4 Vikings offseason decisions in 2024 that already look genius

For the Minnesota Vikings, the 2024 offseason was one that was full of significant changes. Between the months of March and May, the Vikings made a number of decisions that have the potential to impact the franchise for the next decade.

This past weekend, Minnesota not only got to see its new and improved roster in action for the first time this season, but some of the organization's decisions were validated during some of the other games that took place around the NFL as well.

To be fair, the Vikings have only played one of the 17 games on their 2024 schedule, but but some of the roster moves the team made earlier this year already seem like they were the right calls.

4 Minnesota Vikings 2024 offseason decisions that already look genius

1. Ending the Kirk Cousins Experience

After six seasons and just one playoff win with Kirk Cousins as the team's starting quarterback, Minnesota finally made the decision to part with the veteran signal-caller earlier this year.

Cousins eventually landed with the Atlanta Falcons, and in his first game since tearing his Achilles last November, he looked terrible.

The new Falcons quarterback had even less mobility in the pocket than he did during his Vikings tenure, and in Atlanta's Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he completed just 61.5 percent of his passes for only 155 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Sam Darnold performed well in his debut as Minnesota's starting quarterback in the team's Week 1 win over the New York Giants, and the Vikings have rookie J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings to take the reins next season.

2. Moving on from edge rusher Danielle Hunter

A bunch of the national media narratives surrounding Minnesota heading into the 2024 season oddly had to do with the team's defense crumbling due to the loss of longtime pass rusher Danielle Hunter earlier this year.

For some reason, people thought the Vikings were going to be worse by not giving Hunter a big contract and replacing him with the combination of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and rookie Dallas Turner.

These narratives were puzzling when they first appeared, and they were made to be even more confusing following the excellent performance from Minnesota's pass rush in their Week 1 against the Giants.

To the shock of some (apparently), the Vikings were still able to generate 26 pressures and five sacks without Hunter in their win over New York this past Sunday. It's early, but it seems like Minnesota is going to be just fine without its former edge rusher this season.

3. Turning Blake Brandel into a starter

During the 2024 offseason, the Vikings re-signed veteran offensive lineman Blake Brandel to a three-year deal worth up to $9.5 million.

Brandel had essentially been a backup in his first four seasons with Minnesota, so the contract he landed seemed a little larger than one that a reserve offensive lineman in the NFL typically signs. But we later found out that the Vikings had bigger plans for Brandel than for him to just continue to be a backup on their roster.

Minnesota gave him the opportunity to be the team's starting left guard this season, and against the Giants in Week 1, all he did was finish with the highest PFF offensive grade on the entire Vikings' roster and the second-best PFF pass-blocking grade among all guards in the NFL.

4. Replacing Alexander Mattison with Aaron Jones

After Minnesota made the mind-boggling decision to roll with Alexander Mattison as its No. 1 running back last season, the team redeemed itself this year by cutting Mattison and replacing him with former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones.

Jones getting let go by the Packers this offseason was a bit of a surprise, but the Vikings did an excellent job of signing him shortly after he became available.

So far, Minnesota has only played 60 minutes of football this season, but the difference in the team's rushing attack with Jones compared to what it was with Mattison is tremendous.

In his regular-season debut with the Vikings, Jones rushed for 94 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. His average of 6.7 yards per rushing attempt in a game with at least 10 carries is something Mattison was unable to ever achieve in 75 career appearances with Minnesota.

With Jones on the field, opposing defenses now actually have to worry about the Vikings' rushing attack, which is something that could not be said a year ago.

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