The Vikings Are Making A Massive Gamble On the Interior Defensive Line
The salary cap and limited draft assets make roster construction a never-ending series of cost/benefit analyses and value propositions. Even the best teams have holes on their roster, and it’s naïve to think that a team can seemingly plug all of them in one offseason — especially when they entered the offseason with as many holes as the Minnesota Vikings defense did.
Minnesota needed help at corner so they could play Byron Murphy more at his natural position in the slot. They needed a replacement for Jordan Hicks at inside linebacker. They needed help at the edge position even before they let Danielle Hunter walk, and that became an even bigger need once it was clear he was on his way out. To the front office’s credit, they at least attempted to address all of those needs one way or another through free agency and the draft.
Shaquill Griffin and Blake Cashman are not franchise stars but have starting experience in their respective position groups. Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner are reasons for hope that Danielle Hunter’s presence won’t be sorely missed. The front office can at least hold their heads high and say they tried to get better at those positions.
And then there’s the interior defensive line.
Harrison Phillips is one of the unsung heroes of this Vikings defense. He’s a good player and has been a rock-solid addition to this defensive front from the day he signed with Minnesota two years ago. However, the rest of that defensive interior is cause for concern. Outside of Phillips, that room has been underwhelming, unproven, or a gross disappointment thus far. Of all the possible liabilities on this defense, their biggest may be up the middle.
Second-year DT Jaquelin Roy, veteran journeyman Jonathan Bullard, and former first-rounder turned castoff Jerry Tillery are the most likely starters alongside Phillips on the defensive interior. These are far from inspiring, but perhaps not completely devoid of upside. Throw in a few other bodies that could earn snaps, like seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez, former Los Angeles Rams DT Jonah Williams, and the recently re-signed James Lynch. It feels like a room full of guys who’ll be lucky to pull above a 70 rating when Madden releases this summer.
