Ranking every NFL team’s offensive supporting cast post-draft
9. Minnesota Vikings
RB: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, Mike Boone (24/25)
Even though he came up limping towards the end of the season, Dalvin Cook cemented himself as a top-five running back in the league after putting up over 1,600 total yards and 13 touchdowns as the lead runner for Minnesota. His backup, Alexander Mattison, is one of the best backups in the league. He averaged a better yards per carry than Cook and performed well in relief. Even Ameer Abdullah and Mike Boone were suitable replacements during Mattison’s absence. This unit is fully loaded and rivals any other running back group in the league.
WR: Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Tajae Sharpe, Olabisi Johnson (20/25)
This unit took a big hit once Stefon Diggs was traded to Buffalo, but there is still a lot of talent on the roster. Thielen is still a capable No. 1 option in this offense, being only one season removed from his 1,300-yard campaign in 2018. He will now be paired with one of the best college slot receivers in this draft class, Justin Jefferson; Jefferson led all slot receivers in contested catch rate and ranked second in broken tackles and plays of 15 yards or more according to PFF. Unfortunately, the lack of viable depth behind him hurts this unit’s upside.
TE: Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr. (23/25)
Kyle Rudolph may not be flashy, but he’s been incredibly consistent throughout his entire career. Rudolph has averaged over nine yards per reception and caught at least four touchdowns in each of the past five years; he’s also not missed a single game since 2014. Irv Smith Jr. has the potential to be this year’s Dallas Goedert, as his route running ability and large frame make him a viable No. 2 tight end. This tight end room is one of the most solid groups in the league.
Offensive Line: Riley Reiff, Pat Elfein, Garrett Bradbury, Dru Samia, Ezra Cleveland (21/25)
The Vikings’ offensive line is extremely underrated; this unit produced a top-five rushing offense and allowed the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL. Kirk Cousins was given plenty of time to find Adam Theilen and Stefon Diggs deep in 2019, allowing him to become one of the best quarterbacks in terms of overall completion percentage and deep completion percentage. Ezra Cleveland’s addition should only make them better.
Total Score: 88/100
Summary: While there was a lot of talk that the Vikings’ supporting cast got much worse once Diggs left town, they still rank in my top-ten; they have incredible depth everywhere except in the wide receiver room, but they should overcome it if Jefferson can show progress early on. With a great offensive line in front of him and talented weapons at tight end and running back, Cousins should once again have a highly efficient season.