Having lost most of their games in 2021 by one score, the Minnesota Vikings knew they were close but needed to improve in a few areas this year.
New Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell should be pleased with their work this offseason. They identified areas that needed improvement and executed their plan fairly well. A few minor tweaks could be all the Vikings need to compete in 2022, having lost eight games by single-digit scores last season.
Bringing back veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson was just the start for Minnesota. The Vikings also signed former Green Bay Packers slot corner Chandon Sullivan who ranked fourth in snaps per reception among eligible slot cornerbacks in 2021. But this still wouldn’t be enough, and this remained a priority heading into this year’s NFL Draft.
The Vikings came out of the 2022 draft with cornerbacks Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans, two extremely talented players with high upside. Booth is undoubtedly first-round talent and he could be expected to start very early on. Evans could also develop into a solid starter in the league. First-round pick, safety Lewis Cine is a very exciting prospect that will further bolster the defensive back room.
What other areas did the Minnesota Vikings improve in 2022?
Both sides of the line of scrimmage have also improved significantly for the Vikings this offseason. The additions of Za’Darius Smith and Harrison Phillips to the defensive front will be huge to go along with the return of Danielle Hunter from his injury last year.
Although there were minimal improvements made to Minnesota’s offensive line during the last few months, free-agent guard Chris Reed allowed zero sacks on 522 snaps with the Indianapolis Colts last season in addition to having only three penalties called against him. The addition of Reed, alone, should help improve the unit.
With the signing of free-agent linebacker Jordan Hicks to pair with Eric Kendricks in the heart of the defense, the Vikings have two versatile tackling machines. With the improvements to the defensive front, Hicks and Kendricks could have remarkable 2022 seasons.
Overall, Minnesota has attempted to improve in most, if not all, of their areas of need. Vikings fans are right to expect their team to potentially retake the NFC North and make a playoff run next season.