Vikings 2021 Depth Chart (To Be Updated)

Woods, who was repeatedly bashed as a bad pickup, is showing he's anything but. I'd lock him up to a team-friendly deal before the end of the season. The eye test tells me Cleveland is outperforming Udoh by a lot more than PFF thinks. Vigil is a disappointment and one of the reasons the Run D is bad. Amazing that Surratt isn't pushing for any PT. Or Dye either.

Dye was the clear cut #3 LB prospect the year he was drafted. Wasn't Surratt the DPOTY in the ACC? Connelly is oozing talent (and oft-injured). Zimmer the Younger hasn't developed a single one of them into a contributor yet, and that is alarming.

Watts is starting to impress on a consistent basis. And we had another Lynch sighting! This Defense is 1 young RDE and 2 LBs away from a good, sustainable Front 7 for the next 3 years, IMO. Provided they shore up the Run D, which is where 2 better Tackling LBs would really help (Barr sure doesn't appear to have made any difference since his return).

Latest update:



Changes:

QB Cousins - from Good to Great
RG Udoh - From Not Enough Info to Below Average

Notes -

WR Chisena played against the Panthers on special teams, but it still seems likely he ends up on the PS. The Vikings will likely return Nwangwu and Hand to the roster over the bye, necessitating his release.

TE Stocker played 10 snaps on Sunday and may push Ellefson off the roster, since he and Herndon haven't played well.

Griffen has officially taken over the DE spot across from Hunter. Griffen is leagues better than Wonnum, even after getting off the couch in August.

With Peterson headed to the IR, our CB depth is precarious. Boyd is the next man up and has not played well when given a chance.

Post Week 8 Depth Chart:



Changes:

WR Jefferson - From Elite to Great
CB Alexander - From Average to Below Average
DT Richardson - From Good to Average
DT Watts - From Below Average to Average

2 roster spots remain open with Bradbury on the COVID list and Hunter on the IR. Dozier might get promoted to the 53 man, plus they really need DE depth. Orchard is a 6'3" 250 lbs who doesn't make a lot of sense as a 4-3 DE. A couple veteran DEs like Olivier Vernon and Trent Murphy are still out there, but the Vikings may be better off playing the young'uns.

Here's the latest update, with a crazy long reserve list:



Changes:

Justin Jefferson - From Great to Elite
Tyler Conklin - From Below Average to Average
Garrett Bradbury - From Poor to Below Average
Oli Udoh - From Below Average to Poor
Xavier Woods - From Good to Average


Things are looking better on offense - the OL looks like it will be no so bad once Darrisaw is back, and the receivers are playing well. The defense is underachieving and has the talent to not be terrible. On the positive side, Richardson is starting to turn his season around playing more snaps at DE, and Watts has become a dependable player and by my opinion, he is currently the better player compared to Tomlinson (PFF does not agree with this).

On the negative side, Woods' play has fallen off a cliff and you have to wonder if Bynum should be getting more reps, since it seems likely he will be starting somewhere in this lineup in 2022. Tomlinson continues to underwhelm as the team's top FA acquisition. The CB position is a tire fire that cannot be put out. They were playing Breeland even though he was sick - and he stinks even when he's 100% healthy. Boyd even got more snaps than Dantzler (of whom PFF really likes, but even I am souring on him). Whatever new management takes over needs to have a plan to fix the CB room.

Potential Pro Bowl options:
WR Jefferson - Seems like a lock
FB Ham - He has become probably the best blocking FB in football
RB Cook - He's missed games, but so has everyone else's RBs and he's by far the best guy in the NFC
-less likely-
LB Kendricks - Has never gotten enough recognition, but has 120 total tackles and 5 sacks so far
RT O'Neill - He probably won't get enough votes, though honestly I think Vikings fans overrate him

I take issue with some of those.

Cousins - great? ... I'd move him down to good
Mattison - good? ... we need a new grade "above average" Mattison isn't necessarily good, but not necessarily average either
Osborne - below average? ... that seems too low to me
O'Neill - good? ... isn't he like one of the best RT's in the league?

Wonnum - poor? ... that seems a bit harsh
Barr - average? ... yeah that's about right xD.
Peterson average, but Dantzler good? Are those mixed up?

Joseph - below average? ... I'd slide him up to average (avg FG's, below PAT's, above TB's)

I think Mattison is above average. Sure he doesn't have that home run ability, but he's always over 100 when he fills in for Cook. He's borderline good IMO, but he doesn't play enough so who knows if he could keep that pace for an entire season. Which is why I suggested an "above average" grade. Maybe that's just the less fancy version of "good".

As far as Osborne goes, does PFF factor in route running and a QB not looking his way? Because why does he disappear for games at a time? Is it Cousins or Osborne? It's weird that he can shine sometimes and then suck. I would assume it's because the QB just isn't looking for him some games.

With Wonnum, I would think someone with a poor grade would never be able to get 3 sacks in a single game. That warrants an automatic average at worst. Plus aren't they factoring in his pick-6 against Jake "currently working at State Farm" Browning in scrimmage?

Joseph has the 3rd most 50+ yard FG's but you're penalizing him for missing a couple PAT's? To be fair, some of those missed PAT's caused Mental Midget Mike to start chasing points xD.