Offense
|
QB |
Kirk Cousins |
|
RB |
Dalvin Cook |
|
FB |
C.J. Ham |
|
WR |
Justin Jefferson |
|
WR |
Adam Thielen |
|
TE |
Irv Smith Jr. |
|
LT |
Christian Darrisaw |
|
LG |
Ezra Cleveland |
|
C |
Garrett Bradbury |
|
RG |
Wyatt Davis |
|
RT |
Brian O’Neill |
Defense
DE |
Dalvin Tomlinson |
|
NT |
Michael Pierce |
|
DE |
James Lynch |
|
OLB |
Danielle Hunter |
|
ILB |
Eric Kendricks |
|
ILB |
Chazz Surratt |
|
OLB |
D.J. Wonnum |
|
CB |
Cam Dantzler |
|
CB |
Kris Boyd |
|
S |
Harrison Smith |
|
S |
Camryn Bynum |
It’s early.
It’s easy to predict the offense. The only new starters should be the return of a hopefully perfectly healthy Irv Smith Jr. and a new right guard. I’m currently going with the right guard that everyone wanted to see last season. Wyatt Davis. He was drafted in the third round last year to compete for the starting job. Whether due to injuries or conditioning, he never got the chance. It’s easy and hopeful to pencil him as the right guard now. A lot can change. The Vikings might bring back Mason Cole for the job. Maybe the new decision-makers target a player in free agency or the draft. With the players currently under contract, I have Davis at right guard.
The defense isn’t so easy. There will be a lot of changes. Those changes start with the switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense. Despite the reported switch, head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have stressed that the defense will be varied. They’ll be a 3-4 base but today’s NFL defenses aren’t always in their base defense. The Vikings defense will be varied and adjust to the offenses they face. For this early offseason exercise, the starters are in the Vikings expected base front.
Of the above projected defensive starters, I’m most excited to see James Lynch, Chazz Surratt, and Camryn Bynum. In his second season, Lynch became a productive member of the interior defensive line rotation. He might be even more productive as a 3-4 end. That’s more like the position he played at Baylor when he collected 13.5 sacks in 2019. Surratt is an NFL unknown as his rookie season was basically a redshirt season. Having started his college career at North Carolina as a quarterback, he’s focused on defense for only three years. He was productive enough as a newby college linebacker to be drafted in the third round by the Vikings. Of the players under contract for the 2022 season, it’s more likely that Blake Lynch is the leading contender to pair with Eric Kendricks in the middle of the Vikings new defense. Based on nothing because he hasn’t done anything, I like Surratt there. It’s easier to project Camryn Bynum as a starter because he started three games as a rookie. He did some good things. He made some plays. He had an interception and a sack. After watching him closely for the past five years, I’m certain that he’ll do well in a starting role.
Trouble spots:
-edge opposite Danielle Hunter
None of the roster contenders to start opposite Hunter are proven. In two seasons, D.J. Wonnum has made some splashy plays. More often, he’s been just a guy. Patrick Jones showed potential with his few rookie opportunities. A preseason injury turned Janarius Robinson’s rookie season into a redshirt season. Kenny Willekes was probably the team’s best edge rusher over the last several weeks of last season. There’s always a role in any defense for a player that can get to the quarterback. Willekes can get to the quarterback. I like the Vikings potential edge rotation but no one is proven outside of Hunter.
-inside linebacker
While I really like the potential of Surratt, he’s a complete unknown. My hope is that Anthony Barr is re-signed. Healthy, he would provide tremendous inside/outside linebacker versatility. If the Vikings had to move forward with Chazz Surratt/Blake Lynch, I’d be more intrigued than worried.
-cornerback
In his two seasons, Cameron Dantzler has shown the ability of a high-level starter. He’s also had some mind-numbing lapses. I believe that he’ll get better. Much better. The other corner spot is pretty bleak.
It’s easy to pick the Vikings free agency and draft needs. It’s the defense. There are concerns with each level of the defense. Corner and edge are the greatest needs. Linebacker isn’t far behind. Right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings first three draft picks addressed those three defensive positions. On offense, the area of greatest concern is the interior offensive line. Unlike many in the media and nearly all fans, I have some remaining faith in center Garrett Bradbury. The Vikings need him to improve. He must improve. Perhaps new coaching and scheming will bring out the best in him. Better play at right guard and emerging Ezra Cleveland at left guard will help. I hope that Wyatt Davis is the answer at right guard. If he isn’t, the Vikings 2022 right guard isn’t currently scheduled to be on the roster.
If they had to run with the above starters, the 2022 Vikings would probably have to win weekly shootouts. The offense has the personnel to be very good, maybe great. A Top 5 unit? Maybe. The defense is a whole other story. They definitely have to avoid the injuries that decimated the defense the last two years. Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce will have to play much more than a handful of games. The current corner situation is scary. Other than corner, there’s some nice potential but nearly everything has to go right for the this defense to be decent this season.
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