Meet the Vikings 7 new starters for 2024

The Minnesota Vikings completed their competitive rebuild this offseason, saying goodbye to Kirk Cousins ​​and Danielle Hunter while drafting JJ McCarthy and Dallas Turner as direct replacements.

Meet the Vikings 7 new starters for 2024

On September 8, the franchise should have approximately seven new starters on offense and defense for Kevin O’Connell’s third season. These are the men listed in alphabetical order.

1. Blake Cashman (LB)

Replaces: Jordan Hicks

Cashman was the third senior defender added by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in free agency after Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. His acquisition was a homecoming since Cashman is from Eden Prairie. Without debate, he is on deck to defend Brian Flores. Cashman pitched a breakout season in Houston last year.

2. Sam Darnold (QB)

Replaces: Kirk Cousins

At least for a while, Darnold will lead the 2024 Vikings at QB1. He’s just a placeholder for JJ McCarthy, but there’s always a chance Darnold lights him up. People have been waiting for it for six years. Maybe Kevin O’Connell’s offense will be perfect for the former third overall pick.

3. Jonathan Greenard (OLB)

Replaces: Danielle Hunter

Like his Houston teammate (Cashman), Greenard had a breakout season in 2023, so much so that Minnesota lured him to the NFC North in free agency. He has big shoes to fill as a direct replacement for Danielle Hunter, but he’s younger and more approachable.

4. Shaquill Griffin (CB)

Replaces: Akyleb Evans (maybe)

Griffin has shown veteran leadership this spring, and Minnesota desperately needs to fix their 32nd-ranked completion percentage allowed in 2023. It might be a little weird going back. Therefore, Griffin is the favorite to start alongside Byron Murphy at cornerback.

5. Aaron Jones (RB)

Replaces: Alexander Mattison

Ousted by the Packers, the Vikings hope Jones’ strong finish to 2023 continues through 2024. The club said sayonara to Mattison this offseason after a failed RB1 experiment last year. If Jones can stay upright, Minnesota could solve its rushing issues once and for all.

6. Jerry Tillery (DT)

Replaces: Dean Lowry

This guy still has a chance to prove he’s a consistent starter in the NFL, and he’ll get it in Minnesota. The Vikings opted not to break the bank on a top defensive tackle in free agency, settling for trash in Tillery.

7. Dallas Turner (OLB)

Replaces: Marcus Davenport

Draft bosses considered Turner the best defensive player in the draft, and he somehow slipped to Minnesota at the 17th overall pick. Unless he has a weird summer, he should start right out of the gate and formulate a nice two-headed monster duo with Greenard, another new starter on this roster.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, broadcast every Wednesday with Raun Sawh And Spice Sal. His obsession with the Vikings dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, “The Sopranos”, Basset Hounds and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Professional football reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.