Where Do Minnesota Vikings Stand in Pre-Training Camp Power Rankings?

Uncertainty is what the Minnesota Vikings bring to the table in 2024. They finished with a 7-10 record last season, and roster turnover has taken place at key spots. That uncertainty will play itself out this season, but it doesn’t have hopes all that high out of the gate.

Minnesota Vikings down bad in initial power rankings

The Athletic published their first power rankings of the season on Tuesday, and the top looks as expected. Super Bowl participants in the form of Kansas City and San Francisco take the first two spots. Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan’s teams were the last ones standing a year ago, and they reloaded ready to go for it again.

The Minnesota Vikings are now without Kirk Cousins, and J.J. McCarthy is expected to sit behind Sam Darnold. Darnold has previously flamed out with two different franchises. The burden of proof is on him to make it work in an ideal situation. Publications will take a wait and see approach on this Kevin O’Connell collection. Minnesota is 23rd overall; a bottom-third ranking across the league.

Jefferson became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league this offseason when he signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension. That raise comes with heightened workplace expectations because instead of playing with a veteran quarterback in Cousins, Jefferson will have some combination of journeyman Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy this season. Jefferson already has 4,825 receiving yards, the most by any player in his first three seasons. He’ll have longtime Packers running back Aaron Jones to help on offense this season.

The Detroit Lions (3rd), Green Bay Packers (8th), and Chicago Bears (15th), are all seen in a much better light among divisional foes. After winning the NFC North last season, it appears as though the hype train for Detroit isn’t losing any steam either.

Related: ESPN Not Sold on the Minnesota Vikings for Next Three Seasons

Projecting Minnesota Vikings provides massive uncertainty

Any level of prognostication at the current juncture is little more than a guess. The Minnesota Vikings have to be viewed through the lens of what Sam Darnold was. O’Connell is hoping that he can provide a situation capable of generating an unseen version of the former first round pick, and most projections are baking that in.

Darnold brings a massive amount of wait and see to Minnesota this year, and his performance is largely where the beginning and end of their outcome lies.

Brian Flores gets another year to work with Minnesota’s defense, but some of the biggest contributors are gone there too. Johnathan Greenard could be a big come up following the departure of Danielle Hunter.

Dallas Turner may explode onto the scene as a menace edge rusher. None of those things will be known until the Vikings take the field. Less work needs to be done for the bar to be raised defensively, but a substantial amount has to happen for it to matter.

Related: 6 Vikings Training Camp Battles that Matter in 2024

Until the Vikings go out and prove it, they will be seen as one of the worst teams across the league. It will be their play, and the results that follow, where the needle is ultimately moved.

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