Power rankings at this point in the calendar are an interesting exercise. While there isn’t a ton of merit with them in May, it does lay the groundwork for what teams are going into the season.
NBC Sports’ Peter King gave his way-too-early power rankings in his Football Morning in America column and listed the Vikings at 14th in the NFL.
The league’s 31st-ranked defense has lost Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks and Patrick Peterson already, and edge Za’Darius Smith badly wants out. The Vikings can score, but they can score consistently in the low thirties, which they may have to do to contend?
The reasoning here is quite interesting. Losing both Kendricks and Peterson isn’t a major blow to the defense, as they are both older and weren’t going to make an impact on the defense this year. Tomlinson departing isn’t great, but Dean Lowry should be able to step up in his place. The addition of Brian Flores should make an immediate impact and help the Vikings improve from the 31st-ranked unit.
Notably, King is very high on the Detroit Lions who he placed at sixth. Things are going to be interesting this season.