The Vikings have had a sub-.500 record two years in a row, and Mike Zimmer was fired in January. But while Zimmer may have ultimately failed as a head coach, he had a very good defense -- and fantasy defense -- for most of his tenure. Recent moves suggest it will be very good next year, too.
The Vikings signed former Packer ZaDarius Smith this week. He played in only one game last season, but was a monster (with 26 total sacks) his two previous years. The Ravens, with whom Smith began his career, were hoping to bring him back this year, but Smith walked away from a four-year, $35 million contract with them, perhaps recognizing he could make more money. The Vikings will be paying him $42 million a three-year deal.
Minnesota is also apparently retaining Danielle Hunter (pictured). Hunter missed all of the 2020 season, and he only played in seven games a year ago. But he had 6 sacks in those contests, in line with his previous two full seasons (he had 14.5 sacks in 2018 and then again in 2019). Pretty nice one-two punch of pass rushers they'll be able to send out this season.
The Vikings had 51 sacks last year, more than anyone but Pittsburgh. It's their third season in the last four with at least 48 sacks (an off year in 2020, with Hunter hurt); only six teams have more than they do over that timeframe. Zimmer is gone, but new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell (with Denver the last three seasons) should be able to keep that pass rush operating at a high level, especially with that duo.
| TEAM SACKS, 2018-2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Tot |
| Pittsburgh | 52 | 54 | 56 | 55 | 217 |
| LA Rams | 41 | 50 | 53 | 50 | 194 |
| New Orleans | 49 | 51 | 45 | 46 | 191 |
| Tampa Bay | 38 | 47 | 48 | 47 | 180 |
| Arizona | 49 | 40 | 48 | 41 | 178 |
| Washington | 46 | 46 | 47 | 38 | 177 |
| Minnesota | 50 | 48 | 23 | 51 | 172 |
| Chicago | 50 | 32 | 35 | 49 | 166 |
| Green Bay | 44 | 41 | 41 | 39 | 165 |
| Philadelphia | 44 | 43 | 49 | 29 | 165 |
| San Francisco | 37 | 48 | 30 | 48 | 163 |
| Denver | 44 | 40 | 42 | 36 | 162 |
| Kansas City | 52 | 45 | 32 | 31 | 160 |
| Buffalo | 36 | 44 | 38 | 42 | 160 |
| Cleveland | 37 | 38 | 38 | 43 | 156 |
| Carolina | 35 | 53 | 29 | 39 | 156 |
| Baltimore | 43 | 37 | 39 | 34 | 153 |
| Indianapolis | 38 | 41 | 40 | 33 | 152 |
| Seattle | 43 | 28 | 46 | 34 | 151 |
| Dallas | 39 | 39 | 31 | 41 | 150 |
| Tennessee | 39 | 43 | 19 | 43 | 144 |
| Miami | 31 | 23 | 41 | 48 | 143 |
| Houston | 43 | 31 | 34 | 32 | 140 |
| NY Giants | 30 | 36 | 40 | 34 | 140 |
| NY Jets | 39 | 35 | 31 | 33 | 138 |
| New England | 30 | 47 | 24 | 36 | 137 |
| Jacksonville | 37 | 47 | 18 | 32 | 134 |
| LA Chargers | 38 | 30 | 27 | 35 | 130 |
| Detroit | 43 | 28 | 24 | 30 | 125 |
| Cincinnati | 34 | 31 | 17 | 42 | 124 |
| Atlanta | 37 | 28 | 29 | 18 | 112 |
| Las Vegas | 13 | 32 | 21 | 35 | 101 |
--Andy Richardson