5 candidates to be the Vikings starting defensive end in 2021
By Adam Carlson
Jalyn Holmes
Perhaps the most logical of all the players on the list to be the favorite to be a starter heading into training camp, Jalyn Holmes has been a bit of a surprise since moving to defensive end last season. While there, he started nine games for the Vikings and played in 14 contests.
The bad news is that he didn’t have a lot of success in that position. He had the second-most snaps at defensive last season behind only Ifeadi Odenigbo, who has moved on play with the Giants this year. Holmes failed to register a sack in his 617 defensive snaps paid, which is why he will be part of a competition instead of a huge favorite to start this year.
Danielle Hunter should be drawing double teams on a regular basis, leaving Holmes in one-on-one situations where he should find more wins than last season. Plus, he should continue to develop into his new position as he gains more experience and physically prepares for the upcoming season.
Holmes is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Minnesota Vikings and will be looking to impress his team and bring home a big contract extension or land a nice contract somewhere else in 2022 and beyond.