The Minnesota Vikings are on to the next portion of the offseason after selecting seven players in the 2024 NFL Draft and signing 17 undrafted free agents afterward. There are a lot of questions about how the Vikings will approach the rest of the offseason, especially with the potential of signing players after the end of the compensatory formula.
When taking a look at the Vikings defense, it's a unit that will look significantly different in the front seven. Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman and Jerry Tillery are all projected starters who signed this offseason. Will that end up working to the Vikings' benefit this year? Only time will tell.
To pair with the projected starters on offense, the starters on defense will see some significant changes.
Vikings projected 2024 defensive starters
Defensive line
- Harrison Phillips
- Jerry Tillery
- Jonathan Bullard
This group is not exactly what you would call a great one. Watch for the Vikings to potentially add one more player and possibly see Jaquelin Roy earn a starting spot.
Edge rusher
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
Dallas Turner could end up pushing them for a starting spot, but I doubt that the starters here will change right away.
Inside linebacker
- Blake Cashman
- Ivan Pace Jr.
While Pace does have the inside track, Brian Asamoah II could end up pushing him for a starting job. That's the hope anyway as Asamoah enters year three.
Cornerback
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Akayleb Evans
- Mekhi Blackmon (nickel)
Andrew Booth Jr. is the big wild card here. He started to emerge last season, including taking playing time from Blackmon. Shaquill Griffin could make this a tough competition as well.
Safety
- Harrison Smith
- Camryn Bynum
- Josh Metellus (nickel)
This group is so deep but the top three stand out above the rest.
