X
Skip to content

NFL Team Reviews: Minnesota Vikings

Following a regular season that saw the Vikings finish 8-9, including eight losses by single digits, Minnesota missed the playoffs for the second year in a row

Following a regular season that saw the Vikings finish 8-9, including eight losses by single digits, Minnesota missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Vikings went into the offseason looking for change, and a head coach and general manager were the first replacements to be made.

Improvements: Defensive front

The Vikings’ defense struggled in 2021, specifically against the run. Allowing 4.7 yards per carry, Minnesota ranked 30th in the NFL while its total rushing yards allowed per game ranked 26th.

NFL Team Reviews: Minnesota Vikings
David Berding / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Although the Vikings got rid of defensive-minded head coach Mike Zimmer and replaced him with offensive-thinking Kevin O’Connell, the defense was the first order of business for new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, with a focus on the defensive front.

Minnesota Vikings released defensive tackle Michael Pierce and let linebacker Anthony Barr walk in free agency. The two both missed a good chunk of the past two seasons, and the Vikings were able to find replacements in the offseason.

The Vikings added defensive tackle Harrison Phillips on a three-year deal in Pierce’s spot while linebacker Za’Darius Smith will figure to fill in for Barr on a three-year contract after spending the past three seasons with NFC North foe Green Bay. Phillips recorded a career-high 23 solo tackles in 2021 while Smith racked up 13.5 and 12.5 sacks in his first two seasons respectively with the Packers, although his last season he only played one game due to a back injury. Linebacker Jordan Hicks also joins Minnesota on a two-year deal while defensive end Danielle Hunter is expected to return from injury to help bolster the run defense.

With defensive coordinator Ed Donatell joining O’Connell’s staff as well as plenty of room for improvement, the new pieces to the front seven should give Minnesota’s run defense an upgrade.

Stayed the Same: Quarterback

Whether Minnesota fans like it, Kirk Cousins remains the starting quarterback. Minnesota signed Cousins to a one-year extension that keeps him through 2023. The deal also includes a no-trade clause for Cousins.

While the starting quarterback stays the same, the rest of the Vikings’ quarterback room looks a little different. Minnesota waived backup quarterback Nate Stanley, making room for a roster spot on the team.

The Vikings have Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion as their backups, with Mannion re-signing with the Vikings in March.

Though Cousins looks like the starter for now, Minnesota’s choice not to take a quarterback in the 2022 draft could signal Mond’s time may come soon.

Got Worse: Tight End

The Vikings started the 2021 season with a solid tight end duo. Irv Smith Jr. was coming off of a 2020 season in which he recorded 30 receptions for 365 yards and five touchdowns while Tyler Conklin appeared as a solid backup to Smith and Kyle Rudolph.

Smith looked poised for a breakout season in 2021 as the sole starting tight end with Rudolph gone, however a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire season dashed those hopes. Instead, Conklin had his own breakout season, catching 61 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns, accounting for 26 first downs.

Though he had a breakout season in 2021, Minnesota let Conklin walk in free agency, and while Smith Jr. figures to be back for the start of the 2022 season, he’s recovering from a torn meniscus.

With a tight end room that doesn’t feature a solid backup like years past, a hindrance to Smith’s recovery or an inability for him to stay healthy could cause a problem for the group.

Grade: B

The Vikings had a big offseason with the replacement of their general manager and head coach kicking things off. Despite the offensive-minded new head coach, Minnesota gave a needed upgrade to its run defense in the offseason. With not much other roster turnover, the Vikings are betting on the coaching change to make the difference, and only time will tell if that’s true.

Schedule:

  • Week 1: 9/11 vs. Packers. 4:25 PM, Fox
  • Week 2: 9/19 at Eagles (Monday), 8:30 PM, ABC
  • Week 3: 9/25 vs. Lions, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 4: 10/2 at Saints (Tottenham), 9:30 AM, NFL Network
  • Week 5: 10/9 vs. Bears, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 6: 10/16 at Dolphins, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 7: BYE
  • Week 8: 10/30 vs. Cardinals, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 9: 11/6 at Commanders, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 10: 11/13 at Bills, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 11: 11/20 vs. Cowboys, 4:25 PM, CBS
  • Week 12: 11/24 vs. Patriots (Thanksgiving), 8:20 PM, NBC
  • Week 13:12/4 vs. Jets, 1 PM, CBS
  • Week 14: 12/11 at Lions, 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 15: 12/17 or 12/18 vs. Colts, TBD, TBD
  • Week 16: 12/24 vs. Giants (Saturday), 1 PM, Fox
  • Week 17: 1/1 at Packers, 4:25 PM, CBS
  • Week 18: 1/7 or 1/8 at Bears, TBD, TBD

Did you find this article interesting?

Comments (0)