The Vikings cruised to an NFC North title last season before they were promptly upended by the New York Giants in their playoff opener.
Minnesota fans who paid attention this season know the defense is a big problem. No division winner should have allowed 31 points to the Giants in a do-or-die game (No offense, Daniel Jones).
I’ve highlighted three players the Vikings could target with their first-round pick that could give them a fighting chance in the postseason – and help their Super Bowl odds – but before we get into that, you’ll want to know about the new-user promotion at BetMGM Sportsbook.
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Of course, you could bet on anything you like with this insurance, but why not bet on futures odds for your favorite team? You want to act fast because the Vikings’ odds are only going to get shorter if they nail their draft selections.
Three Players the Vikings Should Target to Help SB Odds
The Vikings have a few areas of concern this offseason, but the most glaring ones are all on the defensive side.
Minnesota allowed the third-most yards per play (5.9) this season and that cannot continue if the team hopes to make any noise in the playoffs.
Here are three players who could help set that defense on the right track with the No. 24 overall pick:
Drew Sanders, Inside Linebacker (Arkansas)
We just got done discussing how the Vikings allow too many yards per play, now it’s time to fix it. Sanders is a borderline perfect fit for Minnesota at the No. 24 selection.
The Vikings could use a new starting inside linebacker as Jordan Hicks and Eric Kendricks are both on the wrong side of 30 and coming off down seasons.
Sanders offers an immediate improvement while also adding some firepower to a Vikings pass rush that generated the fewest sacks in the NFL last season.
Sanders transferred from Alabama to Arkansas for his junior season where he finished with 103 tackles (13.5 for loss), 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, six pass breakups, and an interception.
Sanders addresses three areas of concern for Minnesota: limiting yards per play, adding sacks, and helping with pass coverage.
Keion White, Defensive End (Georgia Tech)
If Sanders isn’t on the board at No. 24 overall, White would be a fine substitute. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound DE is versatile on the interior of the line or on the outside and would immediately make Minnesota’s pass rush notably improved.
White finished this past season with 54 tackles (14 for loss) with 7.5 sacks in 12 games.
Adding White would also address two areas of concern (limiting yards and adding sacks), but it still leaves the Vikings light at linebacker – meaning a third or fourth-round LB pick-up would be a necessity.
Derick Hall, Defensive End (Auburn)
The Vikings can’t draft based on value. They have to draft based on need after such a bad defensive season.
Hall isn’t a bad value here and would give Minnesota a dangerous pass rush off the edge when coupled with outside linebackers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
The 6-foot-3, 256-pound Hall made 60 tackles last season (12 for loss) with seven sacks, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and an interception.
Addressing the pass rush is a MUST for Minnesota and Hall gives the team a last-ditch chance to do that if their top targets are already off the board.
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