Which Minnesota Vikings players may have already reached their performance peak?
The stakes could not be much higher for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. Missing the playoffs by the skin of their teeth left everyone associated with the organization hugely disappointed, especially considering their stark turnaround in fortunes following a 1-5 start that was simply too much to bounce back from.
One cannot accuse the Vikings of standing still this offseason in pursuit of an instant playoff return. They were extremely active in free agency with limited financial resources available and backed this up with what appears to be a solid group of rookies from the draft.
This is just the first step on the road to redemption for Minnesota and their head coach Mike Zimmer. What comes next will be more important and has the potential to shape the long-term future of the franchise.
Some will be counted on more than others, but here are six Vikings players who may have already peaked in terms of production.
Michael Pierce – DT
Opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 health concerns was something Michael Pierce was more than entitled to do, even if it did hurt Minnesota’s chances considerably after they released Linval Joseph in free agency.
Pierce was set to be an instant replacement for the imposing defensive tackle, who eventually signed for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Not having him around the set-up was a huge blow and just how much we can expect from the player throughout the upcoming campaign is dependent is unclear at this juncture.
Realistically speaking, it will take Pierce time to get into game day shape, although having a structured offseason and some preseason games will help. But don’t be surprised if he struggles and the Vikings also recognize this possibility if their acquisition of Sheldon Richardson is any indication.
Adam Thielen – WR
The emergence from an undrafted free agent to a Pro Bowl wide receiver has been an incredible journey for Adam Thielen. He is an inspiration to any college prospect that gets overlooked both during the evaluation process and the draft itself, but whether this steep upward trend can continue in the coming years remains to be seen.
Thielen remains a focal point on offense for the Vikings. His exceptional route-running and eye-catching ability to get open quickly makes him a force to be reckoned with all over the field, something that is sure to benefit quarterback Kirk Cousins once again in 2021.
However, the player has suffered his fair share of injury problems over his time in the league. In terms of production, we might have already seen the best of Thielen.
That’s not to say he cannot continue to put up solid numbers. Especially with Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook commanding some significant attention from opposing defensive schemes.
Keeping Thielen fit and firing on all cylinders is the most important thing for Minnesota. Injuries have prevented the player from reaching the 1,000-yard receiving milestone for two seasons, and if the same complications resurface this time around, it’s going to bring a detrimental impact on their chances.
Thielen is a key cog for the Vikings. Of that, there is little doubt. But it wouldn’t be surprising if he was now past his peak.
Anthony Barr – LB
The Vikings made the right call by keeping Anthony Barr on the books rather than make the player a salary-cap casualty. His 2020 season was once again cut short by injury, but if these problems are behind the linebacker, he’ll be shouldering plenty of responsibility during the upcoming campaign.
Barr’s career in Minnesota has been anything but dull. There are some who expected the former UCLA star to produce a little bit more, which is expected of a first-round pick. But the Vikings demonstrated last season that they are a far worse defense when he’s not in the lineup.
However, anybody expecting miracles where Barr is concerned might be out of luck.
The player will be on the wrong side of 30 during the season and there are some doubts about his ability to remain explosive for a prolonged period of time. Barr has enjoyed a good period of rest away from the gridiron after appearing in just two games in 2020, but whether he can return to the old form is another matter entirely.
Much like the case with Adam Thielen, keeping Barr at the peak of his powers and actually on the field is of critical importance. Minnesota has some solid rotational pieces that can take some of the pressure at certain stages of the campaign, which might preserve the player enough to get a full season under his belt.
Dalvin Cook – RB
Please make no mistake, Dalvin Cook is a player with the world at his feet. The running back took another substantial leap forward in production last season, almost reaching 2,000 all-purpose yards to firmly establish himself as one of the NFL’s best at the position.
This could be just the start for Cook.
But it might be the best production the Vikings get from a numbers standpoint.
The former Florida State sensation is still going to carry a big load for the Vikings moving forward. Potentially for the duration of the big-money contract signed by the player last year.
However, if Minnesota wants some bang for their buck over the next few seasons, then they’ll need to handle Cook’s carries with caution. One only has to look at the injury problems suffered by Christian McCaffrey on the Carolina Panthers in 2020 to see where things can go wrong.
There is also an extra game on Minnesota’s schedule next season, which is another hugely impactful situation that shouldn’t be ignored.
As long as Cook remains fit and productive, the Vikings should be right in the thick of things in 2021 after leaving themselves too much to do in pursuit of making the postseason last time around. But in terms of numbers, the player might have peaked ever so slightly.
Mackensie Alexander – CB
Acquiring Mackensie Alexander after one season away from the team could be a shrewd bit of business by the Vikings. Things didn’t go according to plan for the cornerback on the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020, which was not unexpected considering the problems that enveloped the franchise over the course of the campaign.
It didn’t take much to convince Alexander that returning to more familiar surroundings was the best thing for his career. In truth, he shouldn’t have ever left.
Alexander’s presence was missed last season within a secondary that was devoid of any real experience. That is not the case in 2021 thanks to some notable additions, but only time will tell as to whether the Vikings saw the best of the former Clemson standout during his first stint with the organization.
Although there were mitigating circumstances behind Alexander’s indifferent production in Cincinnati, it is still a concern. The Bengals were woeful from a defensive standpoint in 2020 and it won’t take long for the Vikings to find out just how much of that was down to the 2016 second-round pick.
All Minnesota needs from Alexander is to make a smooth transition back into the nickel cornerback role and reach the sort of level we saw from the player in 2019. It might not sound like much, but it’s a sizable task.
Kirk Cousins – QB
Despite achieving the best statistical season of his career in 2020, some sections of the team’s fan base remain less than convinced by quarterback Kirk Cousins. The NFL is a what have you done for me lately league, and although the signal-caller’s production after the bye week was exceptional, some people just couldn’t escape the poor start that eventually cost the team a postseason spot.
Cousins is the undisputed No. 1 option despite the Vikings drafting Kellen Mond. But just how much longer he’ll assume command under center is another matter.
The player has two years and $76 million in cap hits remaining on his deal. Cousins could produce enough to earn an even longer stay with the franchise next season, but any slight regression should see the Vikings adopt a wait-and-see approach to a potential extension in 2022.
Providing the protection in front of Cousins improves, then he should be able to make the most out of some incredible weapons at his disposal. Having a top running back alongside him in Dalvin Cook also helps an untold amount.
If things start as slowly as they did last season, then the knives will come out quickly for Cousins. This is nothing he hasn’t experienced before, but it will be less than ideal if the gunslinger wants to lead the Vikings back to where they belong.