As the Minnesota Vikings' defied preseason expectations last year, winning 14 games and going right to Week 18 with a change to win the NFC North, the defense did its part. One black mark was finishing 28th in passing yards allowed, but having the second-best run defense in the league meant they also faced the most pass attempts in the league. By Pro Football Reference's EXP (Expected Points contributed), the Vikings had the sixth-best pass defense in the league.
The headliners for Minnesota's defense in 2024 were up front, with Andrew Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard posting 11.5 and 12 sacks respectively. The secondary, led by cornerback Byron Murphy and safeties Josh Metellus, Cameron Bynum and Harrison Smith, spearheaded a league-high in takeaways.
Meanwhile the team's leading tackler, linebacker Blake Cashman, toiled in relative obscurity. But make no mistake about it, when he missed three games in the middle of the season his absence was felt. Ivan Pace Jr. had a second straight solid season on the second level of the Vikings' defense after being a fantastic find as UDFA in 2023, but he also missed some time (six games).
The Minnesota Vikings' linebacking corps gets proper acknowledgement heading into the 2025 season
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus recently continued the site's preseason position-by-position rankings by ranking the linebacker groups from around the NFL.
The Vikings landed at No. 10.
"Minnesota doesn’t have any household names in its linebacker room, but it’s quietly a very productive group."
"Blake Cashman has emerged as a legitimate starter, boasting an 80.3 PFF overall grade over the past two years. Ivan Pace Jr. is one of the better undrafted free agent finds in recent memory. He placed among the top 10 linebackers in PFF run-defense and pass-rush grades last season. Eric Wilson is a solid third option who earned a 64.3 PFF overall grade in Green Bay last season. Sixth-round rookie Kobe King could also provide value in run defense if needed."
The Vikings started upgrading their depth behind Cashman and Pace by bringing Eric Wilson back after he spent the last three seasons with the Packers. His aforementioned overall PFF grade was in the top-45 among off-ball linebackers last year, and he has sneaky versatility defensive coordinator Brian Flores will surely find ways to use.
Then Kobe King was added in the sixth round of April's draft. He neared 100 total tackles for Penn State last season (97), with top-notch PFF grades both overall (83.6) and as a run defender (89.2). Brian Asamoah, one of the last vestiges of the Vikings' ugly 2022 draft class, is fully on the wrong side of the roster bubble as training camp approaches.
With two highly capable starters and what looks like two big upgrades behind them, there's an argument for the Vikings' linebacking corps to be higher in PFF's ranking. But let's be glad the unit cracked the top-10, right?
-1750901181-q80.webp "Raiders Superstar Links Up With Legendary Mentors")
