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?
Anthony Barr, LB
Despite being voted to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, one could easily say that Barr had a down season in 2016.
His tackle and sack numbers were similar to his first two years in the league. However, the linebacker did not seem to cause as much havoc in 2016 as he had in his previous two seasons. So much so that even his own head coach called him out for his play out on the field last year.
Even with his performance in 2016, there is absolutely no reason to think that Barr cannot come back with a vengeance this season. He proved in his first two years with the Vikings that he has the potential for greatness and his play in 2017 could bring those thoughts back into the light.
Linval Joseph, DT
For the past two seasons, no player on Minnesota’s defensive line has been as dominant as Joseph. Despite facing constant double-teams from the opposing offensive line each week, the Vikings’ defensive tackle has had no trouble being productive.
At 6-foot-4 and 328 pounds, Joseph is able do a lot more than most of the players around the NFL that are comparable in size. Not many defensive tackles in the league today are capable of finishing a game with 13 total tackles like Joseph did during Minnesota’s Week 15 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts last season.
Some would argue that he was the best player on the Vikings’ defense last year and there is no doubt that he could easily hold that title once again in 2017.
Danielle Hunter, DE
It is pretty scary to think that Hunter is still only 22-years-old and that he will already be entering his third season with the Vikings this year. But in 2017, the young defensive end could be in for this best season yet.
Despite not even starting a single game in 2016, Hunter was still able to end the season with 12.5 sacks. This year, he is expected to be a starter and that means he will have plenty more opportunities to bring down the opposing quarterback and create chaos in the offensive backfield.
The sky is the limit for Hunter in 2017.
Xavier Rhodes, CB
Rhodes is another player that could be argued for having the best performance on Minnesota’s defense in 2016. He really stepped up his game to another level last year and the cornerback will be looking to play even better this season.
In 2016, Rhodes established himself as a player to be feared on the defensive side of the ball. He really evolved into a true, shutdown corner last season as he caused some of the best receivers in the NFL (Odell Beckham Jr., DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson, and more) to have their worst games of the year.
With an upcoming season that is expected to feature Rhodes matching up with players like Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Terrelle Pryor, and A.J. Green, the cornerback’s performance against those top pass catchers should be what determines his standing on the Vikings’ defense in 2017.
Harrison Smith, S
In terms of the most important player on Minnesota’s defense, none may be more valuable than Smith. It is incredibly easy for someone to argue that Smith is the glue that holds the Vikings’ defense together.
His ability to rush the passer on one play and hold an opposing receiver in check on the next is not a quality that many defensive players in the NFL posses today. It is probably why Zimmer always has a big grin on his face whenever he speaks about the Minnesota safety.
Even with his success, Smith has missed a total of five games in the past two seasons. If he is able to play a full 16 games in 2017, being the best player on the Vikings’ defense may not be the only recognition he receives.
Eric Kendricks, LB
The young linebacker took full advantage of his opportunity to be a starter last year as his 109 total tackles were tops on Minnesota’s defense. Kendricks performance in 2016 quietly established himself as one of the best young players in the NFL today.
With only two seasons under his belt and still only 25-years-old, plenty of room remains for the linebacker to grow as a player. And that should be scary for the rest of the league.
Another impressive showing on the field from Kendricks this year and he could be joining some of his Vikings teammates at the Pro Bowl in 2017.
Everson Griffen, DE
After Minnesota made him a full-time starter in 2014, Griffen has provided the team with with plenty of moments to reassure them that they made the right decision. He has gone from being a utility player during his first four seasons with the Vikings to being regarded now as one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL.
There is no reason to think that the defensive end will slow down anytime soon, so he should still be forcing opposing quarterbacks to run for their lives this year.
During Minnesota’s recent offseason practices, the team experimented with lining Griffen up all over the defensive line. Having him play a few snaps on the inside as a defensive tackle could help the Vikings create matchup problems for the opposing offensive line this year.
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It could also lead to Griffen having more chances to end the 2017 season as the best player on Minnesota’s defense.