Early free agent objectives for the Vikings following the 2023 season’s failure to make the playoffs
With Kevin O’Connell as head coach and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager, the Minnesota Vikings are starting Year 3 of their current regime. The Vikings saw some unexpected success in Year 1 and genuine disappointment in Year 2, and the clock has been ticking.
In Year 3, it’s time for big development and advancement. Teams aren’t given much more time than that to demonstrate the development of a high-quality program.
Neither O’Connell’s reputation as a strong offensive mind nor Adofo-Mensah’s comprehension of contemporary team building techniques are sufficient. Right now, it’s all about the outcomes.
The Vikings have a ton of tasks to complete in the summer. The first three are in-house as they need to decide on Kirk Cousins and negotiate Danielle Hunter’s and Justin Jefferson’s contract extensions.
Midway through the season, Cousins, 35, tore his Achilles, sustaining the first major injury of his career. Because of how awful the Vikings were without him, it is clear that Cousins is valuable. But do the Vikings really think that a healthy Cousins can take the team all the way to the postseason? It is something new that he has done.
The Vikings have a ton of tasks to complete in the summer. The first three are in-house as they need to decide on Kirk Cousins and negotiate Danielle Hunter’s and Justin Jefferson’s contract extensions.
Midway through the season, Cousins, 35, tore his Achilles, sustaining the first major injury of his career. Because of how awful the Vikings were without him, it is clear that Cousins is valuable. But do the Vikings really think that a healthy Cousins can take the team all the way to the postseason? It is something new that he has done.
Even if he is a reliable passer and well-liked by his colleagues, it could be a stretch to declare him an elite NFL quarterback and then make a long-term commitment to him. If they don’t think Cousins can lead them, they will undoubtedly need to select and select a quarterback, perhaps with the expectation that he or she can help the Vikings in the same manner that C.J. Stroud helped the Houston Texans this season.
When healthy, Jefferson is the NFL’s top wide receiver. Despite the fact that his hamstring injury hampered him this season, the Vikings must realize that their wide receiver position is their strongest suit. Jordan Addison’s quickness and Jefferson’s combination might be very effective for years to come. When tight end T.J. Hockenson is included, the receiving game appears exceptional.
