Anthony Barr – Page 11 – Syndication Server

3 Vikings’ defensive players who need to step up in 2020

There’s a pretty good chance that we’ll see a whole-new identity on the Vikings’ defense in 2020.

There’s a pretty good chance that we’ll see a whole-new identity on the Vikings’ defense in 2020 with players like Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander likely to be on new teams.

Here are three Vikings who need to step up if the Vikings want to go to the playoffs for the second-straight season.

CB, Mike Hughes

There’s a pretty decent chance that Hughes is the team’s top corner in 2020. He was a 2018 first-round pick for a reason, but injuries ended his 2018 and 2019 seasons.

In 2019, Hughes finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 58.7, a mark that ranked 74th among 113 graded cornerbacks.

If the cornerbacks group wants to have a succesful 2020, they’ll need Hughes to be better.

DT, Jaleel Johnson

With Linval Joseph getting older and Shamar Stephen having an underwhelming 2019 season, there is an opportunity for Johnson on the interior of the defensive line.

The 2017 fourth-round pick has started in just four games in his career, but that could change in 2020.

LB, Anthony Barr

Barr enters the second year of a five-year, $67.5 million deal. In season No. 1 of the deal, Barr wasn’t great, finishing with a PFF grade of 55.6, a 15-point drop from the 2018 season.

Barr has all the tools to be a valuable linebacker and pass rusher. We just haven’t seen it all together yet, which is disappointing from the 27 year old.

Vikings’ free-agency watch: Linebackers

The Vikings could be losing one of their key backups at the position.

Under contract:

The Vikings have their best two linebacker under contract, which is good news.

Anthony Barr has four more years left on his contract and has a cap hit of $12.7 million in 2020.

Eric Kendricks, the 2019 All-Pro, is in the second year of a five-year, $50 million deal. He has a cap hit of $10 million next season at age 28.

Cameron Smith and Ben Gedeon are also under contract.

Free agents:

Both Kentrell Brothers and Eric Wilson are set to be free agents.

Losing Wilson would hurt this team. He was a solid spot starter and actually graded as the league’s 24th-best linebacker per Pro Football Focus out of 88 graded players.

It feels like he’ll get paid to be a starter somewhere in 2020.

Potential Cap Casualties:

It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the team moved on from Gedeon in the final year of his rookie deal. Gedeon has an $893,289 cap hit in 2020, but the penalty to cut ties is just $158,289, per Spotrac.

Gedeon played in just eight games last season due to a concussion. Gedeon is a solid linebacker against the run, but has struggled in passing situations.

NFL playoffs: Brilliant 2019 player moves by each of the 8 remaining teams

You don’t get to the Divisional round without making wise decisions. A look at some of the best made by each of the 8 remaining teams.

The eight teams left in the playoffs each boast smart moves by the front office to land players that have been instrumental in the successful season.

Baltimore Ravens: Mark Ingram

The Ravens seemed to have a running game by committee in many years recently. That came to a halt as the rushing attack was powered by free-agent acquisition Mark Ingram. The former New Orleans Saint and Heisman winner from Alabama has been dynamic in rushing for 1.018 yards in 15 games and catching passes for another 247. He scored 10 TDs on the ground and five receiving. A perfect player to have in the backfield with Lamar Jackson. You can throw in Earl Thomas via free agency and Marcus Peters in a trade with the Rams for good measure.

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Vikings’ Eric Kendricks finishes as PFF’s top-graded LB

Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith finished as the second and third-ranked safeties in the league.

The 2019 NFL regular season is over.

According to Pro Football Focus’ grading system, linebacker Eric Kendricks was the best linebacker in the NFL, finishing with a grade of 90.5, 0.4 points ahead of Saints’ Demario Davis.

A few observations on grades involving Minnesota’s defensive players:

Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith finished as the second and third-ranked safeties in the league, respectively, with grades of 90.5 and 89.8.
No Vikings cornerback graded in the top-50. Outch. Mackensie Alexander had the highest grade of 65.7, good for 51st in the league. Xavier Rhodes had a grade of 46.4, 118th in the league.
Nose tackle Linval Joseph finished with a grade of 71.2, his lowest since the 2014 season.
Defensive end Danielle Hunter finished with a grade of 89.4. That was a career-high and eighth among edge rushers in the league. Everson Griffen ranked 25th with a grade of 77.6, a 9.6 increase from last season.

Seahawks offense up for tough test against Vikings defense

The Seattle Seahawks offense is very good, but so is the Vikings defense. That sets the stage for a tough matchup in Monday Night Football.

The Seattle Seahawks are among the best teams in this league, and they didn’t get there without respecting their opponents. Led by quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seattle offense is having a great year – but the Minnesota Vikings won’t be a cakewalk.

The Vikings defensive unit is a stout one with a lot of very solid players. Add in the fact that Wilson has been sacked 11 times over the last two games and things get even more interesting.

Even with the dynamic game of Wilson, there are a lot of players on the Vikings defensive unit that can be a big problem.

“They’re such a veteran group,” Wilson said of the Vikings defensive unit. “They got everything you could want on defense. They got a great defensive line. Great linebackers. These guys are flying around making tremendous plays.”

There are a lot of names on the back of those purple jerseys to watch out for. Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks wreaked havoc as linebackers at UCLA, now they are doing the same as members of the Vikings. Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen are tough up front. However, it’s a defensive back that Wilson remembers most.

“Harrison [Smith] is is arguably one of the best in the game,” Wilson said. “I remember coming in into the 2012 class with him. Just a tremendous football player and just a guy who had the right attitude, was first in line at every drill. Just a guy who was a great leader. You really sensed that from the beginning.”

Smith is listed as questionable for Monday’s bout, but all signs indicate he is likely to suit up for the Vikings.

The Seahawks offense is no slouch. It’s gearing up to be a fun matchup to watch between offense and defense. That is what Wilson is anticipating anyway.

“It’s going to be a great battle and they coach extremely well,” Wilson said. “It’s going to be a tremendous feat. We’re looking forward to it.”

Wilson and the rest of the offense has their work cut out for them in this game. The Seahawks enter the game in search of their 10th win of the season and a spot atop the NFC West against the surging Vikings, who have won six of their last seven, losing only to the Chiefs in that stretch.

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