Are the Vikings a legitimate Super Bowl contender now?

Do the Minnesota Vikings now have enough talent on their roster to contend for a spot in the Super Bowl during the upcoming 2021 season?

It has been a very busy offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, to say the least, and they just added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to the roster, who was with the team in 2018.

On paper, the Vikings look vastly improved over last year, which begs the question – is this team currently a Super Bowl contender?

Despite the cap being decreased by almost $20 million this offseason and Minnesota being very active, the team still has around $14 million left to spend. Vikings salary-cap wizard Rob Brzezinski continues to do great work. Will they add more free agents this year? If so, who will they be?

Minnesota Vikings still have the money to add more free agents

Currently, it is unknown who will be Minnesota’s third wide receiver after Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson when the 2021 season begins.

Maybe it will be rookie pass-catcher Ihmir Smith-Marsette, or maybe the Vikings will sign someone from free agency? Among the receivers still left on the market are Dede Westbrook, Golden Tate, and Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald. But would Fitzgerald have any interest in signing with Minnesota?

As good as the Vikings’ roster currently looks, it could look even better before Week 1. The NFC is very wide open this year. Even if Minnesota does not make any other signings before the season begins, they could very well be in Super Bowl contention if they can avoid major injuries and get another solid performance from their latest rookie class.

Both are, of course, big what-ifs, but both could very well happen. This is a very unpredictable league too. Each year we see teams play either better or worse than expected. Who expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win the Super Bowl last year? Especially when they were 7-5?

In addition, to all the free agents the Vikings signed this year, they will also be getting back Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, and Anthony Barr for the 2021 season. The three combined to play in only two games in 2020.

If Minnesota does not at least make it to the NFC Championship in 2021, one has to wonder if this year will be the last for general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Vikings fans are very excited about the potential of the 2021 team. Could this finally be the special year for the purple and gold? It is certainly a possibility.