The biggest question at each position for the Minnesota Vikings in 2019
By Adam Carlson
How much will the Vikings miss Sheldon Richardson?
Last season, Sheldon Richardson started the season playing at an extremely high level. After that, his play wasn’t as remarkable, but he remained a solid presence to rush the passer and contain the run from the defensive tackle position.
Sadly, Richardson has moved on to play with the Cleveland Browns and the Vikings have made the move to go with former starter and much more inexpensive option, Shamar Stephen. The question of how much dropoff there will be is a question which has to be asked.
Honestly, Stephen should be fine at the position, but likely won’t offer the number of explosive plays that Richardson had. A stable player there will be great for the Minnesota Vikings, but missing a good big man like Richardson is bound to happen.
Secondary question: When will Linval Joseph finally start to decline?
Linval Joseph has hit that 30-year-old wall and will be 31 in October. The Big Goon has been a dominating force but the question of when he will start to slow down is a big one. He is still recovering from surgery right now, but hopefully, when the season rolls around he can be the juggernaut he has shown he can be.