The Minnesota Vikings defense looked like it was going to finish 2023 as one of the NFL's best units in November, but things quickly fell apart in December and the fallout was a big reason why the team missed the playoffs.

A lack of cornerback depth was a big reason why and outside of Danielle Hunter, no game-wreckers on the defensive line hurt, too. D.J. Wonnum was playing well, but tore his quad in Week 16 and missed the last two games of the season.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to be on a mission to change this in 2024 and the upcoming free agency period represents the perfect opportunity to do just that.

"… That’s how you end up with Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard as starters. Both players were adequate at stopping the run in 2023, and both were respected in the locker room.

"Neither is a game wrecker, though, and Flores wants one. Free agency should present him with some possibilities." – Alec Lewis, The Athletic

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Wilkins over Danielle Hunter makes a lot of sense

An outside pass rush is obviously key in today's game, but interior pressure is just as valuable, if not more. And Wilkins can provide elite results in that category.

He provided the Miami Dolphins with a 10.3% pressure rate in 2023 (14.7% against true pass sets) and his 58 total pressures ranked ninth among all interior defensive lineman, per Pro Football Focus. Wilkins' 10 sacks (PFF's number) tied for fifth-most and his 16 QB hits were good for third-best. Eight of the 10 sacks came against true pass sets, which is a solid rate. For instance, seven of Aaron Donald's 10 sacks came against TPSs and six of Chris Jones' 14 sacks were of the same context.

Wilkins has also started every single game over the last three seasons and is in the middle of his prime at 28-years-old.

Having an elite interior defensive linemen would keep opposing offensive lines from double teaming the outside guys. Therefore, Flores' defense wouldn't need a proven EDGE like Hunter to juice up the pass rush. The Vikings could keep a cheaper option like Wonnum, or sign a cheap outsider and still have an effect pass rush, thanks to Wilkins.

There's also the injury history with Hunter – something Wilkins doesn't have. That's key for both the short- and long-term. 

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There's a world in which both guys can co-exist in purple and gold

Per Over The Cap, the Vikings have nearly $32 million in cap space after accounting for the projected cost of the 2024 draft class. But, that number quickly rises to more than $75 million if the team re-signs both Kirk Cousins and Hunter before March 13. That's because the $28.5 million in Cousins' dead money and the $14,906,667 in Hunter's dead money gets pushed back if they ink a new deal before their previous contracts void.

We project Wilkins' deal to be worth $23 million per year and Hunter's deal to be worth $22.5 million per year. The key with both numbers in 2024, however, is the first-year cap hits will be very minimal. We project those to be $6.2 million and $9 million, respectively. Those numbers will start to balloon as soon as next year, though, which is important to consider and remember.

Now, that would add some serious juice to the pass rush.

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Final word

Either way, expect the Vikings to make some big moves to shore up the defense. It's crucial they don't get too top heavy, though, because that will limit the quality of depth players they can sign. And as we saw last year, as well as every year in the NFL, good depth is pivotal when it comes to making the postseason.

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