Despite winning 14 games in 2024 and significantly improving the talent level of their offensive line and defensive line this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have still been on the receiving end of plenty of skepticism this year.
Sure, the Vikings have decided to give the starting quarterback job to second-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. But McCarthy was a top-10 draft pick in 2024 for a reason, and he’s already made it very clear that he’s more than ready to help Minnesota continue to have the success that it was able to achieve last season when Sam Darnold was under center.
At this point in the offseason, draft picks have been made, undrafted players have been signed, and the Vikings’ roster is very near to its final stage before the team begins OTA practices this spring. With things slowing down a bit after this year’s NFL Draft, it seems like the perfect time to do a way-too-early 53-man roster prediction for Minnesota’s 2025 squad.
The Vikings have spent the majority of the last few months doing everything they can to make McCarthy’s first year as the team’s No. 1 quarterback as easy as possible. It’s reached a point now where it will likely be more surprising if he isn’t able to succeed next season, given how many tools he will have to utilize.
Sam Howell is the perfect No. 2 signal-caller for Minnesota to have behind McCarthy in 2025. Howell is young enough to learn new tricks from Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of his staff, but he’s also experienced enough to help McCarthy with his transition into the starting lineup.
Aaron Jones took the majority of the snaps in Minnesota’s running back room last year, and while he will still get a bunch of touches next season, the addition of Jordan Mason in March should definitely help him take less of a punishment from opposing defenses in 2025.
Few members of the Vikings’ roster were probably more excited about the team placing more of an emphasis on improving its running game this year than C.J. Ham. Minnesota’s longtime fullback and locker-room leader should have a bigger role in 2025 if the team actually does go along with its plan to run the ball more.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will obviously lead the top of the Vikings’ receiver depth chart for the 2025 season. However, Addison is expected to miss some time early in the 2025 campaign due to a suspension, so in his absence, Minnesota will need guys like Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton to step up their performance.
Silas Bolden is someone to keep an eye on this summer, as the undrafted rookie showcased excellent abilities as a kick returner and punt returner during his college career at Texas and Oregon State.After returning from a serious knee injury in the middle of the 2024 season, T.J. Hockenson never really seemed to be able to perform at the level that earned him a Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings in 2022. But with that behind him, expect Hockenson to look closer to his old form when he returns to the field next season.
On paper, this has the chance to be Minnesota’s best offensive line since the group that helped the franchise reach the 2009 NFC Championship. Of course, the success of the Vikings’ offensive line this year will depend on how healthy all of them are able to be throughout the season.
