(Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports photo) Mike Zimmer
Which Minnesota Vikings players won’t be missing in 2021?
With the 2020 season drawing to a close, attention is quickly turning to what promises to be another hectic off-season for the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings are experiencing serious complications of wage ceilings, as available financial resources are expected to decline in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, so some tough decisions need to be made by the organization to remain competitive next time.
That is the nature of the beast, unfortunately. Minnesota has cornered itself with high contracts and is now paying the price. But they have many choices for the 2021 NFL draft at their disposal, despite giving up their second round of 2021 to acquire Yannick Ngakoue for just six games before he was finally sent to the Baltimore Ravens.
It has been a season full of ups and downs for the Vikings, who will miss the playoff after reaching the divisional round in 2019.
Defensive problems were the key to Minnesota’s death for the first time in Mike Zimmer’s reign and his lack of confidence to protect Kirk Cousins in the countryside is another notable result of the campaign that should not be overlooked.
When it comes to 2021, who are some of the Vikings players who won’t be missed when they inevitably change over the next season?
Player No. 1
(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports) Dakota Dozier
Dakota Dozier – LG
If Dakota Dozier expected to claim a bigger role next season, then things didn’t work out as expected. The striker fought in 2020 and there is no doubt that he will be removed as soon as his contract expires.
The ex-player of the fourth round gave up six sacks and was scored by nine penalties during 1,083 clicks this season. Dozier was disturbed during the campaign in the countryside and his humble 44.6 score in Pro Football Focus is yet another indication of how he underperformed.
There should be a complete overhaul of Minnesota’s internal protection during the off-season of 2021, which should leave Dozier outside looking inward.