Vikings position group rated as one of the five best in the NFL

The Minnesota Vikings currently got a lot of praise for how strong one particular group of their defense is heading into the 2022 NFL season.

Recently, Pro Football Focus released an article discussing their concerns with the secondary of the Minnesota Vikings. However, they don’t have nearly as many issues with another unit of the defense.

The linebackers in Minnesota’s defense earned the team a No. 5 ranking, placing them behind only the 49ers, Colts, Saints, and Packers on PFF’s list.

Edge rushers must not be included in linebacker groupings otherwise Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith would have elevated this group even higher than No. 5.

The linebackers in Minnesota’s defense earned the team a No. 5 ranking, placing them behind only the 49ers, Colts, Saints, and Packers on PFF’s list.

What did PFF like about the Minnesota Vikings linebackers?

With the Vikings moving to a 3-4 front, Minnesota will need to rely on a strong group of linebackers to not only efficiently take down ball carriers but also to rush the passer and drop back into coverage if needed.

The first thing PFF did in their article was to praise Eric Kendricks. That isn’t surprising since he can do it all: play in run support, rush a quarterback, or drop back into coverage. He was All-Pro First Team and made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and continues to be a reliable force in the middle.

PFF also liked pairing Kendricks with former Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks. They called him “underrated” and his solid tackling should result in Minnesota having one of the better contain units in the league.

The article also adds that the switch to a 3-4 defense should help Kendricks, who saw his PRR score dip in 2021. To be honest, it’s a surprise anyone on Minnesota’s defense could grade out well considering the huge struggles the team endured throughout that season.

Edge rushers must not be included in linebacker groupings otherwise Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith would have elevated this group even higher than No. 5.

It’s nice to see the Minnesota Vikings get some praise for a position group where they should be quite strong heading into the 2022 season. Let’s hope the pair can live up to the hype.