The Minnesota Vikings are undergoing an offensive makeover, but it might not be obvious.
It’s not quite as drastic as the defense’s shift, which goes from a zone-heavy scheme to one that prides itself on playing aggressive man coverage, but it’s one the Vikings are likely hoping provides more stability and consistency to the unit.
This shift began in free agency when the Vikings signed tight end Josh Oliver to a three-year contract. At the time, the move provided some confusion. The Vikings chose to pursue tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, offering the offense a reliable secondary pass-catcher to pair with Justin Jefferson, and it seemed like the Vikings had their long-term answer at tight end.
To immediately follow that up with Oliver left the Vikings offense with more questions than answers that could be offered during the off-season.
After just one preseason game, though, it seems we have the answer. Josh Oliver’s signing was never about Hockenson; instead, it was about trying to build an offense that might offer more versatility in the run game.