Over at NFL.com, Nick Shook listed each team’s ‘under-the-radar stud.’
For the Vikings, Shook picked linebacker Eric Kendricks. While Kendricks made the All-Pro and Pro Bowl team in 2019, he isn’t talked enough about when we bring up the talk linebackers in the game.
Here’s a bit of what Shook wrote about Kendricks:
In 2020, Kendricks was blanked in both categories as part of a Vikings team that underachieved — but that doesn’t mean Kendricks disappointed. The linebacker was again stellar, allowing a passer rating as the nearest defender of just 53.9, the second best rate among all linebackers with a minimum of 20 targets. Hs -8.1 targeted EPA was the 10th best among linebackers, and he added 107 tackles (four for loss), six passes defended and three interceptions.
If the Vikings’ defense bounces back in 2021, Kendricks will be in the middle of it all, much like he’s been for the last two seasons.
You can check out Shook’s full list here.