Prior to this month's draft, 1SBD's Enda Smith takes an in-depth look into the Minnesota Vikings's current projected starters and identifies strengths and lingering team needs after the first waves of free agency.
Player stats collected from Pro Football Reference. Salary information per Over The Cap.
TAKEAWAYS
PROS
- Minnesota didn't lose the key defensive pieces it could have in free agency . Linebacker Anthony Barr resigned after seemingly committing to the Jets and the Vikings kept defensive end Danielle Hunter with the team. Keeping such a solid, young core intact didn't look likely after the season but now it's locked up for a few years. With stars all over the defense, fans should expect an impressive showing in 2019.
- Resigning wide receiver Adam Thielen allows the passing game to have all three of its major contributor's happy and ready to work. Thielen had a record-breaking season last year and the front office will hope that continues as Thielen and quarterback Kirk Cousins build even more chemistry in Year 2.
CONS
- The bane of any Vikings fan over the last few years has been the offensive line; and general manager Rick Spielman hasn't done enough to change that this off-season. The team signed guard Josh Kline in free agency but still needs to find a high-impact player in the draft. A run-blocker in particular would help head coach Mike Zimmer's offence -- which emphasizes pounding the ball. To that end, running back Dalvin Cook also needs to stay healthy if the Vikings are to remain competitive in 2019.
- The tight end position is of some concern. Kyle Rudolph has been a consistent performer throughout his career in Minnesota, but he is in the final year of his deal and will be 30-years-old after the season. The Vikings may try to find a replacement for him in this year's deep tight end class.
Projected Starters
NOTE:
NAME, Draft Round.Overall Pick (TEAM, year). Starts/Games Played. Age. Cap Hit 2019
QB has an additional 'total yards, number of attempts (yards per attempt)' figure.
RB, WR and TE have an additional ‘total yards / number of touches (yards per touch)’ statistic
Age as of Sunday September 8, 2019 (Week 1)
QUARTERBACK
KIRK COUSINS, 4.102 (WAS, 2012). 73/78. 1,109 yards/ 2,702 attempts. (7.6 y/a). 31-years-old. $29,000,000
RUNNING BACK
DALVIN COOK, 2.41 (MIN, 2017). 14/15. 1,364 yards/ 258 touches (5.3). 24-years-old. $1,732,721
WIDE RECEIVER
ADAM THIELEN, undrafted (MIN, 2014). 46/80. 4,042 yards/ 305 touches (13.3). 29-years-old. $8,105,000
STEFON DIGGS, 5.146 (MIN, 2015). 48/55. 3,591 yards/ 326 touches (11.0). 25-years-old. $12,468,750
LAQUON TREADWELL, 1.23 (MIN, 2016). 15/40. 517 yards/ 56 touches (9.2). 24-years-old. $3,161,130
Average: 142nd overall pick. 109 starts/ 175 games played (62.3%). 8,150 yards/ 417 touches (19.5). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $23.7M
TIGHT END
KYLE RUDOLPH, 2.43 (MIN, 2011). 104/112. 3,787 yards/ 386 touches (9.8). 29-years-old. $7,625,000
OFFENSIVE LINE
RILEY REIFF, 1.23 (DET, 2012). 97/105. 30-years-old. $11,700,000
DANNY ISIDORA, 5.180 (MIN, 2017). 3/21. 25-years-old. $695,487
PAT ELFLEIN, 3.70 (MIN, 2017). 27/28. 25-years-old. $1,043,710
JOSH KLINE, undrafted (NE, 2013). 64/79. 29-years-old. $3,083,333
BRIAN O'NEILL, 2.62 (MIN, 2018). 11/15. 23-years-old. $1,001,509
Average: 118th overall pick. 202 starts/ 248 games played (81.5%). 26.4-years-old. Total cap hit: $17.5M
DEFENSIVE LINE
DANIELLE HUNTER, 3.88 (MIN, 2015). 33/62. 24-years-old. $13,500,000
LINVAL JOSEPH, 2.46 (NYG, 2010). 121/128. 30-years-old. $10,668,750
SHAMAR STEPHEN, 7.220 (MIN, 2014). 34/67. 28-years-old. $2,333,333
EVERSON GRIFFEN, 4.100 (MIN, 2010). 73/132. 31-years-old. $8,087,500
Average: 114th overall pick. 261 starts/ 389 games played (67.1%). 28.3-years-old. Total cap hit: $34.6M
LINEBACKERS
ANTHONY BARR, 1.09 (MIN, 2014). 71/71. 27-years-old. $5,600,000
ERIC KENDRICKS, 2.45 (MIN, 2015). 55/59. 27-years-old. $6,568,750
BEN GEDEON, 4.120 (MIN, 2017). 17/31. 24-years-old. $803,132
Average: 58th overall pick. 143 starts/ 161 games played (88.8%). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $13.0M
CORNERBACK
XAVIER RHODES, 1.25 (MIN, 2013). 82/89. 29-years-old. $13,337,500
TRAE WAYNES, 1.11 (MIN, 2015). 39/60. 27-years-old. $9,069,000
Average: 18th overall pick. 121 starts/ 149 games played (81.2%). 28-years-old. Total cap hit: $22.4M
SAFETY
ANTHONY HARRIS, undrafted (MIN, 2015). 17/51. 28-years-old. $3,095,000
HARRISON SMITH, 1.29 (MIN, 2012). 98/99. 30-years-old. $10,750,000
Average: 143rd overall pick. 115 starts/ 150 games played (76.7%). 29-years-old. Total cap hit: $13.8M
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