The Vikings’ postseason hopes came to an end down the stretch of the 2020 season and there was a familiar theme in the losses: The team was dominated in the trenches.
It didn’t matter which side of the ball, Minnesota’s linemen did not look good. The Vikings gave up way too much pressure on the interior of the offensive line. On defense, Minnesota was unable to get much going in the pass rush this year, tallying the fifth fewest sacks in the league.
ESPN thinks it’s time for a change. The outlet named an offseason priority for each NFL team and the Vikings’ adjustment was to add help in the trenches. Here’s what ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said about her choice:
“Some will argue that getting pass-rushers is priority No. 1. Others will say the need for a high-quality guard is most important. Either way, the Vikings need to focus their efforts in free agency (once they make moves to free up cap space) and the draft in shoring up both their defensive and offensive lines. Minnesota generated a franchise-low 23 sacks this year while members of the interior of the O-line were responsible for 20 of the 39 sacks that quarterback Kirk Cousins took in 2020.”
The Vikings should upgrade at the left guard position. Minnesota gets Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce on the defensive line in 2020, barring anything unexpected. However, that unit will probably need additional players in free agency or the draft in order to improve.