6 mistakes the Vikings can not afford to make in 2024

Mistake No. 4

Failing to improve the defensive line

The Vikings' defense made big strides in the first year under Brian Flores, but the defensive line was one group that didn’t make a leap forward.

Minnesota deployed a no-name defense in the trenches last season, and the group went incognito for most of the year.

Harrison Phillips was the most notable player among the defensive line but he was asked to do too much flanked by free-agent acquisition Dean Lowry and incumbents Jonathan Bullard and Khyris Tonga.

While the defensive line doesn’t have the same role as it did when Mike Zimmer was orchestrating one of the league’s top defenses, it still has significance.

With Flores using multiple fronts in his scheme, having a defensive tackle that can penetrate a defense like Vita Vea or Aaron Donald could go a long way and take pressure off an edge rusher group that could be without Danielle Hunter if he leaves in free agency.

The defensive line should be a top priority in free agency and could be a focal point in the early rounds of the draft.

While adding an impact player won’t be cheap, it could go a long way to helping out the rest of the defense and help Flores hit another level in 2024.