5 extremely early needs for the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft

Defensive Line

The defensive line is currently one of the weakest positions on the Vikings' roster. They have some solid players in Harrison Phillips and Dean Lowry, but they lack star power.

Minnesota opted to address offense first in the 2023 draft, passing on defensive linemen like Mazi Smith and Bryan Bresee. They didn't add a rookie defensive lineman until the fifth round, and while Jacquelin Roy is a nice prospect, he isn't enough.

The depth at defensive end is especially thin for the Vikings. Behind the staters is a second-year player in Esezi Otomewo and a journeyman veteran in Jonathan Bullard.

There are also disappointing veterans like Ross Blacklock and James Lynch who round out the roster. It's not exactly an impressive unit, and it gets even thinner next year as Blacklock, Bullard, Lynch, Khyiris Tonga, and Kenny Willekes all become free agents.

That may be more of a case of good riddance for some of those players, but the Vikings are going to have to do some major retooling.

If they are ever going to take the next step, Minnesota has to begin to control the line of scrimmage when they are on defense. They need to find some players in the 2024 NFL Draft who can do that, and even taking one with their first pick is an option.