KC Chiefs: Five pass rushing units Patrick Mahomes should fear in 2019
By Cullen Jekel
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings
On November 3rd, the Minnesota Vikings travel to Kansas City in an inter-conference match-up. Last season, the Vikings finished tied for third in the NFL with 50 sacks, tied for third with 88 tackles for loss, and tied for 11th with 94 quarterback hits.
A bit of that production walked out the door when former Mizzou defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson departed for the Cleveland Browns in free agency.
But the Vikings defense avoided more attrition when linebacker Anthony Barr, who collected three sacks, eight tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits, changed his mind after reportedly inking with another team. When Barr realized that the other team was the New York Jets, he quickly re-signed with the Vikings.
Minnesota returns their top two leaders in sacks: defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. Hunter sacked opposing quarterbacks 14.5 in 2018 as the former third-round pick from LSU earned a trip to his first Pro Bowl. He added 21 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits.
Griffen, 31, collected 5.5 sacks in 11 games along with five tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. As recently as 2017, Griffen, a three-time Pro Bowler, had double-digit sacks.
The Vikings pass rush will also rely on guys like Linval Joseph, Stephen Weatherly, and the recently drafted Armon Watts, a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas. Those three will be counted on to replace Richardson’s vacated production.