The Vikings went 13-4 and won the NFC North in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season. So everything’s zen in the Twin Cities, right? Far from it. Despite those 13 wins, Minnesota had one of the worst defenses in the league, which was the main culprit in the Vikings’ devastating playoff loss to the New York Giants. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell was promptly fired after the season. Former Miami Dolphins head coach, Brian Flores, was brought in to lead the defense. DL Marcus Davenport and CB Byron Murphy are some new faces to help him on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Eric Kendricks, CB Patrick Peterson, and CB Cameron Dantzler have moved on to other teams. WR Adam Thielen has departed while impact players like RB Alexander Mattison and C Garrett Bradbury have re-signed with the Vikes. While Minnesota already filled some holes in free agency, the purple and gold will need to turn to the draft for some other key positions.
Michigan
Clemson
Appalachian State
Stanford
Purdue