Vikings Territory: Another DE For Vikings Is More Pressing Than WR3 Needs

Press release from Vikings Territory:

July 21, 2021

This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings momentarily solved Danielle Hunter’s disgruntlement, signed a slew of free agents on the defensive side of operations, welcomed aboard a robust draft class — and still have ample cap space to utilize for the 2021 roster. The territory is foreign for Vikings fans as this time of year generally entails penny-pinching. General Manager Rick Spielman has a tendency to bump right up against the cap limit, disabling the acquisition of late-summer free agents.

The Vikings continue to sign free agents — Stephen Weatherly, Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Xavier Woods, Nick Vigil, Mackensie Alexander, Bashaud Breeland, Sheldon Richardson — while the cap availability number seems to settle around $14 million. And that’s what the number is as of mid-July.

Another linebacker would be interesting, potentially exploring someone like K.J. Wright from the Seattle Seahawks who is looking for an NFL home. If the season started today, the aforementioned Vigil would man the weakside of the Vikings LB corps, although rookie Chazz Surratt was selected with 3rd-Round draft capital and could steal playing time, too.

In the event Spielman is “forced” to choose between a WR3 and RDE, a pass rusher should be the free-agent drug of choice.

Minnesota should sign a Dede Westbrook or Golden Tate then, right? Sure — but it is not mandatory. Kirk Cousins guided the passing game admirably while Dalvin Cook gashed opposition to the tune of second-most yards from scrimmage by a player leaguewide in 2020. The pandemic season taught us that Minnesota’s offense can excel without a WR3. Indeed, an ultra-productive one would make the offense better. Yet, the Vikings make it commonplace to skimp at WR3, instead emphasizing the role of multiple tight ends, fullbacks, and RBs receiving the football.

Signing a pass rusher for the other side of the defensive line opposite Danielle Hunter is more important than adding a WR3. Why? Last year’s pass rush was absolutely abysmal without Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded Minnesota’s frontline of defense as the worst in all of the land for pass-rushing acumen. The sacks weren’t around, the pressures were measly, and nobody feared the Hunter-less Vikings defensive line.

In 2019, Hunter and Griffen conducted their swan song as Griffen departed for the Dallas Cowboys and then Detroit Lions after the season finished at San Francisco. It is impossible to determine if Hunter’s absence was the death blow. Or — if the combination of Hunter and Griffen made the front four so good from 2015 to 2019.

We know what we’re getting with the Vikings offense sans a flashy WR3. We do not know what we’re getting in a Danielle Hunter without Griffen.

Minnesota need not leave the “Hunter by himself” verdict to chance. Justin Houston, Olivier Vernon (recovering from injury), and Griffen are available to sign today if Spielman is so inclined.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.