The 247Sports Minnesota Vikings website did an offensive depth chart prediction at the start of the week. They recently hit the defensive side of the ball.
Left Defensive End
1. Danielle Hunter
2. Brian Robison
Nose Tackle
1. Linval Joseph
2. Jaleel Johnson
Defensive Tackle
1. Sheldon Richardson
2. Jalyn Holmes
Right Defensive End
1. Everson Griffen
2. Tashawn Bower
3. Stephen Weatherly
Even before the Vikings signed Sheldon Richardson as a free agent this was a team strength. Each of the starters is among the best in the league at their respective positions. The depth has been good in recent years but it needs to be better. The line appeared to wear down in the playoffs, especially in the NFC Championship game. The defensive line rotation will be key all season, especially down the stretch. The backups will probably see more snaps than backups have seen in recent years. The only way I don't see the defensive line group looking like this is if they keep a fifth defensive tackle. Or if one of the other long, athletic defensive ends, Ifeadi Odenigbo or rookie Ade Aruna, leapfrogs one of the above long, athletic defensive ends.
Weak Side Linebacker
1. Ben Gedeon
2. Eric Wilson
Middle Linebacker
1. Eric Kendricks
2. Kentrell Brothers
Strong Side Linebacker
1. Anthony Barr
2. Eric Wilson
This defensive depth chart prediction has 24 defensive players. With only five linebackers there's room for one more. Kentrell Brothers is suspended for the first four games so there could be room for two more to start the season. As a Cal honk I'm hoping that Devante Downs can make the team. He injured his knee in the middle of his final season in Berkeley. If healthy, Downs might've been a day 2 pick in the draft. If he's fully recovered from the knee injury he has the talent to be a defensive factor. The Vikings pursued Mychal Kendricks, another former Cal star, after the Philadelphia Eagles released him. Downs can be a similar sort of player. Strong against the run and an excellent blitzer. And he's bigger. In my opinion, the only question to his game is whether he's completely healed from that knee injury. He should fill out the linebacker group with or without the suspension to Brothers.
Left Cornerback
1. Trae Waynes
2. Mike Hughes
3. Terence Newman
Free Safety
1. Harrison Smith
2. Jayron Kearse
Strong Safety
1. Andrew Sendejo
2. Anthony Harris
Right Cornerback
1. Xavier Rhodes
2. Mackensie Alexander
3. Holton Hill
The only surprise among the defensive backs, and it really isn't much of a surprise, is undrafted rookie Holton Hill making the team as the sixth cornerback. I've never seen the Vikings go three-deep at each corner position with this sort of quality. In an NFL that finds a way to throw the football more and put more receivers on the field each season defenses can't have enough quality corners. The numbers and quality at the cornerback position could allow the Vikings coaches to do some new and very interesting things on defense.
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