Minicamp preview: Veteran additions are only part of the plan for Vikings' defensive line
Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave should help provide interior pressure, but the line also needs more consistency behind the starters.
(The Vikings will hold their mandatory three-day minicamp Tuesday-Thursday. We are spending three days examining some of the key questions facing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell as they get set for the last full-team practices before training camp opens in late July. The first position focused on was cornerback. Today: the defensive line.)
The Vikings signed veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason in a makeover of their defensive line. However, those additions are only part of the plan. Allen and Hargrave’s presence — along with nose tackle Harrison Phillips — should enable the Vikings to create a rotation of younger linemen who can contribute without being forced into bigger roles than they are prepared to play.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ main focus will be determining who appears most ready to contribute behind his three starters. The three Vikings defensive linemen who took the most snaps last season were Phillips at 59.4%, Jonathan Bullard at 50.5% and Jerry Tillery at 41%. Bullard remains unsigned and Tillery departed for Kansas City after one season.
The Vikings, who use a 3-4 base defense, have 11 defensive linemen on their roster. Three who saw playing time last season are candidates to step into larger roles. This includes ends Jalen Redmond (18.3% of snaps last season) and Levi Drake Rodriguez (.53%) and nose tackle Taki Taimani (6.1%).
Redmond signed with the Vikings last year after spending time in the XFL. Rodriguez was drafted last year in the seventh round, and Taimani made the 53-man roster out of training camp after being signed as an undrafted free agent. All three could see a substantial increase in playing time. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, a fifth-round pick in April, also could compete for a spot. He had three sacks in 14 games with the Bulldogs last season.
Allen is 30 years old and Hargrave is 32. Both are coming off injuries that shortened their 2024 seasons and their snaps will be monitored closely. Allen tore his left pectoral muscle in Week 6 with Washington and did not return until Week 17. He had three sacks in eight games and was released by Washington in early March. Hargrave’s season ended when he suffered a partially torn right triceps in San Francisco’s third game. He also was released in March.
Phillips, 29, is the youngest of the starting three but is entering his eighth season. Phillips understands that his production could increase if his snap count is decreased. Same for Allen and Hargrave.