Three hottest seats on the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings had a disappointing 2023, finishing 7-10 after entering the year with high expectations. Following some significant changes, the 2024 team is taking shape, but a few positions within the franchise need to step up, or they might be shipped out. 

With that in mind, here are three hottest seats on the Vikings.  

Center Garrett Bradbury 

After an up-and-down five seasons with the Vikings, it appears Bradbury will be the team's starting center for another year. However, this might be his final season to assert himself. 

Last season, Bradbury often struggled in protection, putting pressure on a carousel of quarterbacks for the Vikings. In 2023, he graded 21st (60.9) among centers who played 50 percent or more of their team's snaps in 2023, per Pro Football Focus.   

In year six, the Vikings are probably looking for a lot more from a center selected 18th overall in 2019. Though a potential future replacement might be coming in this April's draft, they probably won't be chosen as high. 

Quarterback Jaren Hall 

Kirk Cousins's departure to the Atlanta Falcons left a massive hole at quarterback, which many thought offered Hall an opportunity. However, veteran Nick Mullens and offseason acquisition Sam Darnold are seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, putting his roster spot in danger. 

The 2023 fifth-round pick got a brief but uneventful shot at starting last year, appearing in three games (two starts) as Vikings quarterbacks dropped like flies. But that appears to be the only chance he'll get unless he steals away the No. 1 job in training camp. 

Furthermore, there's a distinct possibility that the Vikings might select a QB high in this year's draft, which would all but eliminate Hall from the conversation. 

Head coach Kevin O'Connell 

Following a year filled with injuries and bad luck, it'd be hard to say that O'Connell is on the hot seat entering the 2024 campaign. However, it might be warming a bit heading into year three with the franchise. 

Last season wasn't without hopes of a winning campaign and perhaps a deep playoff push. Sure, Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury derailed things, but the quarterback guru could not right the ship with each replacement provided. 

Now that Cousins is gone, whether or not things improve with Darnold or someone else potentially at the helm remains up in the air. If they don't, the Vikings might decide to go in a different direction because, after all, the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" type of league.