Here's a catchphrase linked to successful endeavors bordering the cusp of better: "Let's run it back."

That certainly will be one of the aims of the Vikings next season after stacking 14 wins and setting all forms of individual and franchise records only to succumb in the Wild Card at the hands of the Rams.

Running it back is absolutely a good starting place.

Except, there's some complications to it. Perhaps most notably is that 45 percent of snaps played on offense and defense for the Vikings this past season were handled by guys scheduled to hit free agency in March.

Over The Cap contributor Nick Korte outlined in this visual chart posted to X, that the Vikings house the highest percentage of snaps (excluding special teams) on the verge of entering unrestricted free agency.

You'll also notice, Minnesota is positioned to spend, with $56 million in estimated "effective cap space."

Will Ragatz of Minnesota Vikings on SI studied the reality Monday, laying out positive and difficult aspects of Minnesota's circumstances. The latter, obviously, is replacing or re-signing players that made significant impacts, such as QB Sam Darnold (35 passing TDs) and CB Byron Murphy, Jr. (six interceptions).

The silver lining lies within the means to lure impactful players via the league's fifth-most cap space.

FYI, the only clubs with more financial flexibility are the Patriots, Raiders, Commanders and Cardinals.

Ragatz takes a closer look at potential revolving doors on the Vikings roster, examining the 19 UFAs who played at least 100 snaps from scrimmage, and observes where the biggest holes may pop up in March.

He notes eight of the top 11 players with that classification are defenders — not including safety Harrison Smith, who has one year left on his contract but will contemplate returning or retirement in the spring. It means the Vikings must fast-track the development of up-and-comers, namely Dallas Turner, Jalen Redmond and Mekhi Blackmon. Also, it puts an emphasis on acquiring and deepening defensive talent.

Ragatz summarized the several months ahead:

The Vikings will be very busy in free agency for the second consecutive spring. They may need to sign 7-10 starting-caliber players between QB, RB, CB, S, DT, and IOL. That's where having a lot of cap space will be key — which is why it simply might not make sense to pay market price to bring Darnold back. It's also worth noting that they can add quite a bit to their cap space by restructuring or extending contracts of players already on the 2025 books. That would become a necessity if they tag or re-sign Darnold.

It's another chance for General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to put on a free-agency masterclass.

Ranking teams' main running backs

Aaron Jones, Sr., didn't beat around the bush in training camp.

"I feel like I don't get the respect that some of these other running backs get," Jones expressed after a July practice. "But I feel like at the end of my career, when you look up and you look at the stats, I'll be right up there with the best of them. But for now, I'm just gonna keep my head down and keep working."

The now-30-year-old running back backed up his viewpoint with a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in his first year with the Vikings and eighth in the NFL. He may yet be underrated, but he's received a level of love.

The latest could be considered extra meaningful, given it hails from a person who knows the role well.

Last week, three-time Pro Bowl and one-time All-Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew shed light on each team's primary running back and ranked them, in accordance to 2024 performance, in this article.

Jones-Drew wrote the following about the one-time rival transformed fan-favorite Jones:

Jones was great as a Packer, but in Year 1 with the Vikings, he posted career highs in carries and rush yards. Now 30 years old, he just logged his fourth career season with at least 1,000 rush yards. He's still at the top of his game, having vastly improved a Minnesota rushing attack that ranked 29^th a year ago.

Jones-Drew ranked 12 backs higher than Jones, who by the way amassed the seventh-most scrimmage yards at his position. The 12: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, James Cook, Joe Mixon, Bucky Irving, Alvin Kamara and De'Von Achane.

Jones, who entered his third decade this past December, is the second oldest player in that group and almost one year younger, exactly, than Henry, who turned 31 at the beginning of January. They're two of 24 players all-time, and the first players since LeGarrette Blount in 2016, to rush for at least 1,100 yards in a season in their 30s. Adrian Peterson, previously, was the most recent Viking to do so in 2015.

With Jones taking the lion's share of carries, Minnesota's run game improved in 2024 to 19^th in the NFL. He toted the rock a personal-best 255 times and added 51 receptions for his third season of 50 or more.

Makes us think, Jones definitely walked the walk after starting the year with a little deserved talk.

"I've been an underdog my whole life. I didn't come up with five stars like some of these guys did, you know? I was flying under the radar my whole career," Jones said after that July session. "But when I strap on the pads and you put on my film, you can't deny it. So I'll just continue to do what I've been doing."

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