Observation about roster turnover

[Montana Tom]

With the addition of Stephon Gilmore, it seems to have added an exclamation point on the comprehensive changes to our roster.

Looking objectively (and incompletely, I admit), it is really a different team, and it's built to win now, if we get a few awkward bounces of the football to go our way.

QB:  out Cousins and the Passtronaut.  In...Sam Darnold, JJM (but out for the season, so the future looks bright), and Matt Corral (temporarily...at this point Jaren Hall is going to make Corral pointless)
RB:  out the Alexander Mattison experiment, and Cam Akers.  In Aaron Jones (and will Kene Nwangu stay healthy...we've seen so little of him)
WR:  out KJ Osborn.  In...hard to say who is going to end up being WR3, 4 and 5 but some of those new faces, like new UDFA Jeshaun Jones show promise
TE:  out...not counting Hockenson out, at least not long term.  In new face Robert Tonyan most likely.  I don't see N'Keal Harry sticking with his position change.
Interior OL:  out NOBODY.  In...I actually liked new draft picks Jurgens and Rouse...not to start, but for future development
OLB/EDGE:  out Hunter.  In...Greenard, Van Ginkel and DROY(?) Dallas Turner.  But I also like a couple of the UDFA's here that I think will stick.  Bo Richter and Gabe Murphy in particular.
Interior DL:  out...NOBODY of consequence.  In...Jerry Tillery, sorry I am not impressed.  I kinda like the chances of Levi Drake Rodriguez and I am hearing dark horse noise about UDFA Taki Taimani.  And welcome back James Lynch after a year of recovering.  So is he old or new?  Take your pick.
LB:  out...Jordan Hicks.  In...welcome home Blake Cashman. 
CB:  out Mekhi Blackmon (injury), RIP Khyree Jackson (life is not fair, we were hoping for great things).  In Shaq Griffin, Stephon Gilmore, and maybe darkhorse Nudie McGlothern? 
S:  out NOBODY.  In...did we just see the coming-back-from-the-dead Lewis Cine against Cleveland?  I have turned a 180 based on single exhibition game performance and am hopeful, if only for redemption for Kwesi's first #1 pick.
Special Teams:  Out...Greg Joseph, see ya in Green Bay  In:  Will Reichard from Alabama.  Turning into a heckuva upgrade.  Someone please check that kid's veins to see that there's blood in there...cuz it seems like it's icewater from this angle.

Sure the roster hasn't been finalized.  Some of the recent signings since March (from FA, from the draft and UDFA's that I specifically called out) won't make the roster, and maybe have a better shot at PS.  Of course, there will always be surprises.

But with last season's dumpster fire at QB after Cousin's injury, I am frankly impressed at what Kwesi has turned into a fairly comprehensive makeover at more than half the positions.  I was assuming this was going to be a throwaway season, getting queued up for 2025.  I don't think that either KOC or Kwesi shared that view, based on their actions.

[Zanary]

I keep saying...Darnold has a real chance at redemption, maybe even more than a year's worth, if he plays up to his potential with the weapons he'll have this season. The upgraded running game with Aaron Jones should help that along as well.
I can't weep much for the loss of KJ and Mattison, as both were painfully afflicted with the dropsies last season and drove me closer to alcoholism.
The IOL has to play better for the offense to step forward, really, and that's been true for years. We have great OTs, we need the middle of that bunch to build on last season and get good.
I think we may miss Hunter less than we fear, I know I won't miss the annual contract drama.
Reichard looks positively amazing so far, and I'd love for our kicking to get to years of consistent goodness, again.

The coaches could and would be heroes if they manage to integrate the new additions and have the team firing well out of the gate. The weapons are actually there, it's all about the gelling.

[badgervike]

I keep saying...Darnold has a real chance at redemption, maybe even more than a year's worth, if he plays up to his potential with the weapons he'll have this season. The upgraded running game with Aaron Jones should help that along as well.
I can't weep much for the loss of KJ and Mattison, as both were painfully afflicted with the dropsies last season and drove me closer to alcoholism.
The IOL has to play better for the offense to step forward, really, and that's been true for years. We have great OTs, we need the middle of that bunch to build on last season and get good.
I think we may miss Hunter less than we fear, I know I won't miss the annual contract drama.
Reichard looks positively amazing so far, and I'd love for our kicking to get to years of consistent goodness, again.

The coaches could and would be heroes if they manage to integrate the new additions and have the team firing well out of the gate. The weapons are actually there, it's all about the gelling.

I worry about the IOL as well.  Hopefully, Darnold's mobility (and JJ next year) helps to mask that bull rush up the middle that has killed us in the Cousins era particularly with some OTs that can block in space.

[MaroonBells]

And you don't even mention Jalen Nailor. I think if there is one new Viking player who could get some league-wide attention it will be him. I think the WR depth chart is just about set with Jefferson, Addison, Nailor, Powell and T Jackson.

Re: the defense: Really can't wait to see Turner, Greenard, and Van Ginkel on the field at the same time.

[JR44]

While the 1st draft was a disaster and last year was an improvement (pending Addison's ability to mature), however this year's entire off season was a complete home run, feel like we navigated through a very challenging situation with Cousins perfectly and made the right call in the long run for the franchise. Really liked the Greenard and Van Ginkel signings to help offset losing Hunter. Think bringing back Brandel is going to be a huge move for us. Love JJ, think we got our QB of the future, think Rouse and Jurgens could end up being staples of the OL. We have a number of UDFAs with a legit shot of making the team with McGlothern, Taimani, Gant, Murphy, Jones. And we also locked up our best player! This off season definitely went a long way to restocking the roster!

[Vanguard83]

Well, if he can't make it with this group of receivers that'll be quite telling for sure. Kinda worried about his intermediate throws. The knock on him is that he hasn't had a "supporting cast" and some questionable decision making. My worry with Darnold is it seems like he "overthinks" and that's not good. Read and get the ball out quickly. But what do I know.

[purplefaithful]

I'm preparing myself for:


Darnold > Mond, Mullens, Passtronaut
Darnold < Cousins

[MaroonBells]

I'm preparing myself for:


Darnold > Mond, Mullens, Passtronaut
Darnold < Cousins

I think you're exactly right. But the distance between those two is measured in light years. I'll take the midpoint and be happy.

[StickierBuns]

I'm preparing myself for:


Darnold > Mond, Mullens, Passtronaut
Darnold < Cousins

Yep, for sure. We need just enough wins to put our Draft spot at around #13 so we miss out on generational talent, yet probably trade down to miss more talent and pick up that coveted extra 3rd and 4th round pick that won't make the team, but the extra 7th rounder will.

[Montana Tom]

And you don't even mention Jalen Nailor. I think if there is one new Viking player who could get some league-wide attention it will be him. I think the WR depth chart is just about set with Jefferson, Addison, Nailor, Powell and T Jackson.

Re: the defense: Really can't wait to see Turner, Greenard, and Van Ginkel on the field at the same time.

I didn't mention Nailor or several others who are showing up because this is his third year.  I was mostly focusing on roster turnover, new faces.
But yes, Nailor (and Nwangyu) both seem ready to break out...barring the dreaded injury bug.