It was a tough year for fans of the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. Just one year removed from winning the NFC North, the Vikings seemed to suffer from bad luck week after week to start the season which culminated in losing their quarterback Kirk Cousins, to an Achilles injury for the rest of the campaign.
I'm sorry to write that I have no good news for Vikings nation. Cousins seems to be destined to hit the free agency market and if the betting odds for 2024 are any indication, Minnesota is about to enter a rebuilding phase.
Let's take a look at the odds to win the division next season and then we'll break down what the Vikings need to do to re-claim the NFC North crown.
2024 NFC North odds
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Vikings third best odds to win NFC North in 2024
The good news is the Vikings don't have the longest odds to win the NFC North in 2024. That honor belongs to the Chicago Bears. The bad news is the division seems to largely be a two-team race between the Detroit Lions (+145) and Green Bay Packers (+230).
The Vikings' odds to win the division are set at +420, which translates to an implied probability of 19.23%. If you were to bet $100 on them to do so, you'd win a profit of $420 if they're able to achieve the feat.
Obviously, the number one concern for the Vikings this offseason is finding their quarterback. They have arguably the best receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, but they need someone to get him the ball. As we approach the beginning of free agency, it looks less and less likely they'll re-sign Cousins. That means they need to find a quarterback some other way, whether it's through the NFL Draft or by signing a different free agent.
Another possibility would be making a trade with the Bears for Justin Fields, who looks to be shopping their QB as reports indicate they'll be drafting the USC product, Caleb Williams, with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Vikings' defense did rank in the top half of the NFL this past season by most metrics, including coming in at 12th in scoring defense, giving up 21.3 points per game.
So, if Minnesota can find a competent quarterback while adding a few more pieces on defense, there's absolutely a world in which they compete in the division with the Lions and Packers.
If you have faith in your Vikings to do exactly that, I encourage you to place a bet.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.