Minnesota Vikings: 5 Offseason moves to improve in 2021
4. Draft a defensive lineman in the first round
Another thing that should be focused on this offseason leading up to the start of the 2021 season for the Vikings is the team working on adding to the defensive line in the draft.
In the draft coming up in the next few months, Minnesota has a relatively high pick in the opening round, holding the No. 14 overall selection in the first round. With that pick, the Vikings should add to the defensive line and a group that has taken a hit over the last few years.
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Most notably during the 2020 season, Minnesota was thin on the defensive line due to some players leaving before the year in free agency, some players opting out of playing in the season or some key players dealing with injuries that sidelined them from taking the field.
Going into the year last season, the Vikings were hoping to have a defensive line that was led by Danielle Hunter and newly-signed Michael Pierce, only to see Hunter miss the entire season with an injury and Pierce opting out of the season with COVID concerns.
Those absences open the eyes of Minnesota and further showed how it needs to add some depth and talent to the front line on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, starting with the first selection in the draft.
When it comes to potential targets that the Vikings could look at if they are available at the midway point in the draft, players such as Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye, Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore and Miami edge rusher Jason Phillips could be on the board at pick No. 14.
The good thing for Minnesota that the first half of the opening round of the draft will likely be filled with selections of offensive talent, most notably quarterbacks and wide receivers. That means the Vikings could get their pick of a defensive lineman to help bolster that area of the roster to improve in 2021 and beyond.