2022 NFL Power Rankings Early Predictions

No. 23: MMQB Staff – Sports Illustrated

The Mike Zimmer era is over, putting the Vikings on a long list of teams looking at an upcoming transition. But with Kirk Cousins’ contract making it likely he’ll return, this team may be a year away from looking more drastically different.

No. 18: Staff – Bleacher Report

The times they are-a-changing in the Twin Cities.

After eight seasons as the team’s head coach, Mike Zimmer was sent packing. The Vikings were the last team to fill their vacancy, eventually settling on a philosophy shift by hiring Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.

O’Connell inherits a fair amount of talent on that side of the ball. Dalvin Cook is a top-10 (if not top-five) running back. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are one of the league’s more formidable one-two punches at wideout. And Minnesota’s offensive line showed some improvement in 2021 with the addition of rookie Christian Darrisaw.

That leaves the big question — what to do about Kirk Cousins?

Even if Cousins does stick around (and recent reports indicate he will), Minnesota has to do something about his $45 million cap hit — a hit that leaves Minnesota over $15 million over the projected salary cap for 2022.