Advanced model updates Vikings' projected win total

Since Mike Zimmer took over in 2014, the Minnesota Vikings have been consistently competitive and after making their second playoff appearance in three seasons in 2019, the franchise likes where it's positioned heading into 2020. Thus far, that confidence has been evident throughout the 2020 NFL offseason.

Minnesota re-committed to Kirk Cousins in the offseason and then decided the time was right to trade disgruntled wide receiver Stefon Diggs, receiving an impressive return from the Bills that included a first-round pick, two additional picks and a late-round pick swap. And even though they didn't have a lot of money to spend in free agency, they did manage to land former Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce to bolster their defensive line.

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Then at the 2020 NFL Draft, the Vikings made the most out of an outlandish 15-pick haul. In the first round, they addressed major needs by drafting LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson to help fill Diggs' vacancy and then grabbed TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney to make up for losing Trae Waynes in free agency. On Day Two, Minnesota took offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland and cornerback Cameron Dantzler, who could both wind up being major contributors as early as next season.

On Day Three, the Vikings got a nice mix of prospects with developmental upside, size and athleticism. If they got even half of those 12 picks right, they could have the deepest roster in the NFL next season. And while replacing the productivity of guys like Diggs and Waynes is no given, having a wide array of players ready to step up and give it a shot is as effective a method as any.

The Vikings have added depth to one of the NFL's most consistent defenses (top 11 in scoring defense all six years under Zimmer) and have Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr and Jefferson in what should be a capable offense. And with Green Bay making some puzzling offseason decisions, Chicago still sorting through offensive issues and Detroit still transitioning, Minnesota seems to be in good shape heading into the 2020 NFL season.

The SportsLine Projection Model predicts that the Vikings win an average of 9.4 games in the computer's 10,000 simulations of the 2020 NFL season, up from 9.0 projected wins prior to the 2020 NFL Draft. Minnesota wins the division 54.2 percent of the time and makes the playoffs 71.8 percent of the time. The Vikings are also currently 28-1 to Win Super Bowl 55 according to William Hill, which is tied for 15th-best odds in the NFL.