Offseason Analysis Series: Minnesota Vikings

Meaningful Additions: HC Kevin O'Connell, EDGE Za'Darius Smith, DL Harrison Phillips, LB Jordan Hicks, OG Chris Reed, DB Lewis Cine, CB Andrew Booth, OG Ed Ingram, LB Brian Asamoah, CB Akayleb Evans

Meaningful Losses: HC Mike Zimmer, TE Tyler Conklin, C Mason Cole, DB Xavier Woods, LB Anthony Barr, LB Nick Vigil

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What Happened Last Year?

(8-9) Second in NFC North

Offense

The Kirk Cousins led Vikings offense was a middle tier unit in 2021 finishing 14th in points scored and 12th in total yards. Cousins again proved to be a dependable option throwing for 4,238 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. As good as those numbers look, there is a feeling that Cousins has hit his ceiling and does not have what it takes to put Minnesota over the top. Second year stud WR Justin Jefferson was a problem for opposing defenses during the course of the 2021 season. Jefferson compiled a ridiculous line of 108 receptions, 1,616 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He was virtually unstoppable on his was to being named second team All-Pro and came only a few yards short of the single season Vikings receiving yardage record held by Hall of Famer and all-time great Randy Moss. From the Vikings games that I watched closely last season (@LAC, vs. CHI), Jefferson looked like one of the best wide receivers in football and a dominant presence on the outside. I think he continues the success he had in 2021 and he is my pick for Offensive Player of the Year this season. Rounding out the receiver room, Adam Thielen missed four games, but still managed a 10 touchdown season and KJ Osborn emerged as a viable third option for Cousins.

Minnesota's backfield is home to one of the best running backs in football. The lead man, Dalvin Cook was voted to the Pro Bowl for the third straight season in 2021 even though he missed 4 games due to injury. He finished the season with 1,159 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry. Cook is one of my favorite backs in the NFL due to his ability to explode through the smallest of holes and make defenders miss. When given a little bit of daylight, Cook has top tier acceleration and open field speed.

Defense

Mike Zimmer's defense vastly underperformed in 2021. The unit allowed the third most total yards in the NFL, fifth most passing yards, and seventh most rushing yards. Their secondary played very poorly with the exception of safeties Xavier Woods and Harrison Smith. Smith was voted to his sixth pro bowl in 2021 and finished second on the team with 114 tackles. Athletic linebacker Eric Kendricks had another quality season as the anchor of the Vikings front seven and totaled 143 tackles, five sacks, and eight tackles for loss. On the edge, second year man out of South Carolina, DJ Wonnum had the best season of his career with eight sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Freak of nature and criminally underrated pass rusher Danielle Hunter missed 10 games due to injury, but still managed to rack up six sacks.

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What's Changed?

Defensive Reinforcements

Minnesota's urgency to add defensive pieces this offseason reflected just how poorly they performed on that side of the ball in 2021. Their most notable free agency signing was dynamic edge rusher Za'Darius Smith. The former Green Bay Packer missed all but one regular season game in 2021 due to a back injury and did not return to the field until Green Bay's divisional round game against San Francisco. If he can stay healthy he will immediately boost the Vikings pass rush and run defense. The Vikings also used six of their first seven picks in the 2022 draft on the defensive side of the ball. They sought to boost their secondary early by using their first two picks on hard hitting safety Lewis Cine out of Georgia and cover corner Andrew Booth out of Clemson.

New Regime

The Vikings fired head coach Mike Zimmer after the conclusion of the 2021 season and promptly brought in Ram's offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell to replace him. Zimmer's expertise was defense and after the showing the Vikings defense put on in 2021, Minnesota decided to go in a different direction. O'Connell is fresh off helping the Rams win Super Bowl 56 and brings with him a wealth of offensive knowledge. I think that O'Connell will get the best out of Kirk Cousins like he did Matthew Stafford, and that the Vikings will be a playoff team in 2022.