Fansided

5 Minnesota Vikings who need to be great in 2020

By Brad Berreman

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings hand the ball off to Dalvin Cook #33 in a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings hand the ball off to Dalvin Cook #33 in a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Harry How/Getty Images
Credit: Harry How/Getty Images /

4. DE Danielle Hunter

With at least 12.5 sacks in three of the last four seasons, including 14.5 in each of the last two, Hunter already is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Last season, he set the record for sacks before his 25th birthday (48).

As of this writing there’s some chance Everson Griffen returns to the Vikings, as the free agent market for pass rushers has been slow-moving. But under the assumption he is indeed gone, Ifeadi Odenigbo (seven sacks in 2019) will become the starter opposite Hunter with rookies D.J. Wonnum and Kenny Willekes in the mix as backups.

Hunter is not just an upper tier pass rusher. He has been a productive and disruptive run defender too, with at least 70 tackles in each of the last two seasons and double-digit tackles for loss in each of the last four.

It will be easier (and practically mandatory) for opposing offenses to devote more blocking attention to Hunter this year, even if Griffen comes back. He’ll have to succeed in spite of it though, and a third straight Pro Bowl selection will be well-earned as he becomes the clear-cut driving force of the Vikings defensive line.

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