The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2023 season with a 7-10 record, marking the first time since 2013 that their record showed double-digit losses.
Of course, a portion of that result had to do with some horrendous turnover luck throughout the season along with injuries to playmakers like Kirk Cousins, Jordan Hicks, T.J. Hockenson, Justin Jefferson, and Byron Murphy. However, how close are the Vikings to actually getting back into the mix in the NFC in 2024?
Well, according to one CBS Sports analyst, the Vikings may be further away than some think. Jeff Kerr recently put together a list of five teams set to take a “major fall” in 2024, and Minnesota landed on that list.
Analyst Gives Vikings a Grim Outlook for 2024
Joining the Vikings on Kerr’s list of doomsday teams are the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and New York Giants. Here are Kerr’s words on why the Vikings could take a step backward rather than forward in 2024:
The Vikings were primed to take a fall from their 13-4 record in 2022, and they did, experiencing a six-game drop off in 2023. Minnesota has excellent pass-catching talent with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but T.J. Hockenson may be out for the majority of 2024 recovering from ACL and MCL surgery.
Then there’s Kirk Cousins, who is a free agent and the glue to this whole season. Do the Vikings want to pay more than $40 million to a 35-year-old quarterback who has won one playoff game in his six seasons with the team? Or is it time to move on and find the next franchise quarterback in the draft?
There certainly is a great deal of uncertainty in Minnesota at this point in time. Not only do the Vikings need to figure out their QB situation, but Danielle Hunter is also set to enter free agency, thus putting Minnesota in desperate need to figure out their pass rushing group as well. Star receiver Jefferson is also due for a contract extension. Or, as some speculate, the Vikings could be forced to trade him.
On top of Minnesota’s uncertainty at multiple key positions, each of the other three NFC North teams took large steps forward in 2023 and seem poised to remain competitive next season. The Green Bay Packers increased their regular season win total by one game despite moving on from Aaron Rodgers (and won a road playoff game) while the Detroit Lions improved by three wins, and the Chicago Bears added four wins to their total.
Kerr alludes to this as well while also giving the Vikings a slight glimmer of hope:
At least the Vikings have Brian Flores to lead the defense, as they improved from 27th in points allowed per possession in 2022 to 18th in 2023. Without Cousins in an NFC North with the Detroit Lions, along with the rising Green Bay Packers and improving Chicago Bears, this year could be a rough one for the Vikings.
Ultimately, the Vikings’ ability to contend in 2024 will come down to their ability to either retain their veteran players or find suitable substitutes. Flores’ ability to carry his defense’s success from 2023 over into 2024 will also play a huge role.
This is a very important offseason for the Vikings, and it not only could determine their ability to compete in 2024, but for years to come as well.
