Should Vikings Really Go All-In on Winning Now?

March is nearly upon us. That means roster moves across the NFL are about to kick into overdrive. And if the Minnesota Vikings want to contend for a Super Bowl in 2023, they’ll have to fill a lot of personnel holes and they will have to do it while being one of the most salary cap strapped teams in the NFL.

The #Vikings should be about $22M over the salary cap after future signings. We have them ranked 31st in draft capital using mine and @PFF_Brad chart.

— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) January 16, 2023

In order to maneuver around their cap constraints, the Vikings will have to push money down the road for guys like Kirk Cousins and Brian O’Neill. It would mean agreeing to free agent contracts that are light on the salary cap in early years, but cost them arms and legs down the road. In other words, they’ll have to mortgage some of their future if they want to have any chance of competing in the present.

Vikings Super Bowl odds are not good…

And that’s what they’ll likely do. The Wilfs want to be competitive every year because that’s what makes them money. If they weren’t willing to blow things up last offseason, after bringing in a new coach and GM, then they probably never will.

But is “going for it” the smartest option for the 2023-24 Minnesota Vikings if the ultimate goal is winning a Super Bowl? Something they are yet to do in their 60+ years as an NFL franchise? Currently, DraftKings has the Vikings as +4500 underdogs to do the impossible next season, the 19th best odds in the league.

Those odds are lower than both the Saints and Ravens, neither of which currently have a quarterback. The hapless Broncos, Jets and Jaguars sit ahead of the purple, as well. Even the Detroit Lions have a better chance of winning the 2023-24 Super Bowl than the Minnesota Vikings right now. Think about that.

Word is the #Saints have a level of interest in FA QB Baker Mayfield.

They still want to sign Derek Carr, but should he find more money elsewhere, New Orleans could target Mayfield.

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 19, 2023

Vikings likely to go for it… but should they?

What does Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have to do to improve their perceived chances? Oh not much, just find fixes at cornerback, defensive tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, safety, wide receiver, center, and guard. All while starting $20+ million in the hole.

Maybe Kwesi works a miracle and the Vikings pull off a successful offseason that leads to a deep playoff run. If so, sign him to a lifetime contract as Vikings’ President of Football Operations. But from an objective standpoint, hitting the short-term rebuild button could look like the better option, in retrospect.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan