Vikings revamped linebacker corps rated top-10 in NFL

The Minnesota Vikings' offseason of change included bringing in Eden Prairie native Blake Cashman to replace veteran Jordan Hicks and it appears to have earned the unit at top-10 ranking.

Pro Football Focus on Thursday rated the Vikings’ linebacker corps as the 10th-best in the NFL, second in the NFC North to the Bears.

“Undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr. was one of the best stories of the 2023 season after winning a starting role in the Vikings' defense and earning a 77.7 PFF coverage grade. They are pairing him with Blake Cashman his season, with the former fifth-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft coming off a career year in 2023 (82.1 PFF grade),” PFF wrote.

Pace graded out as the 16th-best linebacker in the league last season, according to PFF, while Cashman ranked eighth of 82 qualifying players.

Hicks was also solid for the Vikings last season, grading out as the 22nd-best linebacker. However, Minnesota opted to get younger at the position, as Cashman graded out as significantly better in both run defense as coverage.

Additionally, the Vikings added Kamu Grugier-Hill, who graded out well as a pass-rusher and returns Brian Asamoah, who was decent in coverage, per PFF’s data.

The Vikings were a top-10 defense against the run last season but ranked 24th vs. the pass. Brian Flores will look to improve upon those rankings in his second season as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports