Maulers and Stalwarts

The offensive line was greatly improved in the offseason, but I think another unit has a possibility of being the best in the league.

If you ask Vikings fans about which line improved the most in the 2025 offseason, the majority (of Daily Norseman readers at least) will say it was the offensive side of the ball. That view is completely warranted in my opinion. The fact that Will Fries is even on the team is a testament to the culture that the Wilf’s have built. Common wisdom contends that offensive lines take time to mesh, which could be a concern going into the 2025 season. However, our two biggest free agent acquisitions on the offense already played together for years! That will impact the learning curve tremendously. Perhaps surprisingly, the national media seemed to like the Vikings first round pick (even though it only received roughly 3 seconds of airtime on the night of the draft). I think it is a FACT that Donovan Jackson is in the best position to succeed of any guard drafted in 2025. He will be mentored on either side by two high IQ, battle-tested veterans. It is not just about just one player, but the cohesion on the offensive line. I believe the offensive line will improve considerably this season, with even more potential down the road. It doesn’t hurt that 4 of our starters will be under 30 years old when the season starts.

LAPRESSE

Considering how the 2024 season ended, there was vastly more room for improvement on the offensive line than the defensive line. This was largely due to the injury to Darrisaw. Kudos to Cam Robinson, but we saw in week 18 and the wild card round just how good number 71 really is. Much like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a certain brand of lollipops, the world may never know what a fully healthy 2024 season for Christian Darrisaw would have looked like.

Ready to Kick Some Butt

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Fortunately for us, the defensive line does know the answer to what it looks like to have their two biggest stars healthy for an entire season: a pair of all-pro selections for Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, respectively. There were some departures from the defensive line in 2025: journeymen Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery, along with Pat Jones II (the dude with the scariest arms in the league other than Danielle Hunter). However, there is no argument that the benefits of the new additions to this unit immensely outweigh the detriment of the players lost. The Philadelphia Eagles showed this past season, and in 2017, that having a stable of maulers and stalwarts on the defensive line can be a key to winning championships.

In 2025, I believe the Vikings will boast a rotation of 7 players who have all shown tremendous ability and upside. Among the ones I would call the “maulers” are Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner. The “stalwarts” are comprised of two-time pro-bowler Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Harrison Phillips, and Jalen Redmond. These terms are by no means mutually exclusive, as many of these players are just as lethal against the run as they are against the past. If this group is fully healthy, this season is going to be a heck of a lot of fun.

Near the top of my list of people I want to have a beer with is Pete Bercich. His film breakdown of Hargrave and Allen has me so excited to see what Brian Flores is going to do to absolutely torment every offense the Vikings come across this season. I think the body of work speaks for itself, but in case you didn’t know, Brian Flores is a top defensive mind in the NFL. Coming into his third season with Minnesota, he is working with the most stacked defensive roster he has seen since his days in New England. Every member of that 7-man Ice Wall is versatile and can line up in multiple spaces. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the team’s defensive meetings, while they are studying film and talking about how they can beat the opposing team’s offensive line.

The Secret Weapon

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It is hard to see the 2025 Minnesota Vikings defensive line being anything less than excellent, but more is required if the unit wants to be elite. I think that difference between the Vikings defensive line being a top 5 unit and being the best in the league will come down to the play of Dallas Turner. His playing time in his rookie year was definitely limited, but when you play the same position as not one, but TWO Pro Bowl players on your team, it is hard to get playing time. Regardless, we saw flashes of what Turner can do. He played on the left side, on the right side, in the middle. We saw him drop into coverage. We saw him get his first career interception during an exciting win over the Seattle Seahawks. He is an athletic freak and I think he is going to have a breakout year.

I have seen a lot of comparisons to Jared Verse and how the Vikings “drafted the wrong guy.” I have an issue with that logic though. Jared Verse wasn’t competing with any all-pro players in training camp or the preseason. Given the same opportunities, Turner could have been just as productive in his rooking year as Verse was. Again, we will never know for sure but mark my words: Dallas Turner is going to have a breakout season and I am boldly predicting that he will reach double digit sacks. Circle the game against the New York Giants on your calendar. That will be his best game of the season as he lines up against his rival from Ole Miss and tackling dummy, Jaxson Dart. It is going to be glorious!

The beauty of having this depth on the defensive line is that everyone can stay fresh. Imagine being a left tackle and seeing Jonathan Greenard sub out of a game, a sense of relief washes over you as you get a break from blocking one of the best edge rushers in the league, only to get in your stance and see Dallas Turner peering into your soul. The guy to your right can’t help, because him and the center have to double team Jonathan Allen to give their QB a chance for as many milliseconds to throw as they can muster. That leaves your right guard one on one with Javon Hargrave, who will be there to stuff the run or be ready and waiting for your quarterback, like a hungry troll looking to smash a hobbit into jelly. Hopefully you have a screen called to get the pass out quickly, oh wait, there’s Gink ready to snatch your feeble attempt to gain 3 yards and take it to the house!

I don’t know if you can tell, but I am ready to see a dominant defensive line in Minnesota once again. We have the defensive coaching staff and the players to get it done. Any “question marks” we may have in the secondary will be moot when opposing quarterbacks won’t have time to think, let alone make a read and throw an accurate pass. I. Can’t. Wait. LFG!!!

Let Me Hear It

Much like in my article about running backs, where suggestions are definitely still welcomed, I want to figure out what to call our defensive line this year. I like the Ice Wall, but please comment your suggestions. I want to gather as many ideas as possible to vote on it later this summer. I can’t guarantee you that whatever we decide will be universally accepted, but I can promise that I will call the defensive line and running back duo whatever we collectively decide in the comments and our future voting!!!

Until next time,

– Jesse