The Minnesota Vikings have been incredibly active during the first two weeks of free agency, making key moves to bolster their roster. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, focused on strengthening both sides of the trenches, added four high-impact players: Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on the defensive line, and Will Fries and Ryan Kelly on the offensive line. These strategic acquisitions demonstrate the Vikings’ commitment to improving their squad and filling critical gaps that were evident last season.
Despite these proactive moves, the Vikings didn’t see any change in their ranking in the latest NFL.com power rankings, which may come as a surprise to some fans. Eric Edholm, who authored the rankings, had Minnesota sitting at No. 7 before free agency and kept them at that spot following the first wave of signings. This decision was based on his view that, while the Vikings have made aggressive moves, they still have work to do, especially in the quarterback position.
In fact, the only noticeable shifts in the rankings involved teams ahead of Minnesota. The Baltimore Ravens moved up two spots from No. 5 to No. 3, while both the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions dropped a position, moving to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. The lack of movement for the Vikings in this new list has led to some debate within the fanbase as to whether their recent free agency success should have been enough to push them up in the rankings.
Edholm provided some context for why the Vikings remained in place, acknowledging that while they have made significant improvements, especially to their defensive and offensive lines, they have yet to make a splash move at quarterback.
The Vikings’ decision to let Sam Darnold walk and potentially hand over the starting role to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy is seen as a calculated risk. While the team has shown aggression in free agency, the lack of a high-profile quarterback acquisition has led to questions about whether their current roster is enough to propel them higher in the rankings.
Now, I want to hear from the community: Do you agree with Edholm’s assessment of the Vikings’ standing in the offseason power rankings? Should their recent moves have led to a higher ranking, or do you think they’re justified in staying at No. 7? Let’s discuss what the Vikings got right and where they still have work to do before the start of the 2025 season.
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