8 Vikings Starters Who Need to Be Replaced in 2024 and Candidates for Each Role (2024)

The Minnesota Vikings again saw a large chunk of roster turnover during the 2024 offseason.

Eight Vikings starters from the 2023 season are now employed elsewhere, and the team will need to find replacements for these players in 2024. Here is a look at the departed starters as well as potential candidates to replace them in 2024.

QB Kirk Cousins

The Candidates:

• Sam Darnold
• J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota’s 2024 offseason has revolved around the quarterback position because of Kirk Cousins’ departure for the Atlanta Falcons. For the past six seasons, Cousins has been the steady presence for the Vikings at the QB1 spot, and now, they need to figure out a new Week 1 starter for the 2024 regular season.

Luckily, the Vikings did not beat around the bush to try and find solutions. Sam Darnold signed with the team on a one-year, $10 million contract to serve as the newest veteran in the room. Then, Minnesota also brought aboard J.J. McCarthy by selecting him with the 10th overall pick in this spring’s draft. The Vikings have a couple solid options at the position, and this summer’s training camp will be filled with evaluations of both players.

RB Alexander Mattison

The Candidates:

• Aaron Jones
• Ty Chandler

After Alexander Mattison was the primary starter for the Vikings at running back in 2023, he was released after a bit of a disappointing season and found a new landing spot with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings already had a bit of a backup plan in place with Ty Chandler, but they went out in free agency and landed him a backfield partner in Aaron Jones, who was released by the Green Bay Packers this spring.

WR K.J. Osborn

The Candidates:

• Brandon Powell
• Jalen Nailor
• Trent Sherfield

K.J. Osborn has been one of the most consistent WR3s in the NFL over the past few years, but he now resides in New England. As a result, the Vikings have an interesting battle on their hands this summer to fill that role in 2024.

Brandon Powell is the veteran in the room who held down that role during Justin Jefferson’s time on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Jalen Nailor could compete for that job as well if he is able to stay healthy this year, and Trent Sherfield put together a strong season in this role during the 2022 season with the Miami Dolphins.

LG Dalton Risner

The Candidates:

• Blake Brandel
• Dan Feeney
• Michael Jurgens

For now, Dalton Risner is not a Minnesota Viking, which means the Vikings need to prepare to have a different left guard for the 2024 season. Blake Brandel switched from offensive tackle to guard last season and made two starts at right guard, though he hasn’t played a snap at left guard to this point in his career.

If that role proves to be a challenge, Dan Feeney was the main acquisition for the Vikings to compete for that job after spending much of his early career at the position. Michael Jurgens also could be a sneaky contender after being selected in the seventh round out of Wake Forest.

OLBs Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum

The Candidates:

• Jonathan Greenard
• Andrew Van Ginkel
• Dallas Turner

The Vikings need to replace not one, but two outside linebacker roles this year after both Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum left in free agency. Luckily, Minnesota added plenty of talent throughout the offseason at the position with veterans Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel joining the team in free agency while Dallas Turner was selected in the first round of the draft.

Of course, these will be the three main contenders for time at the position in 2024, but undrafted free agents Gabriel Murphy and Bo Richter could compete for roster spots this season. Neither of Andre Carter or Patrick Jones should be ignored, either.

LB Jordan Hicks

The Candidates:

• Blake Cashman
• Kamu Grugier-Hill
• Brian Asamoah

Jordan Hicks became the latest Viking to head to Cleveland this spring after both Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson did so in 2023. As a result, the Vikings have an open linebacker spot. Blake Cashman should be the favorite to win the starting role, but the Vikings also signed Kamu Grugier-Hill in free agency, and perhaps Brian Asamoah can get back onto the field after an injury-riddled 2023 limited his playing time.

K Greg Joseph

The Candidates:

• John Parker Romo
• Will Reichard

The kicker battle is on in Minnesota after Greg Joseph left for the Green Bay Packers this spring. Neither John Parker Romo or Will Reichard have NFL kicking experience, so it will be interesting to see which player the Vikings turn to this year.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor ofPurplePTSD.com.When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account:@Freyed_Chicken.