Top 5 Vikings defensive pressure leaders since 2018
By Dustin Baker
4. Stephen Weatherly – DE
Snaps with pressure since 2018 = 3.18 percent
Stephen Weatherly no longer plays for the Vikings. He inked a two-year, $12.5 million deal the Carolina Panthers back in March. His presence on his list can be considered somewhat bittersweet.
Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman nabbed Weatherly in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft. From 2016 to 2017, Weatherly saw very limited playing time defensively with Brian Robison, Everson Griffen, and Danielle Hunter occupying the defensive end room.
He did, however, contribute to special teams in his first two seasons. Most recently, his PFF grade in 2019 was 50.2.
From 2018 until his departure, Weatherly played in about 45 percent of all defensive snaps. All told, he was on the field for 943 of the Vikings’ defensive snaps since 2018. He was able to register 30 pressures, and per comparative percentage (3.18 percent), that is good for No. 4 on this list.
He should get the opportunity to start in Carolina during the upcoming season, or at the very least, keep the spot warm for rookie Yetur Gross-Matos.