Last offseason, the Vikings had a lot more question marks than they do now.
Minnesota was going to rely on a new-look defense with young and inexperienced talent. There were uncertainties on offense as well, but most of those worked out when Justin Jefferson emerged as one of the best wideouts in the league.
This offseason, even though it’s only March, Vikings fans have a much better idea of what the team will look like during the season. Minnesota added CB Patrick Peterson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson and S Xavier Woods, all of whom will likely be starters on defense.
Barring anything unexpected, the Vikings get Michael Pierce and Danielle Hunter back. Minnesota’s main offensive weapons — Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and Jefferson — all return. Even Mason Cole, an offensive lineman the Vikings traded for, could become a starter. Sure, the Vikings could still use a defensive end, but the team has still done a good job of fixing most of its problems this offseason.
With their younger players, the Vikings went through growing pains in 2020. In 2021, the team won’t have the same excuses. Minnesota brought in veterans to be grouped with rookies who made strides towards the end of this past season.
The pressure will be higher. Another down year could be costly for the Vikings. And the team invested a lot this offseason. But sometimes pressure is a good thing and there is a reason for it: Minnesota has pieced together a competitive offense and defense in theory. Let’s see what the results are in practice.
