Vikings 2022 Depth Chart (To Be Updated)

Thought I read that 3-4 DEs are usually 280-290. Wasn't meaning to criticize your chart. Just pointing out that there are a lot of depth players that don't seem to fit a conventional 3-4. Of course, they will likely be in 4-2-5 more often than anything else. Likely with Z standing and roving on obvious passing downs like he did while killing Minnesota's sh*tty O-Line in GB.

And yes, the Line is still sh*tty. Bradbury's PFF blocking grade last year was embarrassing. Udoh sucks as a Guard. More work to be done!

While the roster hasn't changed a whole lot since the last update, you'd do well to notice some changes I've made with my depth chart system.



I've revamped how I take PFF's ratings, as the old system was starting to show a few cracks, and I think the changes I made can better display what tier each player is on. The categories now work like this:

Elite 90-100% percentile
Great 80-90%
Good 70-80%
Above Average 60-70%
Average 40-60%
Below Average 30-40%
Poor 20-30%
Awful 10-20%
Abysmal 0-10%

All of the categories except for average are 10% slices of the entire NFL at each position, compared to the player's past 3 seasons (weighted by most recent seasons). The grade itself is irrelevant (it has been for some time in my system) - the percentile the player is in compared to his peers is the standard going forward.

You will notice a few players got knocked up or down a single tier. I've also tweaked the amount of snaps needed to get out of the Not Enough Info tier, and if a player does not have more than 400 snaps played over 3 years, they will not qualify (see Tye Smith).

With that out of the way... what moves should the Vikings make with how the depth chart stacks out?

Danchat?

I think we got some depth finally

Here's our first pre-draft update:



I've placed the rookies behind players who have played some snaps, so as always, they'll need to earn their way up the depth chart.

Thoughts? Where might we still need a couple veterans to be added?

Great work, TY. It looks like the 89 spots are full, still say sign UDFA WR Justyn Ross after the Tre Turner situation. The obvious FAs out there would still be OC Tretter, DT Hicks, DE Richardson, or maybe DE Clowney. QB Foles was just released but I doubt the Vikings would grab him. All of course would be 1 year deals.

EDGE = 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE. Hunter would be blitzing on 90-95% of plays, but he probably would drop back into coverage every once in a while just to throw the defense off, it's a pretty common thing in 3-4 defenses. Za'Darius Smith is used to it, Wonnum did it too back in college.

Sometimes 3-4 defense have a DE, DT, and NT, but I've labeled it LE/NT/RE for now. Phillips' size in the mold of a 4-3 3 technique or a 3-4 DE, and his ability to stop the run is perfect for what 3-4 DEs do. 

That's the thing, if base 3-4 doesn't get used much, I'll probably just switch this to whatever they use the most, so it's a temporary depth chart until we get an official one from the team.

TE depth is a must, they need to make a signing for a backup who wouldn't be horrid if Smith Jr gets hurt again. Outside of Gronk, here who's out there:
Jared Cook, Eric Ebron, Tyler Kroft, MyCole Pruitt, Kyle Rudolph, Jesse James, Jimmy Graham... yeah, it's not looking too good. 

Don't forget that PP was on a downward spiral before signing a one year deal here, and PFF has a thing for Dantzler. Both benefitted from opposing QBs funneling passes to whomever Breeland/Alexander/Boyd were covering, though PP probably deserved a better grade for what he did.

PFF: 22-man starter projections for all 32 NFL teams


Link:

www.pff.com/news/nfl-22-man-starter-projections-all-32-nfl-teams-2022-nfl-season