5 most explosive players on the Minnesota Vikings defense

Eric Kendricks – LB

Eric Kendricks proved he is the heart and soul of the Vikings’ defense in 2020 and he is easily one of the most explosive players on that side of the ball.

Kendricks simply does it all. He’s a heat-seeking missile when he flies through blockers on his way to the ball carrier. He can cover just as well as a corner or safety and he makes the stops that keep the team in games or leads them to a victory. He’s a great player who is still underrated league-wide and that is a shame.

Kendricks has averaged 109 tackles per year during the last five seasons in addition to averaging eight pass breakups in this same time span. He is the definition of consistency and when he went out with a freak calf injury late last year, Minnesota’s entire defense wilted without him.

The Vikings were already running on fumes at that point, but without their fearless leader in the middle, the ragtag group of linebackers, corners, and defensive linemen didn’t have a chance.

Kendricks routinely makes big plays in big moments and that is the definition of what an explosive player is. He is truly a firecracker who not only leads by his play, but he also has the energy and fire to get his teammates inspired to perform at their best.