LA Vikings prove once again to have an eye for an excellent bargain…

As the Minnesota Vikings approach the 2024 season, this is clearly a year of the change for a team that continues to search for its first Super Bowl championship.

After allowing both Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter to leave via free agency in the offseason, the team has clearly altered its personality and leadership. Those decisions were by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. The pressure for a positive outcome this season is clearly on both men.

But as far as the players are concerned, there are a number of candidates who will bear the most responsibility for the team’s results this season. After letting Cousins walk away and sign with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings have brought in Sam Darnold to serve as their starting quarterback — at least until rookie J.J. McCarthy is ready to take over as QB1.

Darnold appears to be a decent place holder, but there is nothing in his past performances to indicate that he can lead this team consistently in the first month or two of the season. The Vikings are up against it in the first part of the season, as they follow a reasonable season opener against the New York Giants with tough games against the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers before going to London to play the New York Jets.