The Minnesota Vikings have answered the biggest lingering question about their offense: They know Kirk Cousins will be back under center on a one-year extension. While they could go offense early in the draft, it may be wise to bolster a defense that struggled in 2021. If they’re thinking game-wrecker, they should consider Jordan Davis.
It might seem puzzling for Minnesota to double down with a defensive tackle early in the draft. Yes, they cut Michael Pierce, but they also just signed Harrison Phillips to a three-year deal. Dalvin Tomlinson is also still in place. However, Minnesota can look to their annoying rivals in the NFC North and heed some important advice: You’d rather address an area before it becomes a problem.
In 2019, the Green Bay Packers signed Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith to massive free-agent deals. Then they drafted Rashan Gary, who’s also an edge rusher, with a top-15 pick. Three short years later, Za’Darius Smith is now with the Baltimore Ravens after two incredible seasons with the Packers and one filled with injuries. The Packers ponied up to extend Preston Smith, and Gary is blossoming into a borderline superstar.
It may not have made sense to some why the Packers went heavy on the edge rushers in free agency and early in the 2019 draft, but it makes all the sense in the world now. Minnesota can capitalize in a similar manner.
Everyone who’s anyone believes the Vikings will target a cornerback in Round 1 of this year’s draft. But, more often than not, a team will go in another direction. You zig, they zag.
Enter Jordan Davis.
Davis opened plenty of eyes during his time at Georgia. He had jaws dropping to the floor with his performance at the NFL Combine. Indeed, a man that size shouldn’t be able to run with that kind of speed. Davis can.
He’s listed at 6’6″, 341 lbs., and he plays bigger than that — if that’s even possible. He was a key cog for a Georgia defense that led the Bulldogs to a National Championship while putting up historic numbers. They shut down every offense they faced. Even when Alabama got to them the first time around, Georgia made the necessary corrections in the title game.
Davis was a big reason why.
Scouts rave about his metrics and what he could provide for whomever drafts him. There are questions about whether or not he can be a true three-down lineman. But even with those questions, the potential payoff is too tantalizing to pass up.
If he’s available when the Vikings select in Round 1, they need to take a serious look at the big fella from Georgia.
Tomlinson is only under contract for one more year, and Pierce is gone. It’s time to think ahead while also taking a shot at someone capable of being an All-Pro talent.
One thing everyone agrees on is Davis’ raw power. Per The Draft Network, it helps funnel into other elements of his game.
Davis has very good power in his hips and hands. He comes off the ball and jolts linemen back with his power. He also shows the power in his hands to disengage.
[Davis] displays outstanding functional strength. He is dominant on the interior and cannot be single-blocked. He creates a new line of scrimmage with his power off the snap. [Davis] is the best interior run defender in the country. He simply cannot be single-blocked on run plays. Even when he is double-teamed, he still makes plays in the run game.
Who says no to that?
It makes sense for the Vikings to look at cornerback early. They haven’t addressed it yet in free agency and Patrick Peterson may not return. It’s a cornerback group with its pitfalls in the last two seasons, and the Vikings play in a division with Aaron Rodgers and a young up-and-comer in Justin Fields. The secondary needs to be locked down, there’s no doubt about it.
But what helps every secondary? A defensive front that can consistently pressure the quarterback.
Having Tomlinson and Phillips in place now will help slowly bring Davis along. It’s possible he can take on a lot from the get-go. But it wouldn’t be necessary from the jump. Having Davis in a spot role could help him flourish even more in his rookie season instead of exhausting him right out of the gate.
Davis is one of the true prospects in this draft with the “it” factor. He could be a home run for anyone who drafts him. If he’s available when the Vikings select, they need to at least have done their homework and give it serious thought. Cornerback may seem like a big need now, but the interior of the defensive line may need work sooner than you think.
