The Minnesota Vikings Have Become The NFL’s Sleeping Giant

The 2024 NFL season saw the Minnesota Vikings defy expectations. Largely due to a significant overhaul of the quarterback position that saw the Vikings sign Sam Darnold and draft J.J. McCarthy to replace the departed Kirk Cousins, many media analysts predicted the Vikings would struggle. Most people had the Vikings as a lock to win no more than six games and finish last in the competitive NFC North. Some even projected they would finish with a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. These predictions intensified when McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason, leaving Darnold—a former third overall pick who was a draft bust up to this point in his career—as the team's permanent starter. However, the Vikings surprised everyone by finishing the 2024 season with a 14-3 record, largely thanks to an unexpected career resurgence from Darnold, who threw for 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. Despite ending the season on a sour note with consecutive blowout losses to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, the team's performance exceeded all expectations.

Fast forward to the 2025 offseason, and the media consensus about the Vikings mirrors the previous year’s predictions: due to another quarterback change, they are once again expected to finish last in the NFC North. After his resurgent season, Darnold signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, leaving the team's hopes in the hands of McCarthy, who will be entering his sophomore year without having taken a meaningful snap at the professional level. There are many doubts surrounding McCarthy due to his limited passing stats during his college career. Michigan's run-heavy offensive scheme under former coach Jim Harbaugh required him to act mainly as a game manager. As a result, he never threw for more than 3,000 yards or 22 touchdowns in a season. Consequently, he lacked the impressive stats of his fellow first-round QB draftees. Despite posting a 27-1 record in college and winning a national championship, many skeptics question how successful McCarthy will be in the NFL.

Although I am slightly biased as a Vikings fan, I do not believe this team will finish last in the NFC North. In fact, I expect them to contend for a playoff spot, primarily because they boast a borderline elite roster and a top-tier coaching staff. If McCarthy develops as the team hopes he will, the Vikings could be close to competing for a Super Bowl. Let’s explore why.

The Vikings won 14 games…and somehow got better

Yes, the Vikings let Darnold walk, but it was understandable. The team was not going to give him the three-year, $100.5 million contract the Seahawks did after his season-ending flameouts against the Lions and Rams. Though his new contract is truly structured as a one-year deal worth $37.5 million, there was no way the Vikings were giving him that. Instead, the front office used that money to upgrade the team in other areas.

Despite their impressive win total, the Vikings' primary weakness was evident: the trenches. This became glaringly clear during their Wild Card loss to the Rams, where the offensive line allowed nine sacks while the defensive line struggled to pressure Matthew Stafford. The team attacked these issues with a nearly $200 million spending spree.

The starting offensive line was strengthened by the free-agent signings of center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries, along with the drafting of Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson. Additionally, they signed backup tackle Justin Skule as a quality depth piece. If these players can remain healthy, this could be the Vikings' best offensive line since 2009. Additionally, the team addressed the defensive line with the acquisitions of veteran players Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. If these two can stay healthy, the Vikings will have their best interior pass rush since the late 2010s.

Another significant move by the Vikings was trading a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for running back Jordan Mason. Mason was a quality fill-in for the injured Christian McCaffrey last year, rushing for nearly 800 yards and three touchdowns. Mason, along with the recently re-signed Aaron Jones, will provide the Vikings with a good 1-2 punch at the position as the team seeks to add a more physical element to their offense.

The Vikings won 14 games largely as a finesse, pass-first team that lacked good play on both lines. Outside of right tackle Brian O’Neill, the Vikings lacked a good defensive or offensive lineman last year. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw missed half the season with a torn ACL, forcing the team to trade for Jaguars offensive lineman Cam Robinson, an average starter, mid-season. Their best interior defensive lineman was Harrison Phillips, who is good, but is better served as a No. 2 option or an elite backup piece. While the Vikings won't win 14 games again, they will be a more physical team if everything clicks, which is scary.

About the quarterback situation…

All eyes will be on the Vikings' quarterback play this season. NFL analyst Bucky Brooks recently said that McCarthy is the ultimate wild card of the NFL season, and he is right. McCarthy will make or break the Vikings' season. If he performs as a top-15 quarterback this year, the Vikings will likely win double-digit games thanks to their strong roster. However, if he plays more like Zach Wilson, Daniel Jones, or Deshaun Watson, the Vikings’ season will unravel and they will finish last in their division.

I believe McCarthy will do well. He has a strong supporting cast and his head coach, Kevin O’Connell, who is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks. If McCarthy struggles, it will be on him, not the team. That said, I don’t expect him to become a superstar. When he left Michigan, I compared him to Jimmy Garoppolo (by the way, there’s an article on the Chaotically Intolerant website discussing that comparison). Both players are winners, although it's primarily due to their supporting talent and coaching staff. Due to this, both have faced a lot of skepticism regarding their ability to be a true franchise quarterback. If you're a McCarthy fan, don't take offense to the Garoppolo comparison. Despite his shortcomings in San Francisco, Garoppolo led the 49ers to two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl. If McCarthy can do this for a franchise that has been starved of real success since the 1970s, he will be celebrated as a hero in Minnesota.

Finally, a bold prediction for the 2025 Vikings

The Vikings are a popular pick to miss the playoffs this year, but I firmly believe the opposite. I do see McCarthy being a top 10-12 quarterback this year, and I think the Vikings, barring injury, will cruise to double digit wins. In fact, I'm going to take it a step further- I believe the Vikings are going to win the NFC North this year.

I believe the Lions are in for a pullback season. While most of their elite roster remains intact and many key players are returning from injuries this year, they lost both of their elite coordinators in Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, who became the head coaches of the Jets and Bears, respectively. Since Dan Campbell is more of a CEO-type head coach rather than one focused on schematics, these coaching losses could affect the team more than many people realize.

I like the Packers’ potential, but like the Vikings, they struggled against elite teams last year. Additionally, I have concerns about Jordan Love after he slightly regressed last year. I also think their roster is the third best in the division behind the Lions and Vikings.

Finally, I do not expect the Bears to do well this year. Although they had a good offseason, I am skeptical about new head coach Johnson. While he was an elite coordinator in Detroit, there is a significant difference between being a coordinator and a head coach. He could either become the next Sean McVay or he could end up like Josh McDaniels. This season will essentially be a reset for Caleb Williams, who will enter his sophomore year having already dealt with two offensive play callers and two head coaches. The Bears will have a strong defense under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and the offense will improve under Johnson, but I still have several questions about the overall team.

Speaking of the Bears, before I end this article, I want to point out an instance of media hypocrisy regarding the Bears and Vikings. Like the Vikings, the Bears have made notable improvements to their offensive line, signing center Drew Dalman and trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. However, while the Bears have notable praise for their offseason acquisitions, the Vikings have not. If the Bears are going to receive their flowers, the Vikings should too.

The NFL should watch out for the Vikings this year. If everything clicks, they will be a dangerous team. While I don't view them as a Super Bowl contender this year, I think they have the potential to reach the NFC Championship. Once again, the media is doubting the Vikings, but that's okay. They are the Mike Tomlin of NFL teams- great as underdogs, which they currently are, but terrible as favorites. Hopefully, though, McCarthy can change that narrative.

Serafino Diaz is a writer at Chaotically Intolerant, Phoenix's finest Vikings, Bucks, and Cubs fan, traveling everywhere I can.