5 candidates to be the Vikings starting defensive end in 2021
By Adam Carlson
![D.J. Wonnum (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) D.J. Wonnum (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthevikingage-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1284610540-850x560-7f9b6c3c9ae8a5d77ab846fed72c1607b72679f97926d82fa4bca41e8ca6e776.jpg)
D.J. Wonnum
In his first season with the Minnesota Vikings, D.J. Wonnum played a pretty solid role. He started two games for the team and played in 14 total contests for the purple and gold, netting some decent results.
2020 saw the young pass rusher record 24 combined tackles, three sacks, a pass defense, and a forced fumble in his 417 defensive snaps and 136 special teams plays. He made some splash plays that made fans be quite interested in the future of the physically impressive pass rusher.
Wonnum enters Vikings training camp with an opportunity to show he has learned a lot this offseason and that he can realize the potential that Minnesota saw in him when they picked him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He may not have the starting experience of the individuals named ahead of him on this list, but his potential could be through the roof if he and Danielle Hunter can pair up and be the freakish athletes they both can be.