The Viking Age
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Who will be the Minnesota Vikings’ best defensive player in 2017?

By Adam Patrick

Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) runs onto the field for action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) runs onto the field for action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) runs onto the field for action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles won 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

On the defensive side of the ball, the Minnesota Vikings are full of talent. But which of these players will stand above the rest during the 2017 season?

When the Minnesota Vikings hired Mike Zimmer as their head coach in 2014, they brought him in to fix a defense that ranked 31st in total yards allowed per game. Three years into the Zimmer era and the Vikings’ defense is now among the NFL’s best.

Minnesota is coming off a 2016 season in which they finished ranked in the top five for a number of essential defensive categories. Their recent success has been due to the continued evolution of players like cornerback Xavier Rhodes, safety Harrison Smith, defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and linebacker Anthony Barr.

With all of the talent the Vikings have on defense, which player could possibly stand out above the rest and finish the 2017 season as the unit’s absolute best player?

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