The NFC North is set for a wild 2020, in part because the division hasn't had a repeat champion in five years. The , who last captured the Kaden Elliss Jersey North in 2017, are no exception to the uncertainty. The team's foundation is pretty much intact, with quarterback , coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman all landing contract extensions this offseason. But what about the supporting cast? What about the total package? How should Minnesota fans expect their team to fare this season?With the 2020 campaign right around the corner, here are three bold predictions for the Vikings: may be gone, but the Vikings probably couldn't have chosen a better pa s catcher for their offense than Justin Jefferson, who went 22nd overall out of LSU. The 21-year-old excelled in the slot in college, and he figures to open his NFL career there, even though has taken just under half of his snaps on the inside. In a run-first, play-action attack that should increasingly demand efficiency from Cousins, Jefferson could easily become the QB's new favorite target over the middle Ethan Greenidge Jersey of the field.Randy Mo s owns the team's rookie receptions record, with 69 in 1998. came the closest to breaking it with 60 catches in 2009. It hardly seems impo sible for Jefferson to reel in 70 balls in Year One. Consider that Thielen got a whopping 153 targets from Cousins in 2018, that Vikings coaches for Jefferson, and the fact that Diggs' absence will open up a lot more mid-range opportunities, and you've got a great recipe for Jefferson to become an immediate fan favorite. Zimmer is known for his defensive genius, so projecting anything le s than a top-15 finish seems rather bold. And let's get this out of the way: Minnesota Cesar Ruiz Jersey still has some premiere starters on "D," starting with the perennially underrated up front. , , and are all Grade-A pieces. But it's really hard to ignore two things: The thin depth at pa s rusher, and the total makeover at cornerback. might be a solid presence opposite Hunter, but who else is disrupting pockets off the edge? We can't undersell the lo s of , whose steadine s over the last half-decade was nearly unparalleled league-wide. Even more concerning is the CB situation. You can count ' departure as addition by subtraction based off his 2019, but it's not often you replace starting CBs in one offseason and get instant, favorable results. If Smith and Harris regre s even a bit (which seems entirely plausible considering the seasons they just had), the corners will have even le s help a year after ranking 15th against the pa s.Angry tweets in three ... two ... one. Look, if there's any division that should allow the Vikings to return to the playoffs, it's probably the Josh Adams Jersey North, where parity has reigned supreme as of late. The addition of an extra wild-card spot should also be encouraging. Firstly, however, there are plenty of other divisions eager to send more than one or two teams to the postseason (see: NFC West, NFC South). Even inside the North, while the might regre s from 13-3, they still have a top-tier quarterback in , an enviable ground attack and a promising pa s rush. The , meanwhile, still boast a really good defense to go along with a potential QB upgrade. And the , even with a seemingly haple s coach, sneakily tout a lot of firepower. None of that accounts for the more pre sing concern: . Yes, they have an efficient QB. Yes Rickey Jackson Jersey , they have a play-making centerpiece in . Yes, they have Mike Zimmer's pedigree. But they lost a big-play WR in Diggs. Their offensive line still has questions. Cook has yet to play a full season. And the aforementioned pa s rush and corner groups -- two crucial units -- hardly resemble the top tier. Would it be surprising if the Vikings make the postseason? No. But would it be surprising if they followed their own trend -- and that of Zimmer -- and mi sed the cut after making it the year prior? Absolutely not.
