6 bold predictions for the Vikings 2021 training camp
By Chris Schad
Wonnum will win a starting spot
One of the Vikings’ biggest weaknesses last season was creating a pass rush. The Vikings had hoped that their young players could come of age in 2020, but instead, they wound up with one of the lowest sack rates in the NFL.
The Vikings fixed this in free agency with the addition of Sheldon Richardson and the return of Danielle Hunter. Still, the Vikings aren’t sure who their starter opposite of Hunter will be.
Stephen Weatherly was brought back after spending a year with the Carolina Panthers, but he didn’t record a sack in nine games in 2020. That should open the door for a younger player to produce, such as D.J. Wonnum.
Wonnum wasn’t expected to play much last season but wound up being thrust into duty. His stats weren’t much better than Weatherly’s with three sacks in 14 games but were enough to show some promise as a pass rusher.
If Wonnum makes a leap in other areas of his game, Weatherly could be the odd man out of a rotation that includes draft picks Patrick Jones II and Janarius Robinson.