When looking at the Minnesota Vikings roster, it has some high-end talent across the board. They have done a great job shaping the roster with premium talent and that is where the top players currently lie.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prioritizes premium positions consistently, especially after a rough 2022 NFL Draft. Having that experience has helped him project forward in a better light.
Pro Football Network put together their top 100 players in the National Football League and they have three Vikings players in their top 100.
Jefferson is arguably the best wide receiver in the National Football League and he is according to PFN. He slots one spot higher than Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and it’s for good reason.
Although he missed seven games with a hamstring injury, Justin Jefferson still finished the 2023 campaign with 1,074 receiving yards. He’s posted more receiving yards (5,899) through his first four NFL seasons than any player in league history.
Jefferson is the all-time leader in receiving yards per game (98.3) and is 12+ yards per game ahead of second-place Calvin Johnson.
Jefferson won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the league with 128 catches and 1,809 yards, and he is now the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback after inking a $35 million per year extension in June.
What they don’t mention is that Jefferson is just the third wide receiver in NFL history to record 1,000 yards receiving in a single season after playing in 10 or less games.
Darrisaw is the 10th-ranked offensive lineman and the seventh-ranked offensive tackle. ESPN recently conducted a poll that ranked Darrisaw sixth at his position.
Injuries – including two 2022 concussions and ankle and groin issues in 2023 – have hindered Christian Darrisaw’s availability over three NFL seasons. But the Minnesota Vikings left tackle has been elite when healthy.
Last year, Darrisaw ranked fourth among OTs in PFF’s pass-blocking grades in true pass sets, which exclude play action, screens, quick game, and other tactics that make life easier on offensive linemen.
Hockenson makes the list despite having torn his ACL on Christmas Eve. When he comes back, expectations are that he returns to the form of a top-five tight end in the National Football League.
T.J. Hockenson was in the midst of a career-best season (95-960-5) before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 16. A reliably explosive athlete, Hockenson posted 13 catches of 20+ yards, second-most among tight ends. He’s not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
How Hockenson recovers – and meshes with Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy – will determine where he lands on the 2025 version of The PFN 100.
The interesting thing here is PFN alludes to Hockenson potentially ranking higher if he wasn’t injured.
Make sure to check out our home page every day for the best and latest Minnesota Vikings news and analysis.
