Minnesota Vikings Outside Linebackers

For the 2023 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings and Danielle Hunter have resolved the differences that have kept the outside linebacker a question into late July. The team’s best and most accomplished pass rusher will be on the field. With that question answered, here’s a look at the Vikings outside linebackers. 

Danielle Hunter

Marcus Davenport

D.J. Wonnum

Patrick Jones II

Luiji Vilain

Andre Carter II

Curtis Weaver

Benton Whitley

It doesn’t take more than a lingering look to realize that the Vikings really needed Danielle Hunter on the team. While he stayed away from the team’s offseason work and “held in” for the first few practices of training camp, Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum were the first team outside linebackers. Davenport, a first round pick of the New Orleans Saints, is immensely talented. While he makes some ridiculous plays with tremendous explosion and strength, that immense talent hasn’t consistently shown up in games. That’s why he was available as a free agent this offseason. On talent and potential alone, Hunter and Davenport are an imposing pair of pass rushers. While new defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known to bring pressure from a variety of places, his two outside linebackers should be a constant concern of opposing offenses. Both are also playing for potentially giant new deals next offseason. 

After Hunter and Davenport, there’s some uncertainty with the Vikings outside linebackers. D.J. Wonnum lined up opposite Davenport when Hunter was holding out in the offseason and holding in during training camp. Heading into his fourth season, Wonnum is playing for his Vikings and NFL future. He’s flashed NFL talent but he hasn’t flashed it consistently enough. Patrick Jones II was seeing the field more and making more plays than Wonnum towards the end of last season. Right now, they are good, talented backups. Each has the potential to be more but both have to show it on the field. If Hunter and Davenport stay healthy, the Vikings are in good shape at outside linebacker with their top four. 

Of the remaining four on the training camp roster, undrafted rookie Andre Carter II is the most intriguing. At Army, he lit up quarterbacks during the 2021 season (14.5 sacks). Heading into his final college season, he was projected by most draft evaluators as a first round talent. As the focus of all opposing offenses, he totaled only 3.5 sacks last season. Carter is freakishly long and freakishly talented. He’s also very raw and he needs to get NFL strong. Because of that, he fell out of the draft. A lot of teams wanted him and the Vikings paid handsomely to secure him. If he can get NFL strong, he has the natural talent to be a special player. The question is how long that takes. I think that his potential earns him a roster spot. He’s definitely one of the rookies I’m most intrigued to see on the field. 

Luiji Vilain earned a roster spot as an undrafted rookie last season. He’ll challenge Carter for a roster spot this year. So will Curtis Weaver and Benton Whitley. I think that Carter’s potential wins out even if he’s not quite ready this season. I don’t think that the Vikings will be able to sneak him onto the practice squad. Perhaps team and player might be best served if Carter has some mysterious injury that lands him on injured reserve. That would give him time to get acclimated and stronger. 

The Vikings top four outside linebackers look set. Maybe they only keep four. Who knows? I like Carter, Vilain, Weaver, and Whitley after that.