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.
