The Minnesota Vikings said goodbye to plenty of familiar faces last offseason so we decided to check in on how those guys are doing in their first season with a new team. Let’s dive in…
Adam Thielen
Thielen was released by the Vikings last March as he looked to get paid and become the top option in an offense. The Minnesota native has accomplished some of those goals but it hasn’t led to the Super Bowl aspirations Thielen envisioned after signing a three-year, $25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Thielen’s stats have been impressive, catching 77 passes for 728 yards and four touchdowns, but the Panthers own the worst record in the NFL at 1-10 entering Sunday’s games.
Perhaps things would be different if Carolina had executed its alleged initial plan to draft C.J. Stroud over Bryce Young or Thielen had convinced Frank Reich to make Andy Dalton the starter. But while Thielen has become a top option, it hasn’t produced a winner in Carolina.
Dalvin Cook
While Thielen’s situation was resolved quickly during the offseason, Cook’s carried a lot more drama. Set to earn $14 million this season, Cook collected a $2 million injury guarantee after getting surgery on his shoulder in March and the Vikings waited until June to release him.
Cook’s free agency tour lit up social media and had New York Jets fans chanting his name before signing a one-year, $7 million contract to team with Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers lasted one series before tearing his Achilles and Cook hasn’t found the bellcow role he was looking for. The 28-year-old has 50 carries for 162 yards and no touchdowns while taking a back seat to Breece Hall while the Jets have slumped to a 4-7 record.
Eric Kendricks
A future Ring of Honor candidate, Kendricks was released by the Vikings in February before signing a two-year, $13.25 million contract with his hometown Los Angeles Chargers.
Kendricks has collected 66 total tackles including three for loss in nine games this season, but some of the concerns about his game have remained. According to PFF, Kendricks grades 54th among 84 qualifying linebackers in overall grade but is 64th in coverage grades.
With a 106.4 passer rating allowed in coverage, Kendricks has become an expensive subpackage player as the Chargers are 4-7 on the season.
Za’Darius Smith
Smith looked for a raise after recording 10 sacks a year ago, but it appears the Vikings made the right decision when they traded him to the Cleveland Browns in May.
The 31-year-old has just 2.5 sacks in 11 games and ranks 27th among all edge rushers with 38 pressures this season. Smith still ranks 19th among 117 qualifying pass rushers in PFF’s pass-rushing grades but at a $10.5 million price tag, the Vikings decided to go with a one-year, $13 million deal with Marcus Davenport.
Davenport has been a bust after suffering an ankle injury that has limited him to four games this season but still gives the Vikings flexibility to find a younger edge rusher next season.
Patrick Peterson
Peterson wanted to return to the Vikings last spring but ultimately decided to sign a two-year, $14 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
Peterson’s first season with the Steelers hasn’t gone well as he grades 85th out of 132 qualifying corners in overall grade and has allowed a 100.2 passer rating in coverage, according to PFF.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson signed a four-year, $57 million contract with the Browns in free agency but he’s been more of a replaceable piece in his first season in Cleveland.
While Tomlinson is closing in on a career-high in sacks (3 sacks) he has just 18 total tackles and ranks 52nd among 137 qualifying defensive tackles in overall grade this season.
The Browns haven’t been held back, however, as they enter Sunday with a 7-4 record.
