The top to the Minnesota Vikings’ season was simply as stunning as their 13-4 document. A Wild Card loss to the New York Giants opened up an offseason that might show pivotal, with the way forward for a number of fan favorites up within the air.

With cap area tight and draft capital restricted, the Vikings’ offseason might be unpredictable, however listed here are 5 issues you possibly can rely on as they prepare for 2023.

An overhaul on protection

The protection was the Vikings’ downfall final season as they ranked twenty eighth in factors allowed and thirty first in yards allowed. The adjustments have already begun with Ed Donatell’s dismissal, however there are different adjustments that might happen this offseason.

The Vikings might transfer on from different veterans similar to Harrison Smith, Eric Kendricks and Za’Darius Smith. They might additionally let pending free brokers Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson stroll as they give the impression of being to get youthful and sooner. 

The Vikings might even go so far as buying and selling Danielle Hunter, who did not look comfy taking part in as a stand-up move rusher in a 3-4 scheme.

A brand new defensive coordinator ought to assist, however this nucleus has gone belly-up for the previous three seasons with two coming beneath defensive guru Mike Zimmer. At this level, the defensive failures aren’t simply on the teaching employees.

The Vikings shifting on from a number of fan favorites

Kendricks and Harrison Smith are simply two fan favorites that could possibly be despatched out the door this offseason because the Vikings’ wage cap state of affairs requires some adjustments.

In keeping with Over The Cap, the Vikings are $24.5 million over the wage cap for subsequent season. Up to now, contract restructures have been used to decrease the cap numbers however have additionally kicked cash down the highway. At this level, the invoice has come due for a number of high-priced veterans who’ve suffered a decline of their efficiency.

Adam Thielen’s future has been a sizzling subject because the Vikings have been eradicated and after a disappointing 12 months and the unlikeliness of a bounce-back season in 2023, his $19.9 million cap hit should be lowered.

Dalvin Cook dinner is one other participant that could possibly be on the block. Though he posted his fourth-straight 1,000-yard season, Cook dinner’s totals have been constructed on massive runs. With a $14.1 million cap hit, he is one other participant that can both should restructure or transfer on.

The Vikings have been holding on to the nucleus of the 2017 NFC Championship workforce for years and this offseason could lastly be the time to let go.

Justin Jefferson breaking the financial institution

Whereas the Vikings could say goodbye to a number of gamers, Jefferson is not going anyplace. The All-Professional receiver is eligible for a profitable extension and after groups threw a great deal of assured cash round final offseason, Jefferson’s new contract might flirt with an NFL document.

A.J. Brown ($56.4 million), Tyreek Hill ($52.5 million), and Stefon Diggs ($47.9 million) set a brand new normal for assured cash final spring and Davante Adams signed a five-year, $140 million extension that was essentially the most complete cash ever given to a receiver.

Jefferson instructed reporters this week that “if they need me right here, I will be right here” and the Vikings could be silly to let go of the face of the franchise. Meaning Jefferson’s new contract ought to have the perfect of each worlds and that he’ll be a Viking for years to come back.

Kirk Cousins returning at quarterback

Vikings basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah squashed any rumors of a change at quarterback, saying he expects Cousins to return for the 2023 season. Nonetheless, the intrigue will revolve round a possible extension.

Cousins presently carries a cap hit of $36.25 million for subsequent season and lengthening him could be a technique to decrease that quantity. The Vikings are already set to pay $12.5 million over two void years in 2024 and 2025, nevertheless, which suggests an extension might kick much more cash into the longer term.

The Vikings are additionally in a troublesome state of affairs as a result of they want to determine a succession plan. Cousins is identical age (34) as Russell Wilson, who took his “Let’s Journey!” catchphrase proper off the age cliff with the Denver Broncos final season. 

With little draft capital or wage cap area to get a quarterback of the longer term, an extension could possibly be one of the simplest ways to purchase time till the Vikings have extra sources in 2024.

Plenty of trades

Talking of the Vikings’ restricted draft choices, it is a storyline that can loom giant this offseason. After trades to amass T.J. Hockenson, Jalen Reagor and Ross Blacklock, Minnesota has simply 4 picks – first, third, fourth and fifth-round choices – within the upcoming draft, that means that trades might occur to replenish their draft picks.

One technique to achieve picks is by buying and selling veterans, however it stays to be seen what they may get. Groups have been extra prepared to throw picks round to unravel their points, however there’s unlikely to be an enormous haul for gamers like Harrison Smith (33), Thielen (32) and Kendricks (30). 

Even Dalvin Cook dinner. who will flip 28 in August, may not fetch a lot in a commerce, though the San Francisco 49ers gave up second, third and fourth-round choices in 2023 and a fifth-round choice in 2024 to amass fellow 2017 draft classmate Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers final October.

If there’s one factor we discovered final offseason, it is that Adofo-Mensah is not afraid to commerce down within the draft – even when it is with a divisional rival. With the Vikings having a number of wants, you possibly can guess there might be extra trades on the way in which with a number of of them containing draft picks.