Predicting the Vikings 2020 Depth Chart: Defensive Line
By Adam Patrick
The Backups
Jaleel Johnson – DT
Hercules Mata’afa – DT
Jalyn Holmes – DT
James Lynch – DL
D.J. Wonnum – DE
Eddie Yarbrough – DE
Minnesota kept a total of 10 defensive linemen last season and they will do the same for 2020. The Vikings will have a good mix of experience and youth with their backup defensive linemen this year.
Jaleel Johnson could be a bubble player, but Minnesota will likely choose to keep him around in the end due to his experience in the scheme. Hercules Mata’afa was basically a rookie last season since he missed all of 2018 with an injury, so one should expect to see him take some more steps in his development this year.
The jury is still out on Jalyn Holmes since he has yet to really impress at any point during his two seasons with the Vikings. He’ll be fighting for playing time with rookie James Lynch who is a versatile lineman that can line up on the inside or the outside.
Minnesota typically keeps at least two backup defensive ends, so they’ll go with rookie D.J. Wonnum on one side and Eddie Yarbrough on the other.