5 Vikings players who could take a step backward in 2020

Eric Wilson – LB

Eric Wilson has been a fun player to watch come into his own. He started as a special teams ace and he worked his way into a part-time starter for the Vikings.

He’s one of those players, who when he’s on the field, good things end up happening to, whether it be a sack, tackle for a loss, or fumble recovery. He provides much more big-play ability then Ben Gedeon and is a much better athlete. Wilson uses his athleticism in pass coverage where he’s more able to stay stride-for-stride with backs and tight ends who come his way.

The reason Wilson could see his production decrease is because of a rookie who will be pushing him for playing time. Linebacker Troy Dye is every bit the athlete that Wilson is. He’s got a great combination of speed and energy while also being able to cover a ton of ground in a hurry.

Dye is bigger than Wilson and he would match up better against tight ends. The Vikings potentially have a steal on their hands with this former Oregon Duck and Wilson will have to be on his “A” game all preseason to ensure he’s the starter in 2020.

Even if Wilson fends off Dye as he should, the rookie could still see his fair share of snaps next season. While Wilson should be the starter and that would lead one to believe he’ll have the most productive season of his career, Dye could see enough time that he cuts into Wilson’s production to the point where his numbers fall below the 62 tackles and three sacks he posted a season ago.