I was hoping to be thinking about this about a month from now. The Minnesota Vikings weren’t supposed to be starting the offseason until after the Super Bowl. Not this year. Maybe next year. Hopefully soon. I didn’t want this Vikings season to end because it was so damn much fun. I wanted that fun to continue. I wanted to continue to enjoy this team. Now, the season and the fun is sadly done. Here are some of the players and a coach that helped make the 2022 Minnesota Vikings one of the most enjoyable teams and seasons I’ve ever known.
Most Valuable Player
Justin Jefferson, WR
There’s really no other choice. From ripping apart the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 to his ridiculous catch that ignited the comeback against the Buffalo Bills, Jefferson was brilliant in his third season.
Offensive Player of the Year
Kirk Cousins, QB
Many of his legion of critics honked all season that this wasn’t Kirk Cousins’ best season. It’s not surprising. I doubt that those critics even watch the games. They just configure the stats to support a narrative. This was Cousins’ best season and it isn’t close. 13 wins, 11 one-score wins and repeated late-game comebacks (including one from an amazing 33-point deficit) and the quarterback isn’t playing well? That’s some manufactured nonsense. I’m hoping that this season was just the first step of a very successful few seasons with Kirk Cousins and Kevin O’Connell guiding the Vikings.
Defensive Player of the Year
Danielle Hunter, OLB
This is a tough one as the 2022 Vikings defense was terrible. Za’Darius Smith was the best defensive player over the first half of the season. Danielle Hunter was good to very good throughout the season.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Ryan Wright, P
Ryan Wright was terrific in his rookie season. 47.4 average, 32 punts downed inside the 20, and a single touchback. He repeatedly flipped the field for his team. Only a couple of his 73 punts failed to achieve their intended purpose.
Newcomer of the Year
T.J. Hockenson, TE
This was probably going to Za’Darius Smith until the Vikings made the in-season trade for T.J. Hockenson. It was a thunderbolt of a trade as players of his talent and age are rarely moved in the middle of the season. Hockenson immediately became the team’s #2 receiving threat after Jefferson. He’s the Vikings franchise tight end moving forward.
Comeback Player of the Year
Danielle Hunter, OLB
After missing nearly all of the last two seasons, Danielle Hunter’s return to form was a revelation. Despite playing in a new defense that rarely worked as intended, he consistently made his return felt throughout the season.
Most Improved Player of the Year
Garrett Bradbury, C
After three disappointing seasons, Garrett Bradbury finally played close to the player that the Vikings thought they were getting with a first round pick. He enters free agency this offseason. Was his improved play enough for the team to bring him back?
Assistant Coach of the Year
Matt Daniels, Special Teams Coordinator
It wasn’t always pretty but special teams might’ve been the most reliable unit. There were too many missed extra point kicks. There was a back-breaking kick return score allowed. There was an unfortunate fake punt allowed. The low moments were few. The high moments were many. The 2022 Vikings special teams unit was a strength and contributed greatly to many of the 13 wins.
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