What is the Biggest Need for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023?
Henrique Gucciardi
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My great boss Kyle sent us an article from PFF talking about every team’s biggest need. In said article they put defensive tackle as the need for the Vikings, so let’s talk about the DT situation, if it really is the biggest need this offseason and, if not, what is.
The Defensive Tackle Group
As it stands right now the Vikings have 5 defensive tackles under contract for the 2023 season, per Spotrac. It’s a good number for the position, but less ideal if we look at who they are. Harrison Phillips is the only one that saw meaningful action in 2022, Ross Blacklock was a healthy scratch for the last 6 weeks of the season, Lynch had an injury at the end of the year, and both Sheldon Day and T.J Smith are on future contracts – Day didn’t play at all last season.
This lackluster group combined for 2.5 sacks, 85 tackles, and 1131 snaps (stats via Pro Football Reference). For comparison, Chris Jones alone had 15.5 sacks, 44 tackles, and 916 snaps for the Chiefs this season.
The best defensive tackle on the Vikings roster in 2022, Dalvin Tomlinson, is a free agent and should draw considerable interest. The other free agent is Khyiris Tonga, who saw some action down the stretch, but he’s an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that it’s up to the Vikings if he’ll stay on the team or not.
Is Defensive Tackle the Biggest Need?
This answer is very subjective. Every position on defense is a need for the Vikings this offseason. The pass-rushing is not good, and it’s likely that either Hunter or Za’Darius Smith will be gone, if not both. Kendricks was a shell of his former self with Ed Donatell as DC, Hicks was a disappointment, and we don’t know if Brian Asamoah is really ready for a bigger role after his rookie year.
Bynum was one of the worst players in 2022, Smith is old and carries a huge cap hit, and Lewis Cine is recovering from a gruesome leg injury. We’re all well aware of the situation at cornerback as well, but let’s get into that position group.
Cornerbacks
If you take a look at some mock drafts, 8 out of 10 will have the Vikings drafting a cornerback – some others may have an edge, offensive line, or even wide receiver -, and there’s a big reason why. The oldest CB on the roster for 2023 is Tay Gowan (25). The more experienced one is Cam Dantzler. And the one that started more than 10 games in 2022 is… no one.
That’s a very, very bad position group. The defense as a whole was terrible, but the Vikings had the 31st defense against the pass in 2022. Of course that scheme played a role in this, but it’s not all on Donatell’s shoulder. Whoever Kevin O’Connell hires as his new defensive coordinator will have his work cut out for him.
There is a silver lining, though. Akayleb Evans showed some potential before his 3 concussions and Andrew Booth was a good prospect out of Clemson. However, injuries plagued him. It has to be seen if with a different coordinator and a better pass rush, they can improve going to Year 2.
The Vikings have 4 cornerbacks who’ll hit free agency in March. Patrick Peterson was good for some portion of the season but ended it as badly as possible. Chandon Sullivan is Cam Bynum’s rival for the title of the worst player of 2022.
Kris Boyd may come back, but he’s now a special teams player, not a de facto CB. Duke Shelley may have been the best corner in that defense, and he played well. However, I think that it was more about how bad his competition was. And to add to all of this, cornerback is a premium position, while defensive tackle isn’t.
The DT position will have to be addressed just like every other, but it isn’t the biggest need for 2023. That honor(?) goes to the CB group for all the reasons stated above.
Winners from Day 2 of the Senior Bowl