Vikings' Defensive Line

It isn't often that an NFL team can add a player the quality of Yannick Ngakoue two weeks before the start of the season. Such an addition is usually made at the start of the offseason. It's unfortunate that the Minnesota Vikings have a little over a week's worth of practices to integrate Ngakoue into the defensive line. It's fortunate that they now have Ngakoue to integrate into the defensive line. It's impossible not to think ahead to the defensive line that takes the field against the Green Bay Packers on September 13. The starters probably look like this.

RE	Yannick Ngakoue
DT	Jaleel Johnson
NT	Shamar Stephen
LE	Danielle Hunter

No offense to Shamar Stephen, the players and coaches love him on the field, but this is the defensive line that's filled my thoughts since Sunday's news that Yannick Ngakoue is coming to Minnesota. 

RE	Yannick Ngakoue
DT	Jaleel Johnson
NT	Armon Watts
LE	Danielle Hunter

I really like Armon Watts.

No matter the defensive linemen that the Vikings have on the field, Ngakoue's addition changes the group significantly. The starters are improved. The depth is improved. Ifeadi Odenigbo was all set to start this season at right defensive end. He's steadily improved over the last couple years and made a significant impact in a rotational role last season. He earned the opportunity to replace Everson Griffen and start opposite Danielle Hunter this season. Ngakoue is one of the best young pass rushers in the league. He's a game-changer. He might not immediately be ready for a full-time role with his new team. If Odenigbo remains the starter and Ngakoue is first off the bench early in the season, the Vikings' defensive line is better for the improved talent available. Once Ngakoue is ready for the full-time role that's sure to come, he improves the starters and Odenigbo improves the depth. Hunter and Ngakoue will give the Vikings one of the best young defensive end duos in the league. With Odenigbo being able to make an impact all across the defensive front, the depth and line rotation is much better than it was this time last week. He isn't the only player rotating in and around the defensive line. With Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson the projected starters at the tackle spots, Armon Watts will be first off the bench among the interior linemen. I expect him to be on the field a lot as I believe that Watts is going to be real tough to take off the field. It's expected that Hercules Mata'afa will have a prominent role as a situational interior pass rusher. Defensive end D.J. Wonnum and defensive tackle James Lynch, both fourth-round rookies, have had quiet training camps. I'm a little disappointed but not too surprised by that. Sometimes it takes a little while to adjust to the professional football life and catch up to the speed of the game. Also, this hacked up offseason and training camp hasn't been the best situation for rookies. Due to their fourth-round draft status, I can't imagine either not making the team. These line thoughts leave the Vikings with the following defensive line group.

Defensive Ends
Danielle Hunter
Yannick Ngakoue
Ifeadi Odenigbo
D.J. Wonnum

Defensive Tackles
Shamar Septhen
Jaleel Johnson
Armon Watts
Hercule Mata'afa
James Lynch

An NFL roster is a fluid thing but the Vikings often keep ten defensive linemen. If it's ten this season, Eddie Yarbrough and Jalyn Holmes are the leading contenders for the final roster spot in my projection. From training camp reports, both have outperformed the rookies but April's fourth-round commitment gives the rookies the edge. I currently like Holmes for the final spot simply because he has end/tackle versatility. This is one of the many unfortunate aspects of NFL roster-trimming. Yarbrough has a strong case that he's performed better at his position in training camp than Wonnum, Lynch, and Homes. Yet, he's on the outside of my defensive line projections. I'm glad that these decisions aren't mine in the real world.

The addition of Yannick Ngakoue to the Vikings' defensive line is huge. It's so much more than the addition of a single football player. It changes the entire position group. The starters are improved. The depth is improved. It's as if every other player on the defense is improved simply because of the addition of this one player. Ngakoue will help also help the entire defense. The linebackers are hassled less because the opposing offense will have to devote more blocking resources to both defensive end positions. The secondary won't have to cover receivers as long because the defensive line should get to the quarterback sooner. There were a lot of questions with this year's Vikings' defense because they lost several long-time starters this offseaon. There are fewer questions with the Vikings' defense now that Yannick Ngakoue has joined it.