The "next year" mantra- i dont think it flys with this team.
If the vikings wish to slay the monkey. The window is now.

The offensive line- i dont see any meaningful fix available. Gilmore is likely gone on defense.
Key players are another year older.... And the schedule lines up some juggernats in 2025.

Sure, theres extra cap room. But the draft i 1 1st round picks. 2 5th rounders & an assumed comp pick. Possibly, the coaching staff gets raided as well.

As well, the JJ McCarthy moment should rightfully begin. Will Addison remain a viking? Darnold?
Hit man harry & gilmore likely retire. Aaron Jones?

I havent looked at impending free agents. But id imagine a few starters leave amongst names i havent mentioned.

My point is- 2024 was a box of puzzle pieces- it all fit into the frame with near perfection. Cobbled via free agency. A mixture of minimal youthful studs and more than its fair share of 2nd/3rd contract actors. This is not the Packers or Chiefs or Eagles built via years of astute drafts. Its hard to look at this squad and declare. "Theyre only going to get better together with experience."

Now maybe? JJ Mac turns out to be a home run. Maybe Kwesi turns his few draft picks & extra cap space into gold. Creating a better fitting puzzle than occured in '24. In my mind. Statistically speaking- the odds stack opposite. The off season moves slide back to the mean.

It is NOW. Like it or not.

As well, im going to say it aloud. Even if Sam had an mvp night yesterday in detroit. Even if Sam takes the team deep in the playoffs.
Tag him & trade him. Get younger.
Fix the 2 lines- find some stud cb's.

Playoff football requires 2 building blocks as the priority foundation.
Run the ball & stop the run.

139 yards gained By Gibbs last night.
Remove the big gainer by Akers. The viking run game was a near endless supply of 2 yard plunges.

Thats not the narrative from the fans & talking heads. Nope. Its darnolds bad night. Its missed fg's. Blown opportunities.

But- im just saying. If the lions are worried about a juggernaut run game. If Most of Gibbs runs gain 1 yard instead of 5 yards.
Aaron Glenns defense gets gashed and Jared Goff- not Sam Darnold. Is spending most of the night on his arse.

Without having the big uglies playing for you, dominating nfl trench warfare? A teams playoff fate becomes the big ugly. How much better would Cashman, Van Krinkle, Pace & Dallas Turner be?
With guys like DJ Reader, Calais Campbell, Vita Vea fronting them, requiring double teams.

How much better would the viking pass game be?
If the o-line opened up 4-5 yard rushing lanes on a regular basis.

What Aaron Glenn exposed? Its that the vikings are a 1 dimension offense. If you take away the pass game? The offense is not capable- like Philly, Baltimore, Detroit, KC...denver.
Of running 40 times for 250 & 3tds while burning 40 minutes if clock.

The aerial circus is fun. It sells tickets. Rarely does it stand alone & win superbowls.

It remains- FOOTBALL 101.