The Minnesota Vikings exceeded everyone's expectations during the 2024 NFL season. Finishing with a 14-3 record and making the playoffs wasn't a thought for many fans and experts around the league.
Although the Vikings shattered everyone's expectations, not every player lived up to the hype. Some players were given new responsibilities for the season while others were expected to take the next step in their development.
Vikings players who did not live up to the team's expectations
Here are five Minnesota Vikings players who failed to live up to expectations in 2024.
Ed Ingram. guard
Entering 2024, Ed Ingram was expected to take the next step in his development on the offensive line. He improved from his rookie year to his second year, so his third year should have seen him become a solid starting right guard.
Instead of taking his game to the next level, his game was taken to the bench. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Dalton Risner and was even seen on the inactive list on game day. Now, his future in Minnesota.
Stephon Gilmore, cornerback
It can be hard to live up to your past. Stephon Gilmore is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but that was in 2019. The player the Vikings got in free agency was a capable defender, but not the one who turned heads half a decade ago.
Gilmore started 15 games for Minnesota and saw regression from his previous year in Dallas. He defended nine passes and intercepted only one pass, proving that age may have caught up to the 34-year-old veteran cornerback.
Ty Chandler, running back
Make no mistake, this was Aaron Jones' team at running back. However, in today's NFL, a team needs a capable combination of rushers to keep the offense rolling. Ty Chandler struggled to be the complimentary player the Vikings needed and they traded for Cam Akers to fill that role.
In 2024, Chandler tied his career low in yards per carry with 3.3 per attempt while failing to find the end zone as a runner or receiver. Last season, he had 620 yards from scrimmage but that number fell to 224 in 2024.
Dallas Turner, edge
Expectations for a rookie are always hard to meet. That's especially true with a first-round pick. There were rumbles and predictions of edge rusher Dallas Turner being the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but that wasn't quite realistic.
Turner was part of a deep edge rush rotation that included starters Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel along with breakout Patrick Jones II. He ended the year with three sacks but the true disappointment was not being able to see him on the field regularly.
Blake Brandel, guard
A new starter on the offensive line, Blake Brandel took over at left guard for the 2024 NFL season. He became part of an interior offensive line that struggled to protect the quarterback and create space in the run game.
Unlike Ed Ingram and Garrett Bradbury, Brandel has proven that he can be a solid blocker. However, his six false start penalties and difficulty to hold his ground should make the Minnesota Vikings rethink his role for the 2025 season.