Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings traded the pass rusher that they acquired in August. Yannick Ngakoue is heading to Baltimore. Danielle Hunter is heading to season-ending surgery. The loss of both defensive ends strips the Vikings of the defense that they never had. Toss in defensive tackle Michael Pierce opting out due to COVID concerns and linebacker Anthony Barr’s season-ending injury, the defense that the Vikings send against the Green Bay Packers on November 1 won’t be recognizable to the average fan. Here’s a look at what might be the new Vikings D.
DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
DT Jaleel Johnson
NT Shamar Stephen
DE D. J. Wonnum
LB Eric Wilson
LB Eric Kendricks
LB Todd Davis
CB Cameron Dantzler
CB Jeff Gladney
S Harrison Smith
S Anthony Harris
That’s a defense with maybe two players known to the average fan. Eric Kendricks? Harrison Smith? Aaron Rodgers is going to feast! I’m not so sure. The defensive line probably won’t scare many quarterbacks. The linebackers could surprise. The secondary could be the biggest surprise of all.
Rather than the “fire sale” that’s being tossed about by the media and many fans, I think that a reason for the trade of Yannick Ngakoue is the emergence of the rookie D. J. Wonnum. That sort of reason isn’t as spicy as a trade deadline selling spree. I like Wonnum. I like his play. I like saying his name. Wonnum! He’s made an increasing impact with each game. Perhaps he’s ready for a full-time role. The Vikings need more from the interior of the defensive line but they needed that before they thought they had Hunter and Ngakoue on the edges. The loss of Michael Pierce before anything started hurt. It changed everything that was expected or assumed on defense.
This new Vikings defense isn’t the defense that we expected but it is the defense that we have now. I love the potential of the secondary. Rookie corners Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney are growing with each game. I can’t wait to see where they take their talents. The linebackers are solid. The line is an in-season work in progress. I like Wonnum a lot. Ifeadi Odenigbo is a good end. Jordan Brailford, plucked from the Washington practice squad, is an intriguing pass rushing talent. Maybe he can round into the the rotation soon. I’m still hoping that defensive tackle Armon Watts makes the impact that I expected him to make this season. Maybe rookie James Lynch becomes the interior pass rusher he was drafted to be. The Vikings defense is new. Unfortunately, it’s getting started in Week 8.
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