Minnesota has taken an interesting approach to this offseason.
The Vikings have seen talented veterans leave, but have replaced them with younger players.
The team’s general manager, Rick Spielman told the Star Tribune: “Even though we have some young guys coming in we still have a core part of our defense together with Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, we have [Eric] Kendricks and [Anthony] Barr at linebacker, Danielle Hunter.”
Now, some players on the Vikings’ young core might have to adjust to new talent coming in. Whether that’s switching alignments, roles or positions all together.
Here are some candidates on the Vikings who might have to do just that in 2020:
Irv Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. played a good number of snaps in his rookie season.
No team in the NFL ran the 11 personnel (a set with one tight end) less than the Vikings, at just 20.6%, per NFL.com. The Eagles were the only team that ran more 12 (two tight ends) personnel at 34.9%.
This is where Smith Jr. comes in. Though some people think Gary Kubiak will run more two-tight-end sets than Kevin Stefanski did, it still remains to be seen.
I think Smith Jr. emerges as the No. 1 tight end next year. That means he becomes the tight end in 11 personnel. Kyle Rudolph is a good tight end in the red zone and can still make plays, but I see Smith Jr. taking over as the main tight end option in the Vikings offense.
Danielle Hunter
Hunter plays on the left side of the defensive line, but now that Everson Griffen is gone, it might be time for a change.
Earlier this offseason, Hunter said to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press and other outlets: “it doesn’t matter what side I play. “Put me on the left, put me on the right, I’ll play it. It doesn’t matter.”
Moving Hunter to the right side of the defensive line likely puts him up against a better pass-blocking offensive lineman, but it’s also harder for the opposing quarterback, if they’re right handed, to see a player coming from their blindside.
Right now, every presumptive starting quarterback in the NFL is right-handed, besides Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins. So the Vikings will have a decision to make in that area.
Riley Reiff
Reiff is the team’s left tackle right now, but the Vikings drafted Ezra Cleveland in the second round of this year’s draft.
If Cleveland is ready for the NFL at any point this next season, then Reiff could move over to guard in place of left guard Pat Elflein. That would probably make the Vikings offensive line slightly better.
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