The Minnesota Vikings possess an 11-2 record entering Week 15 and can clinch a postseason trip with a win over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football or a loss by the Seattle Seahawks to the Green Bay Packers.
Early Look at Vikings 5 Main Roster Needs for 2025
A Super Bowl push is still very much up for grabs in Minnesota, but before too long, the 2025 offseason will arrive, and the purple team will have some roster needs.
So, these are the Vikings’ top projected five offseason needs, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most urgent need).
5. QB2
In back-to-back seasons, the Vikings have learned the value of a dependable QB2, stories that can be told by Sam Darnold, Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and Kevin O’Connell.
Thankfully for Minnesota’s sake, it might’ve already scripted the QB2 plan when it added Daniel Jones off waivers from the New York Giants. Jones can be “the guy” at QB2 of Minnesota in 2025, as most expect Darnold to cash in on a large free-agent contract elsewhere.
And if it’s not Jones, well, Minnesota will have to roll with Nick Mullens or comb the free-agent market for a different QB2. The position will need attention with a rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, returning from a meniscus tear that canceled his 2024 campaign.
4. WR3
Jalen Nailor made highlights to start the season, featuring some sweet touchdowns and a nifty block to spring Justin Jefferson loose for a 97-yard touchdown in Week 2.
Since then, however, Nailor has quieted on Sundays and might be best served as a WR4 on the 2025 Vikings.
Via the draft or free agency, Minnesota should prioritize WR3. The cool part? It is not that difficult to obtain a WR3 in the NFL. They’re out there.
3. Running Back
The only running back under contract for the 2025 purple team … is Ty Chandler.
Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are tentatively scheduled for free agency. Therefore, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must extend Jones for a year and draft a rookie tailback somewhere in April’s draft. That — or spend a high-to-mid-round pick on a new running back if Jones walks.
Chandler won’t earn the RB1 outright, so Minnesota needs some RB beef, probably Jones and a youngster.
2. Defensive Tackle
Harrison Phillips and Levi Drake Rodriguez are under contract next season — and then that’s it. There’s nobody else.
Minnesota should — and probably will — re-sign Jalen Redmond, who’s been a revelation on the field, a true tackle-for-loss savant.
From free agency or the draft, the Vikings should add another defensive tackle, the spot currently manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings fans request this every offseason and usually end up with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Maybe this go-round will be different.
1. Cornerback
Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, and NaJee Thompson are the CB solutions on the books right now for 2025, so, yes, cornerback is the top offseason need.
Byron Murphy may be back, which is fabulous, but adding one more impact corner will be vital if Minnesota has Super Bowl aspirations in 2025 and beyond.
The franchise is severely overdue to nail a CB draft pick from Round 1 or 2. That last somewhat successful example occurred 10 years ago — Trae Waynes.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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