The top 10 pass rushing duos in Minnesota Vikings history
By Tim Arcand
The Minnesota Vikings can boast some awesome pass-rushing duos, here is a look at the top 10 in franchise history.
When the Minnesota Vikings completed a trade for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue on August 31 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it gave the team two rising stars to anchor their defensive line. A third-round draft pick in 2016, Ngakoue joins another third-round pick from 2015 in Danielle Hunter. This gives the Vikings e two 25-year-old defensive ends to anchor their line that will hopefully give fits to opposing quarterbacks.
When the Vikings failed to retain the services of 10-year veteran Everson Griffen, there were concerns about the defense. Needing to replace their top three starters at cornerback from last season the last thing the Vikings needed was another hole to plug. When free-agent acquisition Michael Pierce opted out for the season things looked even worse with two holes to plug on the defensive line.
Then general manager Rick Spielman worked his magic and everything is once again right in the Vikings’ world. Now, if only they can get Hunter back on the practice field following his “little tweak.”
The acquisition of Ngakoue to play alongside Hunter raises the expectations for the upcoming season. Before playing even one game together there is plenty of projections to how good this duo can be. In his five seasons with the Vikings, Hunter averaged 10.9 sacks per year. Ngakoue is right behind him averaging 9.3 sacks per year in four seasons in Jacksonville.
It will be fun to watch these two play this season, and no doubt, there will be comparisons to some of the best pass-rushing duos in the Vikings’ history.
Here is a ranking of the top 10 pass rushing duos in franchise history. The ranking started with the top sack masters in team history. Keeping it simple, the criteria includes the number of seasons each duo played together along with the total number of game played and, of course, with the total number of sacks getting the greatest weight. The ranking includes all positions along the defensive line and is not limited to defensive ends. Since sacks did not become an official stat for the NFL until 1982, the focus of the ranking is on the players since then.