When talking about the Minnesota Vikings‘ offseason, it can be hard not to gush.
It’s not even a fandom thing. Simply put, if you appreciate quality team building, the Vikings offer plenty to admire.
Minnesota’s roster isn’t perfect. In fact, it could have a monstrous hole at the most important position if J.J. McCarthy doesn’t turn out immediately and the team doesn’t have a viable backup plan in Sam Howell and/or find a different approach via a veteran QB acquisition by way of free agency or a trade.
And the entire campaign, not to mention the Vikings’ three-year plan, could prove a disaster if McCarthy outright busts. But that said, the franchise is going with a high draft pick on a rookie-scale deal at quarterback — a move that worked for the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders last season — and focusing the rest of its efforts and assets on shoring up all other roster weaknesses.
Minnesota rebuilt the entire interior of the offensive line through free agency and the draft, which was the primary focus of the offseason, though as part of a grander initiative — to get bigger and tougher in the trenches on both sides of the football.
When looking at the Vikings’ roster through that lens, the addition of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was among Minnesota’s best moves of the offseason.
Jonathan Allen Adds to Vikings’ Already Formidable Defensive Front
Allen inked a three-year contract worth $51 million to come over from Washington.
He played just eight games in 2024 due to health issues, but Allen was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2022. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report argued on July 17 that the defensive tackle can regain that form for Minnesota in 2025.
The 30-year-old’s 2024 season was marred by injury, but he has shown in the past he can be an impactful force in the middle … [and] playing on a loaded front that includes tackle Javon Hargrave and edge-rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel could be a dream scenario for Allen.
Last year, the Vikings amassed 49 sacks — tied for fourth-most in the league. On paper, the defensive front is even more formidable, and that should make the likes of [NFC North Division quarterbacks] Caleb Williams, Jared Goff and Jordan Love plenty nervous.
Vikings Made Big Moves Across Roster in Every Mode of Talent Addition This Offseason
The Vikings made several other potentially valuable moves over the past few months.
Minnesota paid big for the return of Pro-Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. after a career year, then brought in Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to play next to him in what is either going to prove an incredibly savvy and financially responsible staffing of the outside cornerback positions or something of a gaffe/overreach for two guys who were backups in 2024.
It’s hard to argue with anything the team did on offense, as re-upping with running back Aaron Jones and bringing in Jordan Mason to back him up both look like clear home run moves.
The Vikings also added a year and money to Van Ginkel’s contract after he earned Pro-Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his NFL career. Hargrave was a free-agency pick up, as was four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and $88 million offensive guard Will Fries.
Starting alongside Kelly and Fries on Minnesota’s interior offensive line this season will be Donovan Jackson, formerly of Ohio State, whom the Vikings selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 draft.
