Six potential Vikings breakout candidates for 2021
The Vikings had a new-look roster of younger, more inexperienced talent las season.
Minnesota had a chance to salvage its season with some wins down the stretch, but in the end, the team earned a deserving 7-9 finish. Still, there were some bright spots throughout the year.
Plenty of rookies and young players stepped up. Some of them could even break out in 2021. This is a list of Vikings players who could do just that.
Note: I did not put cornerback Cameron Dantzler and wide receiver Justin Jefferson on this list, because they already broke out as rookies during the 2020 season.
TE Irv Smith Jr.
Photo: AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio
Smith Jr. was tabbed by some to be a breakout candidate in 2020. But for the most part, that wasn't the case. Smith Jr. put together another promising season, but not one where he made a colossal impact. That's because he was still tight end No. 2. Now, he has a chance to take over the main tight end spot if Kyle Rudolph ends up leaving.
CB Jeff Gladney
Photo: AP Photo/David Berding
Gladney was a bit inconsistent in 2020. Although, he did show flashes of being good. I think the pass rush will most likely be better than it was this past season. That means Gladney won't have to cover his receiver for as long of a time. That, on top of the fact that he has a year of NFL experience under his belt, will help greatly. Gladney has shown that he can be a physical force, but fine-tuning some other areas of his game could make him a very solid cornerback.
DE D.J. Wonnum
Photo: AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
Wonnum tallied three sacks in 420 snaps this past season. If he wins the defensive end spot opposite Danielle Hunter, he could be in for a big second-year campaign.
CB Mike Hughes
Syndication: NorthJersey
Hughes has had an issue with injuries throughout his NFL career. He has played in just 24 regular-season games during his three-year NFL career. That said, Hughes has looked OK when he's been on the field. I don't think he's worth the fifth-year option, but I do think he has the potential to be Minnesota's best corner in 2021, albeit that's not a super high bar to clear at the moment.
DT Hercules Mata'afa
Photo: AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
On the defensive line, the Vikings struggled to get pressure, especially from the interior. However, Mata'afa served as a silver lining down the stretch. He was waived at one point, but the defensive tackle proved to be a useful reserve in 2020. Hunter's return could lead to space being freed up across the defensive line. Michael Pierce gives Minnesota a run-stopping threat, so the team could use a three-technique player who maybe isn't stellar at stopping the run. If Mata'afa gets those reps, there's a possibility he could thrive.
DT James Lynch
Photo: AP Photo/John Froschauer
If Mata'afa isn't the answer for the Vikings pressure problems at the three-technique spot, maybe Lynch is. Lynch had one sack in just 56 snaps. From the outside perspective, it's hard to say what the Vikings have in Lynch at the moment. That said, he was a promising college player. Minnesota also has a tendency to not play certain rookies right away, so Lynch could theoretically get a lot more reps in 2021. Sure, there's a chance a rookie, Shamar Stephen or a free agent could fill the void at defensive tackle. But if Lynch can step up, that would certainly help the Vikings.
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