Minnesota Vikings Must Take Steps To Rebuild Defense In 2022 Free Agency

The Minnesota Vikings are going to have to address their defensive needs once free agency begins March 16. While there are a number of problem areas on the offensive side of the ball, the Vikings have had back-to-back seasons in which the defense has let them down on a consistent basis.

The Vikings will be vulnerable to personnel losses as the League Year gets underway because OLB Anthony Barr, CB Patrick Peterson and DT Sheldon Richardson. New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell may be keen on retaining Barr and possibly Peterson, but that doesn’t mean the Vikings will be able to keep them.

Since Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are both brand new on the job, they may want to take advantage of the good will they have now – and may not have next year at this time – by rebuilding the defense. Whether they retain one or more of their defensive free agents, here’s a look at several top defensive players whom the Vikings can consider to join the fold.

Start off on the interior defensive line. This was a disaster in 2020 and only slightly better in 2021. One name that may be extremely familiar to Vikings fans is Akiem Hicks, who has toiled for the Chicago Bears for the last six seasons. Hicks has been a thorn in the side of the Vikings because he has done an excellent job in limiting running back Dalvin Cook’s production.

While Cook often can bust long runs and it is not unusual for him to run for more than 125 yards in any game, he rarely has had success against Chicago because Hicks often finds himself destroying the Vikings run blocking. When motivated and healthy, Hicks could shore up any team’s interior run defense.

However, he is far from a sure thing because of his age (32) and his tendency to add extra weight. He is listed at 6-4 and 335 pounds, and his extra girth may make it difficult for him to stay on the field for long stretches. Hicks had 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss last season.

Folorunso Fatukasi of the New York Jets may be a better and cheaper option than Hicks. The 27-year-old finished the 2021 season with 25 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss last season. At 6-4 and 318 pounds, he should have far more stamina than Hicks, allowing him to stay on the field in crucial situation.

If the Vikings lose Barr, they are going to have to rebuild the linebacker position. Even if they retain him, the Vikings need help there because they lack impact players who can truly diagnose what the offense is going to do. They could also use players who can bring the pain to opposing offensive stars.

The best available player is middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was released by the Seahawks Wednesday after a spectacular 10-year career. Wagner is an eight-time All-Pro, including six years on the first team. While he may no longer be at his peak, the 32-year-old is still a powerful player who understands the principles of a dynamic defense. Wagner finished third in the NFL with 170 tackles last season and he simply doesn’t miss once he gets his hands on a ball carrier or receiver.

The age factor has to be in consideration, and if the Vikings are going to look elsewhere, 26-year-old Kyzir White of the Los Angeles Chargers deserves strong consideration. White has excellent athleticism and finished the 2021 season with 90 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. If they can retain the 30-year-old Barr and also plug White in, that would give the Vikings a significant upgrade at the linebacker position.

The Vikings have been hit or miss in the secondary for years, and this has often been the most troublesome spot late in close games. It appears that the New England Patriots are going to let CB J.C. Jackson head to free agency, and he is the best available player at his position. The 26-year-old is hitting the prime of his career while coming off a spectacular season in which he had 44 tackles, eight interceptions, one forced fumble and a league-best 23 passes defensed.

He may be the No. 1 defensive free agent in the league because of his age, experience and dynamic production. If the Vikings fail to bring Jackson, CB Charvarius Ward of the Kansas City Chiefs would be a player to consider. Ward had 67 tackles last year with two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. While he is not as productive as Jackson in breaking up pass plays, he is one of the past tackling cornerbacks in the NFL.