The Minnesota Vikings enter the bye week in a perfect spot, boasting a 5-0 record and the NFL’s best defense through the first month of the season.
The most impressive part of Minnesota’s dominant start on ‘D’ has been the immediate impact of its new additions.
From Andrew Van Ginkel’s pair of pick-sixes, to Blake Cashman anchoring the second level, to Stephon Gilmore’s resurgent start in his age-34 season, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah appears to have pulled all the right levers in assembling this year’s roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Did Vikings win the 2024 offseason? NFL analyst Tyler Brooke of the 33rd Team seems to think so.
In a recent post examining the five most impactful free agent signings of the 2024 cycle, Brooke ranked Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard No. 1 overall. Here was his full take:
Greenard isn't the first name that comes to mind for critical free agents this year. However, his impact on the Minnesota Vikings defense is a huge reason why they're one of two remaining undefeated teams. Greenard has four sacks and 12 tackles this season. Those aren't jaw-dropping numbers, but it's his consistent ability to generate pressure that has made him such a massive boon to Minnesota's defense.
Greenard's 29 pressures are the second-most in the league behind Aidan Hutchinson. He's had at least five pressures in every game this season, including seven pressures and three quarterback hits on Aaron Rodgers in Sunday's game against the New York Jets in London.
No other player on Minnesota's defense has more than 14 pressures this season. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores runs a scheme that relies on hiding coverages with pre-snap looks while generating pressure fast enough to prevent quarterbacks from diagnosing coverages after the snap. That hasn't been an issue for Greenard.
Without Greenard, it's unlikely that the Vikings have the No. 1 defense by DVOA. His explosiveness off of the snap, play strength, and ability to mix up his pass-rush plan has made him one of the NFL's most disruptive pass rushers.
For as fun as this year's free agent class is, no one is matching Greenard's impact on the Vikings' defense.
It’s telling that the 33rd Team picked Greenard over offensive stalwarts like Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles, Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens, and even former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, now of the Atlanta Falcons.
It goes to show just how impressive the Vikings have been through the first five games of 2024. Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings deserve all the flowers.
More Minnesota Vikings news:
NFL insider: Vikings won't let star safety finish season without lucrative extension
Vikings Week 6 snap counts: Rookie Dallas Turner's small role continues vs. Jets
NFL power rankings Week 6: Experts grapple with surging Vikings at No. 1
Vikings poach one of Brian Flores’ favorite draft prospects from Miami in proposed move
Ryan OLeary
Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.
