How the Vikings Roster Stacks Up against Other Teams
ESPN’s Ben Linsey ranked all 32 NFL rosters and named strengths, weaknesses, and X-factors. He used grades from PFF to determine the starting lineups and rankings. And fans of the Vikings are probably not excited about the order.
The Vikings should have gotten better in the offseason after signing multiple new starters. Za’Darius Smith was the big-name signing, but Jordan Hicks will help the team. Harrison Phillips left the Bills in free agency and joined the purple team. Former Packers cornerback Chandon Sullivan replaced Mackensie Alexander after his poor season.
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General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also got busy on the offensive side. He signed two contenders for the starting right guard spot. A weakness of the team for years, Jesse Davis and Chris Reed, try to change that. The draft picks Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Ed Ingram, and Brian Asamoah should contribute early in their careers.
The 19th Best Roster
The team that Adofo-Mensah assembled ranks 19th among teams in the NFL. The 19th-ranked roster sounds a lot like another 8-9 season for the Vikings. However, Linsey had some interesting comments.
“Biggest strength: When both are healthy, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen make up one of the better receiving tandems in the league. The only player with more red zone touchdown receptions than Thielen over the past five seasons (33) is Davante Adams, and Jefferson has quickly become one of the league’s top receiving threats in all situations. Jefferson’s ability to beat press is particularly impressive, as his 3.3 yards per route run against press coverage ranks second among all qualifying wide receivers since 2020.”
– Ben Linsey, ESPN, about the Vikings’ strength
Indeed, the two receivers are a special duo. They might even be the best tandem in the business. Since Jefferson came into the league in 2020, they rank first among all wideout duos in yards and touchdowns. Their chemistry with quarterback Kirk Cousins is a big problem for defenses. Especially with Dalvin Cook in the backfield, opponents must pick their poison.
“Biggest weakness: As has been the case for several years now, it’s hard to feel all that confident about Minnesota’s offensive line heading into the 2022 season. It finished last season ranked 27th as a unit in PFF pass-blocking grade, and it is expected to return the majority of that group. Maybe Christian Darrisaw takes a step forward in his second season out of Virginia Tech, and perhaps players such as Ezra Cleveland and Garrett Bradbury do too. That’s a lot of “ifs” though.”
– Ben Linsey, talks about the weakness of the roster
The Vikings’ offensive line has been a disaster for about a decade now. Especially since they spent big money for a pocket passer in 2018, the combination has been a stumbling block.
Pass blocking is the biggest weakness. Ed Ingram, the rookie, was an excellent pass protector in college and could help solidify the unit. The second-year player is expected to take a leap. Keeping the center Garrett Bradbury caused the anger of some fans. However, the coaching staff seems confident that he can be better in his contract year.
If the Vikings want to reach the playoffs and even win postseason matchups, the offensive line, at the very least, has to play at an average level.
“X factor for 2022: A healthy Za’Darius Smith profiles as a very nice addition at the edge defender slot opposite Danielle Hunter. Across his first two seasons in Green Bay, Smith recorded 144 total pressures (fourth in the NFL) with PFF pass-rushing grades above 85.0 in both seasons. However, he played just 18 snaps in 2021 before his season was cut short by back surgery. It remains to be seen if the soon-to-be 30-year-old can get back to his pre-injury form in Minnesota.”
– Ben Linsey about his Vikings X-factor
Smith’s health will play a crucial role in the success of the 2022 Vikings. The tandem of Hunter and Smith is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. However, both played in just eight combined games last season. In addition to that, Hunter missed the full 2020 campaign.
The depth behind the two stars is a question mark. D.J. Wonnum started games in recent years but without much impact. 2021 rookies Janarius Robinson and Patrick Jones are unproven. Just like the offensive line, much of the team’s success depends on the health of the two edge rushers.
Starting Lineup
Linsey also predicted the starting lineup. There are not many surprises. Jesse Davis is projected as the starting right guard. He would beat out Ed Ingram and Chris Reed. At cornerback, Patrick Peterson and rookie Andrew Booth win the starting jobs over Cameron Dantzler, who was the Vikings’ best cornerback in each of the last two seasons. First-rounder Lewis Cine starts next to Harrison Smith at safety.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings as his favorite team, despite Christian Ponder being the quarterback at the time. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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