Value Pass Rushers The Vikings Ought to Strongly Consider
If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah calls to ask for my advice (I don’t imagine he will, but best to be prepared), I’ll tell him to go all-out on players who can get after the QB. Revitalizing the defensive line is the main thing I’m hoping for heading into next season. The Vikings desperately need to add pass rushers.
Danielle Hunter, even if he returns to full health, shouldn’t be the team’s lone threat along the DL. Rather, Hunter ought to be the team’s main threat, someone who thrives but who also allows others to thrive. Partnering Hunter with Dalvin Tomlinson and Armon Watts is a nice place to start. Adding more threats on passing downs could help the defense reclaim some of its former glory.
Take a look at some impact edge rushers that may end up being solid value for the Vikings. Shout out to Over the Cap, Pro Football Reference, and PFF for providing helpful info for this exercise.
Justin Houston
33-Years-Old
PFF‘s 19th-Best EDGE
As strange as it may sound, the Vikings could actually use some veterans at DE. Hunter is still young, and then it’s mostly players on their rookie deals: DJ Wonnum, Kenny Willekes, Patrick Jones II, and Janarius Robinson. Houston did a nice job for the Ravens this past season. He finished the year with a modest 4.5 sacks, well below his career-best of 22 back in 2014. Even still, he made an impact. He hit the QB 17 times and had 6 TFLs. He also had 24 pressures. The team could do far worse when it comes to a backup to Hunter and for someone to come in on passing downs. He made just over $2 million last season.
Jerry Hughes
33-Years-Old
PFF‘s 31st-Best EDGE
The veteran has played in Buffalo most of his career, providing the Bills with consistently strong play. He was drafted by the Colts at the end of the 1st round in 2010. Last year, his cap number was just below $9.5 million, and it’s hard to imagine that number will grow in 2022. He had 2 sacks last season, the least he’s had since his sophomore year. Like Houston, the modest sack total doesn’t tell the whole story. He pressured the QB 26 times. He has experience playing both LDE and RDE. Signing him to a one-year deal with a modest number would make sense. At this stage, the priority for the Vikings is to get pass rushers who can fill a role and be effective in that role. Hughes can be a role player. If they can sign him for the right price, then it’s a wise investment.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
26-Years-Old
PFF‘s 17th-Best EDGE
Depending on how things shake out, you may be able to add “Super Bowl Champion” to Okoronkwo’s list of achievements. At 26, he still has several years of strong play ahead of him. He has surely benefited from playing alongside Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, and Von Miller, and yet his strong production shouldn’t be completely overlooked. In Minnesota, Okoronkwo would be given the chance to further develop his game alongside some talented defensive linemen. Ideally, Andre Patterson will still be around to do the teaching.
Arden Key
25-Years-Old
PFF‘s 41st-Best EDGE
Adding an ascending player coming off of their rookie deal is a smart move, especially if that player still has room to grow. Key, like Okoronkwo, benefits from playing alongside elite talent. Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa both have a gravitational pull, sucking in blockers in a manner that allows others on the defensive line to thrive. Even still, Key’s strong grades suggest he’s capable of winning one-on-one matchups. Again, it’s all about a good role and a good price.
Chandler Jones
32-Years-Old
PFF’s 39th-Best EDGE
Admittedly, this last one likely won’t be a value deal, at least not in any traditional sense. Jones has long been one of the game’s preeminent pass rushers, so the Vikings are very unlikely to get him for cheap. It’s worth noting, though, that his run defense score on PFF is a dismal 40.4. He has battled injuries recently and is getting older. Will all these factors combine to make him affordable? A Hunter/Jones pair would be supremely difficult to match up against on third down.
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