5 Most Important Players on Defense for the 2021 Vikings
Mohamed Salad
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The Vikings’ defense was ravaged by injuries last season. This caused them to have the 27th ranked defense in the league, the worst the Vikings have ranked since Mike Zimmer took over in 2014. The Minnesota Vikings were very aggressive this offseason trying to rejuvenate and revive the defense for Mike Zimmer. The Vikings have turned that 27th ranked defense into arguably the best defensive roster in the league. With guys coming back from injury, coupled with some of the free agency acquisitions, let’s have a look at the 5 most important players for the Minnesota Vikings on the defensive side of the ball.
Harrison Smith
The ever-present leader of the Vikings defense. Since coming into the league in 2012, Smith has only missed more than 3 times on one occasion. He has been selected to the pro-bowl 5 times and was First-Team All-Pro once. Harrison Smith is arguably the best safety in the league, often overlooked but produces week in and week out. Since joining the league in 2012 no player has more interceptions than Smith and his impact on the opposition offense never goes unnoticed. Smith is a huge part of the Mike Zimmer scheme. He often lines up close to the line of scrimmage so the opposition always needs to be aware of where is it at all times.
Eric Kendricks
Eric Kendricks has quickly established himself as one of the premier inside linebackers in all of football. His ability to always be around the ball, diagnose the play and get to it in a flash has made him an absolute force in the middle of that Vikings defense. Last season the Vikings were thin on all levels of the defense but held it together somewhat because of the Kendricks’ and his ability to make crucial plays. As soon as he got injured, the Vikings began to leak points and his absence was truly felt. Kendricks has no weakness in his game. In the passing game he can cover and keep up with anyone in the slot or any tight end, and his elite-level tackling makes him an incredible asset for the Vikings’ defense.
Danielle Hunter
The Minnesota Vikings were 28th in sacks last season with 23 sacks (1.4 P/G). For context on how important Hunter is, he gets close to 15 sacks a season on his own. The Minnesota Vikings couldn’t get to the quarterback at all last season and the main reason was Hunter missed the entire year. Danielle Hunter is a specimen, every time he steps on the field he will cause havoc. Even though he is double and sometimes even tripled on the line of scrimmage he still manages to be a nuisance and disrupt the opposing offense. Having Hunter back and healthy is enough to drastically improve the Minnesota defense.
Michael Pierce
Micheal Pierce was added in 2019 as a free-agent defensive tackle who could be plugged into the middle of the defensive line and take on bodies and stuff the run. However, Pierce opted out last season due to COVID and boy was he missed. Although he had never taken a single snap as a Minnesota Viking, his presence in the team would have made a huge difference. Michael Pierce is a mammoth of a human being, so even when he is not getting into the backfield to make plays, he is taking up blocks that could open up gaps for others to go to work. The Vikings were terrible against the run last year, famously giving up 6 touchdowns in 1 game to Alvin Kamara and the Saints, that is unlikely to happen again with Pierce in the middle setting the tone for the Vikings defense.
Patrick Peterson
P2 may be past his prime but he is motivated to prove his doubters wrong and have a great comeback year. The Vikings have a lot of young cornerbacks on their roster, who better to help guide them than the former all-pro? Peterson will likely be cornerback 1 when the Vikings kick off the season and you can guarantee that Mike Zimmer will put Peterson in the best positions to have success. Between mentoring the younger guys in the cornerback room and his vast experience on the field, Patrick Peterson represents a very valuable member of this Vikings defense and if he can get close to his best, the Vikings defense will surely be one of the best in the league