Free Agency or Draft: How should the Vikings fill their needs in 2021?

Defensive End

How the Vikings should fill this need: NFL Draft

This need has already been addressed in free agency, as the Vikings went out and brought back one of their own in Stephen Weatherly.

Weatherly signed a fairly sizeable deal with the Carolina Panthers after his breakout 2019 season, where he filled in admirably for Everson Griffen, racking up three sacks in six starts while also being a force against the run.

He flamed out in Carolina last year though as he failed to register a single sack with the club. He does seem very excited to return to Minnesota, but expectations need to be tempered. He provides great depth and he is a nice rotational piece. But if he’s asked to be a starter, his production could look similar to what he did last season with the Panthers.

The Vikings need to land a young pass rusher this year who has the potential to become the next Danielle Hunter.

Minnesota’s defense is at its best when they have two elite pass rushers on the outside and Mike Zimmer will want to get back to that in 2021. They could fill this need by using the 14th overall choice on an edge-rushing prospect like Gregory Rousseau or Kwity Paye, or they could wait until the round and possibly grab someone like Patrick Jones or Rashad Weaver.

Whatever the case, the Vikings will likely look to bolster their pass rush through the draft this offseason, and they may do it more than once.