When looking at the current roster of the Minnesota Vikings as they inch closer to the start of the 2024 season, there is certainly plenty to be excited about when it comes to guys like Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Cam Bynum, Ivan Pace Jr., and T.J. Hockenson.
However, there are also parts of the Vikings roster that should raise some concerns heading into the 2024 campaign.
Minnesota's current roster is far from perfect and some of the team's weakness are likely going to get in the way of them achieving some of their goals next season.
Minnesota Vikings ranked in the bottom of the NFL when it comes defensive line
Even after some additions in free agency and the NFL Draft earlier this year, the Vikings defensive line is not expected to be among the best in the league next season. At least not according to PFF's recent ranking of all 32 defensive lines in the NFL.
PFF's Sam Monson compiled the ranking, and he has Minnesota with the 30th-best (best?) defensive line in the league heading into the 2024 season.
Monson shared some details about why he has the Vikings so low in his ranking of every NFL defensive line.
"The Vikings' offseason free agency swap of Danielle Hunter for Jonathan Greenard was likely a downgrade, even if they got younger and cheaper in the process. Andrew Van Ginkel earned a 91.1 PFF overall grade last season, but that was a massive outlier in a career that has typically seen him post grades in the 60s and 70s.
Rookie Dallas Turner will have high expectations, but the interior of this line is a weakness."
It's interesting that Monson decided to include edge rushers and defensive linemen all in one position group, as more and more teams around the league are having their outside pass rushers line up in a standing position rather than the traditional three-point stance.
Had Monson divided the position group into edge rushers and interior defensive linemen, then Minnesota might have not ranked so low in at least one of the two categories. Then again, he didn't sound too impressed with the Vikings' decision to replace Danielle Hunter with Jonathan Greenard.
Only the Denver Broncos (31st) and Arizona Cardinals (32nd) were given lower spots on the list by Monson. Minnesota's defensive line was also, obviously, given the worst ranking compared to the rest of the NFC North as the Chicago Bears ranked 27th, the Green Bay Packers ranked 11th, and the Detroit Lions ranked fourth.
