Current Minnesota Vikings Starters?

After a couple weeks of offseason moves, a look at a potential Minnesota Vikings starting lineup looks much more promising than it did a month ago. Thank goodness. Isn’t getting better the purpose of the offseason? The Vikings had to get better. Their salary cap situation didn’t allow for big changes. They did the best they could with the limited cap room that they had. They actually did more than was expected with what they had. 

Additions:

Stephen Weatherly, DE

Dalvin Tomlinson, DT

Nick Vigil, LB

Patrick Peterson, CB

Mason Cole, OG

Mackensie Alexander, CB

Xavier Woods, S

Each could be a starter this season. At the very least, all will compete for starting roles. 

Stephen Weatherly and Mackensie Alexander are interesting additions in that they are both returning to Minnesota after a single season elsewhere. 

The free agency portion of the offseason was clearly devoted to the defense. Other than the trade for guard Mason Cole all of the new players are on the defensive of the ball. The defensive focus shouldn’t be a surprise as the defense was often terrible last season. When it wasn’t terrible, it was still well below the standard set in recent years. Does that mean that the draft will be devoted to the offense? We’ll know in a month. Until then, a projected starting lineup for the 2021 season might look something like this. 

Offense

WR	Justin Jefferson
LT	Ezra Cleveland
LG	Mason Cole
C	Garrett Bradbury
RG	Kyle Hinton
RT	Brian O’Neill
TE	Kyle Rudolph
WR	Adam Thielen
QB	Kirk Cousins
RB	Dalvin Cook
FB	C.J. Ham

 Defense

LE	Danielle Hunter
DT	Dalvin Tomlinson
NT	Michael Pierce
RE	D.J. Wonnum
LB	Anthony Barr
LB	Erick Kendricks
LB	NIck Vigil/Troy Dye
CB	Cam Dantzler
CB	Patrick Peterson
S	Harrison Smith
S	Xavier Woods
NB	Jeff Gladney

It’s early April. In early April, it looks like the positions most in question are offensive line, edge rusher opposite Danielle Hunter, and perhaps the third linebacker in base defense. Second -year offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland is listed at left tackle here. In a conference call this week Mike Zimmer said that he’s still at the right guard position that he played last season. I expect that a left tackle will be added in the draft. Until that happens, I have Cleveland as the best man for the left tackle job. There will be several excellent left tackles in the first round of the draft. The Vikings would do well to grab one of them. If that happens, I’m a fan of this offensive line.

LT	First round pick
LG	Mason Cole/Kyle Hinton
C	Garrett Bradbury
RG	Ezra Cleveland
RT	Brian O’Neill

If a left tackle is not found in the draft and Cleveland moves to the position, as many as two guards might be needed. 

As for defensive end, one of D.J. Wonnum, Stephen Weatherly, or an early draft pick will be the answer at edge rusher. As for linebacker, a third linebacker is on the field for only about a third of the defensive snaps. Today’s offenses have made five, or more, defensive backs the norm. The Vikings still deploy a three-linebacker base and the competition for the position likely includes Nick Vigil, Troy Dye, and Cameron Smith. When Anthony Barr agreed to a reworked contract earlier this offseason, it gave him a shot at free agency next offseason. The Vikings haven’t had to worry much about the linebacker group since Eric Kendricks joined Barr in 2015. Because of Barr’s potential departure next year, linebacker might be an early round draft target this year. If that happens, that player would join the competition for the third linebacker role. 

I had modest expectations for the Vikings offseason. Their salary cap situation simply wouldn’t allow for much. I hoped that the Vikings might add one of the released defensive tackles. Due to injuries, age, or salary several were available. This was a tempting group that included Geno Atkins, Jurrell Casey, and Kawann Short. I hoped that the Vikings might add a quality starting safety that could replace Anthony Harris. I hoped that the Vikings might add a couple offensive linemen that might compete for playing time. I never expected the they’d be able to sign a young, talented defensive tackle like Dalvin Tomlinson. I definitely never expected the addition of a veteran cornerback like Patrick Peterson. Xavier Woods was the sort of safety addition that met my hopes. He only signed a one-year deal but he has the talent, youthful experience and opportunity to play his way into a long-term role in Minnesota. The returns of Stephen Weatherly and Mackensie Alexander made this a strong offseason for the Vikings. One that I didn’t see coming. Some work still needs to be done on offense. The offensive line remains a concern. Mason Cole is a nice addition but more help is needed. I always expected the draft to be the primary source for significant offensive line improvements. There was no way that the Vikings would be able to afford any of the truly difference-making offensive linemen that were available in free agency. I feel like the Vikings are getting close to a quality offensive line but it has taken so damn long. Receiver depth is another offensive need. 

The Vikings have had a very good offseason. And the best source for team improvements is still four weeks away.