The biggest thing the Minnesota Vikings did this offseason was improve the defensive line. They spent over $80 million on Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to fix an interior pass rush that was massively lacking.
Despite all that work, the overall unit, including edge rushers, doesn't rank highly on Pro Football Focus' list of the best defensive lines, as Zoltan Buday ranked the Vikings 16th.
If edge defender Dallas Turner can develop further in his second season, the Vikings could own a top edge defender group. Turner, Minnesota’s first-round pick last year, ranked 63rd with a 64.1 PFF overall grade in 2024. It might not be easy for him to get on the field, though, as Jonathan Greenard (81.1 PFF overall grade) and Andrew Van Ginkel (71.4 PFF overall grade) were among the 33 highest-graded edge defenders last season.
On the interior, the Vikings will look for veteran additions Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to find their old form.
The description for the defensive line is interesting, especially since Buday mentioned that the edge rusher group could be one of the top in the league. With that mention, why are they ranked so low, especially with the additions of Allen and Hargrave? Is Buday factoring in the injuries from last year too much?
The reality is that the Vikings' defensive line was really good last year, outside of generating pressure on the interior. They were fifth in the National Football League in total defense and second in the league against the run. With the likes of Harrison Phillips and Jalen Redmond still on the team to stay stout against the run and an improved interior rush, the Vikings' defensive line is being significantly undervalued.
With how defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to call his defense, the line is likely to take a huge step forward and vault up these rankings quickly, as they should be in the top 10.
Don't sleep on the Vikings' defensive line going into the season.
