Patrick Peterson Coined Vikings “Most Dangerous New Weapon”
Dustin Baker
|
On Sunday, Bleacher Report released an analysis of each NFL team’s prized new weapon. Normally, a weapon in football is perceived as one on offense in a blanket sense, but Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox intermingles defenders, too.
Some of the renowned names on Knox’s list include Kenny Golladay, who ventured to the New York Giants this offseason. And then players like Kenyan Drake to the Las Vegas Raiders and Curtis Samuel to the Washington Football Team were also detailed.
For the Minnesota Vikings, it was defense — unsurprising for a franchise led by a defense-first head coach in Mike Zimmer. Minnesota used its 2021 draft capital to [finally] cement an offensive line that is not a plug-and-play of underwhelming, out-of-position players. Now, the Vikings offensive line will showcase five men drafted in 2018 or later with 3rd-Round-or-higher draft capital: Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Wyatt Davis, and Brian O’Neill.
Minnesota did draft a couple of playmaking options in later rounds, though. Running back Kene Nwangwu from Iowa State was ladled out of the 4th Round. Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the University of Iowa was picked in the 5th Round. But neither man has the clout as of yet to be classified as a sure-fire weapon.
Therefore, Bleacher Report identified Patrick Peterson — a free agent signed on St. Patrick’s Day — as the Vikings most dangerous new weapon. Knox said of Peterson:
“New Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson may be 30 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons without a Pro Bowl nod. However, he is still a reliable starter who can hold his own against another team’s No. 1 receiving target. Peterson is also durable. He hasn’t missed a game because of injury in his NFL career, only sitting out six games in 2019 for a suspension. He played 99 percent of the defensive snaps in 2020 and finished the year with 61 tackles, eight passes defended and three interceptions. Peterson was a major get for the Vikings, who ranked 25th in passing yards allowed and 29th in points allowed last season. While Peterson may not be the shutdown defender he was early in his career, he’s an eight-time Pro Bowler who doesn’t miss games. The instant-impact starter will likely make a few quarterbacks pay for testing him in 2021.“
It’s worth noting that this choice may have occurred by default — the Vikings added no new free agents on offense in 2021. Although, after June 1st, general manager Rick Spielman will own about $15 million to spend. Perhaps Minnesota will then add a WR3 to the depth chat, an asset long lacking on Mike Zimmer-coached teams. Dede Westbrook, Larry Fitzgerald, and Golden Tate need new NFL addresses.
The 2020 Vikings season went pear-shaped due to defense. Zimmer’s defense fell off a cliff, caused by a slew of injuries to keynote players like Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr. Inside Zimmer’s first six seasons, 2014 to 2019, the Vikings ranked second in the NFL for points allowed, trailing the New England Patriots by a whisker. That “second-best” moniker plunged to Hades in 2020. Minnesota’s defense ranked 29th in points allowed, a dubious departure for a Zimmer team.
Pertaining to Patrick Peterson and the passing defense, here is why his addition to the organization is excitable. The statistics detailed below indicate the Vikings passing-yards allowed per season rankings under Zimmer:
- 2014 = 10th
- 2015 = 7th
- 2016 = 3rd
- 2017 = 5th
- 2018 = 3rd
- 2019 = 14th
- 2020 = 24th
- 2021 = TBD
Minnesota hopes the acquisition of Peterson, the maturation of Cameron Dantzler, and the re-signing of Mackensie Alexander will return the team to 2018-and-before form.
Peterson was inked for a one-year deal this offseason, so his performance in 2021 will determine if he remains in Minnesota for the entirety of his career’s second act. The Vikings have a vested interest in hosting his productive second act — the 2022 outlook at cornerback is grim. Dantzler is the only reputable corner slated to headline the roster the year after next. Jeff Gladney lingers in embattled uncertainty while Peterson and Alexander joined the Vikings on one-year deals.