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NFL power rankings: Saints, Chargers lead way into 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 10: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings in action during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 21-7. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 10: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings in action during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 10, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings 21-7. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings. 16. team. 60. . .

2019 Key Additions: The departures far outweighed the arrivals in the Twin Cities this offseason. But no team wound up drafting more players this year then the Purple Gang (12). The club did add some new faces to an offensive front that was a trouble spot for the club in 2018. Josh Kline figures to be the team’s new starting right guard. And the club addressed this unit three times in the draft with center Garrett Bradbury (1-North Carolina State), guard Dru Samia (4-Oklahoma) and tackle Olisaemeka Udoh (6c-Elon). While the defense remains one of the best in the game, it certainly needed its share of reinforcements in terms of depth and the Vikings addressed this side of the ball numerous times in the latter rounds.

Offseason Review: Fixing the running game and the office of line was the season priority for general manager Rick Spielman and the organization. The team’s 2018 disappointing finish can in part be traced to the fact that only two teams in the league gained fewer yards on the ground. Meanwhile, quarterback Kirk Cousins took his share of licks from opposing pass rushes (sacked 40 times) and in turn struggled to hang onto the ball – losing seven of his nine fumbles. Head coach Mike Zimmer’s squad did not match up well with the eventual NFC North champion Chicago Bears this past season.

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