a giant boost with a completely remade guard-center-guard combo of first-round pick Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. Consider Darrisaw at LT and Brian O’Neill — who ranked 3rd among all tackles in pass block win rate — at RT and you might have the best offensive line in the league. The secondary losing Cam Bynum and Stephon Gilmore is a little spooky, but I think Flores can make it work with anyone.
The only real question surrounding the Vikings in 2025 is the biggest possible one: the quarterback. Sam Darnold likely would’ve been the starter last year, but he got full control of the ship because Minnesota’s first-round selection JJ McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Now, Darnold is out and JJ is in to try and become the franchise QB up north. And I honestly have no idea how to feel about it.
I wasn’t super high on JJ coming out of Michigan; his talent and intangibles were clearly impressive, but he was never anything more than a game-manager and lacked in the type of film that makes your ears perk up. But, I thought he could be a successful NFL QB in the right system. Well, this is the right system. O’Connell can make things work with me at QB, and behind this new offensive line with the type of weapons they have, I think McCarthy will be just fine.
There might be some growing pains in what’s essentially his rookie season, but the coaching, infrastructure, talent and his mental fortitude are strong enough for this team to be plenty good once again.
X-Factor: QB JJ McCarthy
Honestly, just read those last few grafs. I know I always say the team goes as the QB goes, but it really feels that way in this case. While I don’t doubt that O’Connell can get blood from a stone at quarterback, it’s on JJ to lead this team to the heights they reached last season. If he’s truly the guy, then there’s no reason why this team can’t contend in the NFC like they did last season. But, if it’s a rocky year under center, I don’t know that they can, even with how great the defense is going to be.
Team MVP: WR Justin Jefferson
After Ja’Marr Chase won the triple crown last year, a lot of people slotted him as their No. 1 receiver in the league. I’m still not so sure it’s not Jettas. Now, I know whoever has Chase at 1 has Jefferson at 2, and many will have them at 1a and 1b, but I’m still giving the edge to Justin. There are very few receivers I’ve watched that make the game look as easy as he does. It’s just so natural, so free-flowing, so effortless. His route-running is poetry in motion and his ability at the catch point is jaw-dropping. I have no idea what to expect in terms of his production with McCarthy, but I don’t doubt that Jettas is in for another massive season to continue his otherworldly career thus far.
Breakout Candidate: WR Tai Felton
With star WR2 Jordan Addison facing a three-game suspension to open the season, the options beside Jefferson should be Jalen Nailor and this year’s third-round pick out of Maryland, Tai Felton. But, with Nailor suffering a hand injury in camp, Felton could very well be the second option. And with the attention that Jefferson commands, that’ll bust the door wide open for Felton to make a massive impact in the first few weeks of the season. Despite some subpar size, he has clear twitch and speed, running a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine in February. If he gets the ball in space, watch out. And defenses will need to respect him, because he can take the top off the secondary. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits into this offense, and how JJ McCarthy tries to get him the ball. I have high hopes for the kid, and I’m rooting for him as a DMV guy.
Record Prediction: 8-9
This one was hard. I simply don’t know how to feel about this offense, and I don’t know what to expect out of JJ McCarthy. What if he gets hurt again? What if he doesn’t live up to the hype? What if he’s straight up bad? I should preface this by saying I don’t think those things will happen. I think JJ will be a fine player — maybe nothing Earth-shattering but definitely a franchise guy. I just think this year will be one where the offense has to feel itself out as they adjust. Plus, this schedule sure as hell ain’t easy; I actually like Minnesota to start out undefeated in the first three or four weeks, but then the going gets plenty tough. This is closer to their floor than their ceiling. I just don’t know if I can confidently say that they’ll reach that higher mark right now.
Next up: 
Los Angeles Chargers
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