Vikings Should Put 1 Item at the Top of the Wishlist
When free agency kicked off in the 2024 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings had a bunch of holes to fill, including some crucial positions. Kirk Cousins departed, leaving Minnesota without a capable starter under center, and the exits of Marcus Davenport, D.J. Wonnum, and, most notably, Danielle Hunter left the pass-rushing group in shambles.
Vikings Should Put 1 Item at the Top of the Wishlist
Throughout the offseason, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has filled those holes on the roster by strategically adding players. Acquiring defenders Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner fixed the pass-rush problem. Blake Cashman is viewed as the new three-down linebacker, and Sam Darnold is the team’s signal-caller until rookie J.J. McCarthy can snatch the spot from him. Aaron Jones is a much-needed infusion of explosiveness to the running attack.
One position, however, has barely seen any impactful additions, despite the status as the team’s weakness in 2023: defensive tackle. A gigantic problem is the lack of pass-rush from the inside.
Harrison Phillips returns as the top interior lineman after a solid season. He is one of the better run defenders in the league, but isn’t effective as a pass-rusher. Next to him, veteran rotational player Jonathan Bullard re-signed with the team and sophomore Jaquelin Roy could get some extra run after barely seeing the field in his debut season.
To upgrade the position, many fans hoped for Christian Wilkins, Brian Flores’s former draft choice in Miami. However, he signed a massive deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Adofo-Mensah failed to lure a high-profile free agent like Arik Armstead or D.J. Reader to Minnesota.
Still, he filled the position by acquiring Jerry Tillery. The former first-rounder couldn’t live up to his draft status in stints with the Raiders and Chargers, but he is coming off a season with two sacks, and his pressure numbers would’ve led Minnesota’s interior defenders in 2023. Jonah Williams, who lined up next to future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald in recent years, joins him.
Another chance to find help for the defensive line came in the draft, but once again, the Vikings targeted other positions early in the first round, leaving seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez as the only selected lineman. Tyler Manoa and Taki Taimani were hired as undrafted free agents, and last year’s injured defender (torn ACL), James Lynch, was re-signed. In addition to those players, the Vikings recently announced a deal with former UFL lineman Jalen Redmond.
Nothing can ever be ruled out in the NFL, but it seems far-fetched to expect Bullard, Williams, or Tillery, three career-rotational players, to play at a Pro Bowl level after years of average play. Neither will the expectations for late-round rookie Rodriguez or the undrafted rookies be lofty, and the position group once again shapes up to be a mix of Phillips and a bunch of rotational guys.
It’s rare to find real help this late in the calendar, so Adofo-Mensah should look ahead to next year and fix the issue in free agency or the draft. The good news is that there will be some intriguing candidates available.
Division rivals Alim McNeill (Lions) and Kenny Clark (Packers) could be the top defensive lineman in free agency. Steelers veteran Cameron Heyward is close to the end of his career at age 35 but has been effective in previous seasons.
The draft class will provide some excellent talent across the defensive line. Michigan’s Mason Graham, a former teammate of J.J. McCarthy, is one of the draft’s best prospects who shines with quickness, motor, and strength as a complete defensive tackle. In his sophomore season, Kentucky’s Deone Walker registered 7.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Both Graham and Walker could hear their names called in the top ten of the 2025 draft.
Mykel Williams, out of Georgia, could be the next first-round interior defender from his alma mater, following in the footsteps of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Devonte Wyatt in the last three drafts alone. Ole Miss defenders Princely Umanmielen, Walter Nolen, and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams could all sneak into the first round. Some other candidates could emerge in the upcoming college season.
The 2025 draft class is perfect for teams looking for help for their defensive line, and the Vikings are a prime candidate to pick a defensive tackle in the top round for the first time since Sharrif Floyd in 2013.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt