The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Minnesota Vikings and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Minnesota Vikings Defense
The Vikings did relatively well against the run in 2024, finishing 10th in yards per carry allowed on running back runs (4.1) and shutting down running backs after contact (2.77 per carry).
Despite that success, this group will look a lot different in 2025 after Minnesota spent big to sign Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency.
It is at least somewhat concerning that Allen and Hargrave are two older players returning from injury-shortened seasons, but overall, they have upside based on their demonstrated talent.
Harrison Phillips is back, though he was not as disruptive in the running game last season as he has been in the past.
The Vikings finished 10th in pressure rate (35.7%) and fourth with 49 sacks. That sack total was aided by a league-leading 38.6% blitz rate, an unsurprising number given DC Brian Flores’ tendencies.
That is not to diminish the talent Minnesota has on the edge.
Jonathan Greenard was exactly what the Vikings hoped in his first season with the team, logging 12 sacks and finishing with a 15.9% pressure rate.
Andrew Van Ginkel was not that far behind with 11.5 sacks of his own on a 12.6% pressure rate.
Patrick Jones left in free agency, but the Vikings will hope for more from 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner, who was on the field for just 300 snaps as a rookie.
The two primary options from a season ago at linebacker are back.
Blake Cashman once again missed some time in his first season with the Vikings, but he started 14 games and had an overall solid season.
Ivan Pace was the other primary option, though he only played 11 games thanks to two different injuries.
The Vikings gave up a lot of passing yards in 2024, but game script played a big role in those numbers.
On a per pass basis, they were 12th in yards per attempt allowed (7.0), seventh in touchdown rate allowed (3.8%), second in passer rating allowed (82.4), and seventh in big play rate allowed (7.4%).
They also made big plays, leading the league with 24 interceptions.
This will be a new look unit, though.
Byron Murphy returns after leading the charge last season, and Minnesota brought in Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Tavierre Thomas in free agency.
Rodgers has never played more than 525 defensive snaps in a season and was only a part-time player for the Eagles last year, but he ranked 18th among qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap.
The Vikings will also get back Mekhi Blackmon after he missed all of his sophomore season with a torn ACL suffered during the first practice of training camp.
Minnesota also had a big loss at safety with Cam Bynum leaving in free agency.
Harrison Smith will be back after once again deciding against retirement, and he is coming off a solid enough season in which he logged 3 interceptions.
With Bynum gone, it will be interesting to see if Josh Metellus continues to be used as a do-it-all defensive back or is forced to play a more traditional safety role.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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