Top 10 Minnesota Vikings Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season

The Minnesota Vikings were honestly the biggest surprise of last season. Somehow, Sam Darnold became good overnight and led them to a 14-win season.

Sadly, it ended very quickly in the playoffs, as Sam Darnold's flaws were exposed and he turned back into a pumpkin at the worst possible moment. I think it's safe to say that the Vikings overachieved last year. Nobody saw that coming, myself included. I thought the Vikings were going to have a bad year, honestly.

I was glad to see Sam Darnold finally turn things around.

As far as this year's Vikings team is concerned, I don't think they'll reach 14 wins in the regular season. I'd expect J.J. McCarthy to struggle early on because he's essentially a rookie. I'd expect them to win 10 to 12 games, in all honesty.

The main thing is, can everybody stay healthy? That will determine how the season plays out.

This list was a collaboration with my Vikings friend, Rawisgore.

The Top Ten

Justin Jefferson

I mean… obviously, right? Unless JJ McCarthy is Patrick Mahomes, Jefferson will probably be the best player on the team for at least five more years. Justin Jefferson is simply elite. I think just about everyone considers him a top two wideout. Depending on who you ask, some will say he's the best in the entire league.
Jefferson is an elite route runner who can easily create separation and win 50/50 balls. His speed is very good, and he has elite production. He has the most receiving yards per game on average, holds the NFL record for most receiving yards in the first five seasons of a player's career, and has countless other franchise and league records. He is arguably even better than prime Randy Moss.
He already has four Pro Bowls, two First Team All-Pro selections, and the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year award. In 2024, he finished with over 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson is so elite that he is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory. I mean, there's a pretty clear gap between him and the rest of the team.
Christian Darrisaw

Darrisaw may miss a little of this year due to his ACL tear last year. He is one of the best tackles in the league, and his only flaw is being a little injury prone.
When he's healthy, he's truly elite with impressive athleticism and power. He's an elite blocker. His 81.4 PFF grade in 2024 ranked 11th overall for his position.
Darrisaw can be really good, even elite. The issue has just been the injury concerns. Hopefully, he can stay healthy in 2025 and finally get some well deserved accolades.
Brian O’Neil

Been a Viking since 2018, which feels long ago now. O'Neil has always been an under the radar elite tackle and has been consistently healthy since his ACL tear two years ago.
He's easily become one of the best right tackles in the entire league. He had an 80.8 overall grade in 2024 according to PFF, ranking 12th at his position. He allowed very few pressures and only two sacks.
O'Neil has proven to be a reliable, consistent, durable leader for the Vikings' offensive line. He's a two time Pro Bowler. Minnesota paid him handsomely back in 2021, and for very good reason.
Jordan Addison

Addison will probably be suspended to start the year due to a DUI. However, Addison is one of the best wide receiver twos in the league and is honestly not that far behind Jefferson in terms of talent, but he does need to find a way to stay out of trouble.
As far as talent is concerned, he's good. An excellent route runner who can create separation and has solid contested catch abilities, he can be a big playmaker and a red zone threat. It's hard to stand out when you have Justin Jefferson as the headline superstar, but Jordan Addison is respectable in his own right.
He finished with 875 yards and 9 touchdowns in 15 games. While a slight decline from his rookie year, he's still a very good wide receiver just as long as he can stay out of trouble off the field.
TJ Hockenson

Coming back from his injury two years ago (thanks, Kerby Joseph), Hockenson was solid last year. He played half the season and still looked like his old elite self, so hopefully he has much more of an impact this year. He was good with the Lions but has arguably been even better with the Vikings.
Hockenson has good hands and great reception abilities. He sees a large volume of targets and receptions as well. He definitely can be a top tier tight end talent wise, but the injury history is concerning. If anything, he's a decent security blanket for McCarthy to work with.
2025 should be a bounce back year for TJ. Considering he missed time due to injury, his 2024 stats aren't even half bad. I expect him to be a top 10 tight end in the NFL this season.
Jonathan Greenard

Greenard had big shoes to fill in replacing Hunter last year. However, I believe he met expectations by having the best season of his career and being the best defensive player the Vikings have to offer.
He's a top end EDGE rusher with the most sacks on the team, and he's one of the league leaders in tackles for loss. He has impressive pressure numbers, showing his strong ability to get to the quarterback.
Greenard is a key component on a solid Vikings defense, and he's a veteran leader. In his first season with the Vikings, he had arguably the best season of his career. There's a reason why he's under contract through 2027. Greenard is arguably one of the most underrated EDGE rushers in the league.
Andrew Van Ginkel

Andrew Van Ginkel had a very good 2024 season, making Second Team All Pro and a Pro Bowl. He recorded double digit sacks and two interceptions.
He's a great piece opposite of Greenard. Van Ginkel had career highs in tackles (79), tackles for loss (18), and sacks (11.5). He's an all around solid addition to the Vikings' defense and should continue to be a quality asset for the foreseeable future.
Sometimes, just a change of scenery is all you need. That seems to be the case with Van Ginkel.
Aaron Jones

Aaron LaRae Jones, born on December 2, 1994, is an American professional football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UTEP Miners and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In seven seasons... read more

Aaron Jones is a solid running back coming off the best statistical season of his career. He was able to play all 17 games last year but did have some nagging injuries that hampered him.
When he's healthy, he's arguably one of the best running backs in the league. That seems to be the key phrase, "when healthy." He does have a mild injury history, and he'll turn 31 years old this season, so age is also a factor.
Jones has been good in the past. As a Packer, he was a menace. I was a little surprised they didn't bring him back. Regardless, he's a capable player who can make big plays and can also be a capable receiver. He's a pretty dynamic running back who should continue to be a productive weapon for the Vikings.
Josh Metellus

Underrated player who pretty much can fill in anywhere he's asked to. With Bynum gone, he will probably swap back and forth at safety with Theo Jackson.
Metellus checks all the boxes you're looking for. He recently turned 27, so he still has plenty of productive years left in his career. He's also never had any major injuries. Metellus has played more than 2,000 defensive snaps combined over the last two seasons.
His statistics also stand out. Just to highlight: in the last two seasons, Metellus has totaled more than 150 tackles, five forced fumbles, three interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. To top it off, he is a leader in the locker room, a captain respected by veterans, and a trusted confidant for young players.
Harrison Smith

Harrison Smith is an American football safety who has played his entire professional career with the Minnesota Vikings. He was selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Smith is known for his versatility, strong tackling, and leadership on the field.

Smith is back for what will probably be his last year in the NFL. He has yet to have a bad or even mediocre year, as he is still a great veteran in the secondary.
He has excellent longevity and consistency, with six Pro Bowls, a First Team All Pro, and a Second Team All Pro. He's one of only a handful of players to make the "35-20 club," meaning he has 35 career interceptions and 20 career sacks. He's been very versatile, playing multiple positions in the secondary, and has been an effective and efficient blitz player, always making big plays.
Smith is a true leader for the Vikings and has a case for Hall of Fame consideration. Whether or not he makes it in is another debate entirely. What's not up for debate is the impact he's had on the Vikings for over a decade.