Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) lines up on defense during the NFC wild card matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images. The Minnesota Vikings said sayonara to about 15 players from the 2024 roster this offseason, trimming the ledger for 2025 Super Bowl contendership and onboarding other impactful free agents and rookies.
The Vikings lost a handful of players and coaches this offseason and some of those departures will leave a mark. These are the exits that could haunt the team this season.
The club has +2200 Super Bowl odds this year, which ranks around 10th-best in the NFL, believe it or not. Maybe this will be the year.
But lets take a glance back and identify some players that the Vikings could miss this season. Ranked in ascending order No. 1 = most crucial loss Kevin OConnells team might like to have these men on the 2025 roster when its all said and done.
Camryn Bynum, Sam Darnold, Grant Udinski, and Shaquill Griffin chose new paths in 2025, and fans could look back and wonder, What might have been?
Foremost, there is good news here. If the Vikings are in the mood, they can sign Griffin tonight. He remains a free agent.
Griffin makes the cut at No. 4 because he is the quintessential the very definition of a spot starter. For instance, if Byron Murphy Jr. or Isaiah Rodgers ruptured something in the preseason, Vikings fans could turn to their pals and say, Well, at least we have Shaq Griffin.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1) celebrates after intercepting a pass late in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 1, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images They cant say that right now, and the next best option for the analogy might be Jeff Okudah, whom the Vikings added in March.
Opposing quarterbacks targeted Griffin 57 times in 2024, and he allowed a 75.8 passer rating against. Thats pretty damn efficient.
The latest and greatest theory, courtesy of Trojan Wire, claims Griffin could sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Matt Zemek wrote last weekend, The Las Vegas Raiders dont have a finished roster, and they want to create position battles heading into preseason camp. Pete Carroll and the Vegas braintrust have more acquisitions to consider. They recently brought in Shaquill Griffin for a workout, but did not sign the NFL cornerback to a deal.
Shaquill Griffins familiarity with Pete Carrolls scheme and process obviously works in his favor. However, a few years can make a huge difference in terms of speed, adaptability, and other measurable elements of NFL players. Griffin would have to measure up. Lets see if the Raiders do take a chance on him.
We get it. You dont like seeing Darnold in this piece. We dont care that he left, either, especially after his dreadful showing against the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard Round.
Yet, lets level set. Darnold delivered 36 touchdowns for the 2024 Vikings, on the back of 4,319 passing yards, fully reclaiming his career like Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. All those forecasts and theories from last summer were correct. Darnold, indeed, had a Baker Mayfield season.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) rolls out to complete a pass to tight end Josh Oliver (84) during first-half action against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 17, 2024, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images If J.J. McCarthy posts 4,319 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in 2025, onlookers will do cartwheels every weekend and probably on weekdays, too. The fact remains that he likely wont. Rookies or basically-rookies, like McCarthy, dont do that.
Theres always a chance that McCarthy is slow to develop, and fans, in hindsight, wish Darnold wouldve stuck around for one more year. Darnold had to be listed here for full disclosure.
Bynum was the charismatic soul of the Vikings defense in 2023 and 2024. Now, he plays for the Indianapolis Colts.
Folks are eager to get a look at Theo Jackson as Bynums primary replacement, and rightfully so. Jackson has habitually made the most of his opportunity each time the Vikings have tossed him on the field.
Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) celebrates his fourth-quarter interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Have you considered, however, that Jackson could have a little Blake Brandel in him? That is a deep sleeper on the depth chart promoted by the same coaching staff who just isnt a starting-caliber commodity.
We dont think that will happen with Jackson, but if so, Bynum will appear pretty enticing in Indianapolis.
Some have claimed that Udinkisi was McCarthys right-hand man during McCarthys meniscus recovery last year. Josh McCown tended to Darnold, and Udinski worked with McCarthy or so the theory goes.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski speaks to reporters during the teams first organized team activity on May 19, 2025, at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images If so, McCarthy lost his mentor after just a few months in the league, as Udinski swiped a sweet promotion with the Jacksonville Jaguars to run their offense.
Without Udinksi, McCarthy will have to lean on Kevin OConnell, which isnt the worst thing in the world trusting your maturation with the quarterback whisperer.
