Ranking the top priorities for the next GM of the Minnesota Vikings
By Luke Parrish
What does the next GM of the Minnesota Vikings need to accomplish?
With the news of the Minnesota Vikings looking into a change in the front office, the next few months will lay the groundwork for the future of this franchise. Rick Spielman did a fine job as the General Manager but the end of his run has not been all too kind.
The Vikings have failed to reach the playoffs in three of the past four seasons with Kirk Cousins taking over at quarterback, a move that was perfect at the time of his original signing. Now, with Cousins splitting the fanbase, things are going to get interesting. This team needs to build from the ground up in order to get back into the postseason.
On a bright note, the Vikings ended their 2021-22 season with a win over the Chicago Bears. The only disappointing news to come out of their performance was Justin Jefferson‘s failure to break the franchise’s single-season receiving record, finishing 16 yards shy of Randy Moss in 2003.
Regardless of the record, the Vikings have an absolute superstar in Justin Jefferson and they can build around him for the foreseeable future. This is a confusing roster but there are some key pieces that could dictate the direction moving forward.
Jefferson is joined by Brian O’Neill, Christian Darrisaw, and K.J. Osborn as building blocks on offense with Dalvin Cook offering a few paths to their future. Trading him for assets while accepting a bit of a rebuild is just as plausible as letting Dalvin hang around as the running back with a monstrous contract.
Whatever they decide to do, the next GM will have a huge role in shaping the next few years for the Minnesota Vikings. Here are the biggest decisions that the next regime will face.