Why the ceiling is high for the Vikings offense in 2022
By Luke Parrish
Minnesota is loaded with talent
Kirk Cousins is undoubtedly a top-15 quarterback in the NFL and can be argued as a top-10 passer in the league. For the sake of readers, I will not place him in any specific ranking but he is in the top half of NFL starters which is inherently good for the Vikings. He is also surrounded by stars in the passing game and on the ground.
Justin Jefferson emerged as perhaps the best wide receiver in the NFL after just two seasons. Adam Thielen, though trending in the wrong direction, is still a very good secondary receiving option with sure hands and a presence in the red zone.
K.J. Osborn took a massive jump in his second season to secure the WR3 job in the offense. His presence was crucial for the offense a year ago and should remain that way in 2022. If Irv Smith Jr. returns as a viable weapon, Osborn is going to be even more valuable across the middle of the field.
The passing game is going to be as dangerous as ever with Kirk Cousins in charge. That will open things up on the ground for Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, and Kene Nwongwu. Cook is among the best running backs in the league but O’Connell has apparently been getting him involved in the passing game this summer.
If Cook becomes a larger weapon for Kirk Cousins, the offense is going to skyrocket under O’Connell. There is so much speed that can stretch the field and put up points while the defense works to improve on their last two seasons of bad football.
The offensive line is going to be the biggest concern once again. Christian Darrisaw had his moments as a rookie, as did Ezra Cleveland in his first two seasons, but Garrett Bradbury and Jesse Davis have to improve if the offense wants to climb the ladder.
Rookie Ed Ingram seems like the safest bet to fix the problem at right guard but there is plenty of competition to get the team through training camp and find their answer. So long as Brian O’Neill plays at the level he is capable of, the Vikings will be solid up front.
The players on the roster are good enough to make an impact next season. There are stars and role players alike that have the talent to play playoff football in January.