The draft has come and gone, and the Minnesota Vikings focused heavily on the offensive side of the ball. They drafted two players on defense, neither of whom was a defensive back.
Looking at the offensive side of the ball, it feels like we have seen this before in the NFL: an offensively dominant team that, on paper, should be able to put up 50 points weekly to compensate for what the team lacks on defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals tried to do the same thing last season, focusing heavily on the star-studded offense while ranking 25th in total defense. Meanwhile, only two teams that ranked in the bottom-third of total defense made the playoffs: the Detroit Lions (20) and the Los Angeles Rams (26).
Cincinnati’s lack of defensive production is part of why they missed the playoffs. They went 9-8 during the season, falling one win short of the playoffs.
The Vikings look to be on a similar course this coming season. However, there are some slight but critical caveats.
First, the Vikings have Brian Flores, one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. The 2025 head coaching candidate didn’t get a top job with another team, so he re-joined Kevin O’Connell for at least one more season.
Flores has helped the Vikings assemble some stout defenses in the last two seasons. Scheming up looks and coverages that appear similar pre-snap helps to confuse offenses and keep opposing QBs off-balance with the blitz-heavy schemes Flores likes to run.
His ability to maximize the talent on Minnesota’s roster helps the Vikings focus on improving the offense. Given Minnesota’s lack of young talent on defense, it will test Flores’ ability to find the best lineup possible.
However, the Vikings didn’t neglect Flores and the defense. They improved that unit in free agency. Minnesota landed some defensive-back help while retaining some cornerstone players during the free agency process.
They signed Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers, the latter of whom was crucial as a reserve during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl run last year. Okudah, 26, and Rodgers, 27, are NFL veterans in their prime. Both are plug-and-play corners who can cover anybody in the NFL.
The Vikings also retained CB Byron Murphy and S Harrison Smith, two defensive backs who know the Flores system well and thrived last season. With the defensive-back help retained and added, it can be understood why they didn’t prioritize this draft need.
Finally, we can’t forget about the defensive players who are coming back this year.
The Vikings also brought back linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, and Ivan Pace, four versatile players they relied on throughout the 2024 season.
Let’s not forget about Josh Metellus, Minnesota’s defensive Swiss Army knife, a player Flores arguably relied on the most throughout the 2024 season. Metellus played everywhere on defense and made his presence known no matter where he lined up.
As the Vikings enter the J.J. McCarthy era, they have also opened a major window of opportunity when it comes to the ultimate goal of bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Minnesota.
With an offense that looks as dynamic as they come and a defense that can succeed and complement the high-powered offense, it’s hard not to be excited for what’s to come in 2025.
As we enter the 2025 season, the question becomes: Can the 2025 Vikings improve upon Cincinnati’s model from last year?
