This article is part our all-or-nothing series, where we sort through eight NFL teams and decide whether or not they have a chance to compete for the Super Bowl or need to build toward the future.
WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
When we last saw the Vikings, Blair Walsh was missing a 27-yard-field goal that would have sent them to the NFC Divisional Round. The NFC North champs lost 10-9 to the Seahawks.
WHAT THEY ADDED
Minnesota has a new starting quarterback after Teddy Bridgewater went down with a season-ending knee injury in training camp. The Vikings sent first- and fourth-round picks to Philadelphia for Sam Bradford. Two free agency acquisitions will be charged with protecting him. Andre Smith was brought over from Cincinnati to play right tackle. Alex Boone joined from San Francisco and will start at left guard. The Vikings added receiver Laquon Treadwell in the first-round of the 2016 draft. He adds some size to the receiving corps but may not see a lot of early playing time after a rough preseason.
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WHAT THEY LOST
Bridgewater is gone for the season. That’s a shame for the third-year pro, who was fantastic during his three preseason appearances. He was Minnesota’s only significant loss. Disappointing WR Mike Wallace is also gone, but that’s an addition-by-subtraction move. The Vikings return most of their division-winning lineup.
REASON FOR OPTIMISM
This team is loaded with young talent and has the right coach to capitalize on it. Mike Zimmer has a well-earned reputation for developing players, so expect this young defense to be even better than it was in 2015. The defensive line could be one of the best in the league. It starts in the middle with disruptive tackle Linval Joseph. His presence inside will allow ends Everson Griffen and breakout candidate Danielle Hunter to feast on one-on-one opportunities on the edge. Strongside linebacker Anthony Barr is a star. He can rush the passer or make plays in coverage. The captain of the defense is safety Harrison Smith, who is always around the ball.
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Of course, the running game will be stellar with Adrian Peterson in the backfield. The Vikings will lean on him heavily while Bradford learns the offense. If the strong-armed quarterback can stretch the field vertically — something Bridgewater has struggled to do early in his career — and defenses can’t load up against the run, Peterson could be in for a huge year.
REASON FOR PESSIMISM
The offensive line is still a mess, especially on the right side. Smith’s play has steadily declined over the last few years. Right guard Brandon Fusco has been inconsistent and is coming off a terrible 2015 season. The left tackle spot is also a big concern. 2013 first-rounder Matt Kalil is a low-level pass blocker who struggles against top rushers. This offense needs to hit on more downfield passes, but the line will struggle to hold up long enough for those plays to develop. And what happens if Peterson isn’t his usual dominant self? He is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a season in which he carried the ball 327 times. If the star running back’s play slips even a little, this offense will be in trouble.
ALL OR NOTHING?
The Vikings answered this question for us. Obviously they are all-in with this roster, having given up a first-round pick to upgrade the quarterback position. The front office clearly thinks this team is capable of making a Super Bowl run. There’s a lot of talent on this roster, but it still may be a year or two away from really contending.
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