18 Most Important Vikings in '18

The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a 17 Most Important Vikings in '17 last year. I copied it last year and I'm bringing it back this year. Highlighting the most important players on a team in a team sport seems like a silly sort of thing but it's what we do as fans. We do a lot of silly things like this around this time of the year. The month-plus period between now and the opening of training camps are the only days of the NFL calendar in which nothing's scheduled. It's the perfect time for someone to name the 18 Most Important Vikings in '18.

18. Trevor Siemian, QB
17. Everson Griffen, DE
16. Mike Hughes, CB
15. Adam Thielen, WR
14. Stefon Diggs, WR
13. Harrison Smith, S
12. Trae Waynes, CB
11. Kyle Rudolph, TE
10. Eric Kendricks, LB
  9. Anthony Barr, LB
  8. Riley Reiff, T
  7. Pat Elflein, C
  6. Danielle Hunter, DE
  5. Sheldon Richardson, DT
  4. Laquon Treadwell, WR
  3. John DeFilippo, Offensive Coordinator
  2. Dalvin Cook, RB
  1. Kirk Cousins, QB

I have some of the Vikings best players at the bottom of this list, or not on this list-Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph, simply because I expect their high level of play to continue. They are extremely important to the team's success because they are elite players. Perhaps I'm taking their excellence for granted but I can only put 18 players on a list of 18 players. When I think of the most important Vikings this year, or any year, I think mostly of the players that the team needs to step up or step in.

The Vikings were one game from the Super Bowl last year. Adding Kirk Cousins this offseason was a bold move to get them one game further. Cousins will be the fifth quarterback in five years to start a season for head coach Mike Zimmer. That lack of continuity at the most important position on a football team has wrecked expectations. The Vikings gave Cousins a giant, fully guaranteed contract to establish continuity. There's no doubt that he's the most import Viking in 2018. And beyond.

Cousins is the most important Viking but Dalvin Cook might make the greatest impact. The Vikings only had him for 3.5 games last year. In those 3.5 games Cook showed that he has the talent to be one of the most explosive backs in the league. Cousins will lead the offense but the offense might end up running through Cook.

I probably shouldn't have included a coach but I couldn't help myself. New offensive coordinator John DeFilippo's offense, play-calling, and coaching are as important as any player that plays in his offense.

Many have written off Laquan Treadwell as a bust. 21 catches in two seasons for a first round pick can do that. I don't buy it. He just has to get out of his own way, get out of his own head. I remember Zimmer saying last year that Treadwell was working too hard. Working too hard!?! How can that be?He was working before practice, after practice. He was often worn out for practice. Despite the lack of stats Treadwell started seven games last year. Busts don't start seven games. I think that Treadwell will shine this year with Cousins. With the attention that will surely be paid to Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, Treadwell should get opportunities to end all the bust talk.

Sheldon Richardson could provide as big of a boost to the defense as Cousins should provide to the offense. The Vikings haven't had a three-technique as talented as Richardson since Kevin Williams. Shariff Floyd was supposed to be that player but injuries and a surgery mishap robbed him of an NFL career. Richardson should be a beast on the defensive line and that will open things up for players at all levels of a very, very talented defense.

The continued development and improvement of the offensive line is as important as the development and improvement of any position group on the team. Riley Reiff and Pat Elflein are the top players on the line. They are the leaders of the group and they are critical to the safety and security of Cousins.

Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr are at similar stages of their NFL development. Both have shown glimpses of elite talent and both are poised to receive significant second contracts. They are cornerstone talents that have to prove that they can be cornerstone players for the foreseeable future.

Expectations are always high for first round picks. Mike Hughes is no exception. He should make an immediate contribution on kick off and punt returns. His ability to pick up nuances of the Zimmer's defensive scheme in OTAs and mini-camp has been very unrookie-like. He might play his way into a regular role on the defense.

The backup quarterback is often the second most important position on a football team. Due to quarterback injuries being the norm in Minnesota in recent years that's been especially true for the Vikings. That makes Trevor Siemian one of the most on the team. Kirk Cousins hasn't missed a game the last three years. That durability had to be one of the most enticing aspects of his game to the Vikings' decision-makers. Even if he never sees the field it's nice to have a quarterback with starting experience backing up the starter.

Eric Kendricks, Kyle Rudolph, Trae Waynes, Harrison Smith, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, Latavius Murray, Mike Remmers, Andrew Sendejo, Terence Newman, Ben Gedeon, etc. are all important Vikings this year and every year. I didn't even put Rhodes and Joseph on the list of 18 and they're both among the best players in the league at their respective positions. This is a very talented football team. Emphasis on team. Each of the 53 players that make the final roster are important. The 10 players on the practice are important. Picking out 18 as the most important 18 doesn't feel right. Ranking the 53 players that I think will make the roster doesn't feel right either but I might end up doing that over the next month. It's that time of the year.