5 needs the Minnesota Vikings can hold off drafting in 2021

Defensive End

This one will make this writer sound like a hypocrite, as he’s been pretty vocal about his desire to see the Vikings’ pass rush improve with a first-round edge rusher, but the Vikings actually could hold off addressing this need in 2021 and be just fine.

The biggest reason for this is the return of Danielle Hunter. His loss a season ago had a profound negative impact on the Vikings’ defense. The pass rush the team lost from him being out hurt every level of this defense and especially did no favors to a young cornerback group whose receivers had all the time in the world to shake free of them.

Hunter’s loss also hurt the run defense as he was a force in that area, and it showed as teams’ backs had no problems getting to the outside against the Vikings defense last season.

Hunter will go back to being his dominating force at the right defensive end position next season and the Vikings already have an impressive young player to start opposite him. D.J. Wonnum had a solid rookie season and will be much better with a full offseason and another preseason under his belt. Ifeadi Odenigbo can go back to his situational role and could produce another seven-sack season as he did in 2021.

At this point, it is fair to say that the Vikings are likely to take a defensive end with the 14th pick, but they could actually not address that position at all in the draft and still be improved over what was on the field in 2020.