Seven Vikings Listed Among PFF's Top 101 NFL Players of 2022
The Vikings have some notable holes that kept them from advancing past the divisional round this past season, but they also have a significant amount of high-end talent on their roster. That alone is a reason for optimism as the team moves forward.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked its top 101 players from the 2022 NFL season, and the Vikings were represented seven times on the list. They're tied with the Chiefs for the second-most players on the list, trailing only the Eagles at 13. The 49ers were right behind Minnesota and Kansas City with six.
However, it's a bit unfair to compare the Vikings to the Super Bowl champions just because both have seven players on this list. Kansas City has three of the top four, while the Vikings have just one in the top 25.
Leading the way for the Vikings, obviously, is Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson at No. 8. Interestingly, that's one spot behind Miami's Tyreek Hill, who is PFF's top wide receiver — but it was close:
No. 8: Justin Jefferson
There was very little to separate Hill and Jefferson, who had just one fewer explosive play than the Miami speedster. Jefferson flirted with Calvin Johnson’s all-time single-season receiving record before finishing short with 1,809 yards on the season. Jefferson gained a first down 83 times this season, including the playoffs — the most among wideouts.
Jefferson is the Vikings' only top 25 player, as left tackle Christian Darrisaw is next up at No. 26. Darrisaw was a truly elite player when healthy — he essentially missed four full games with concussions — and he's turning 24 this offseason, so he's a candidate to move up the list next year.
No. 26: Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw's major breakout season for the Vikings was blotted somewhat when he was rushed back from a concussion, leading to a second one in fairly quick succession. Darrisaw ended the season with an 81.8-plus PFF grade as both a run blocker and pass protector.
The highest-ranked Vikings defensive player is outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith at 51, four spots ahead of teammate Danielle Hunter. Both players finished with 10.5 sacks, but Smith had more pressures. Smith started the year on fire before slowing down in the second half as he played through a knee injury, while Hunter got off to a slightly slow start and then turned it on.
No. 51: Za'Darius Smith
Smith was a problem all season for opposing offenses to block. He tallied 80 total pressures over the season, with almost half of those coming from an inside alignment, where his speed and quickness proved way too much for guards to contend with.
No. 55: Danielle Hunter
After missing significant time with injuries in recent seasons, Hunter was back to something like his best play this season for the Vikings. He totaled 76 pressures including the playoffs, the second most of his career, and earned the second-best overall PFF grade (87.1) in his career.
The Vikings had both starting edge rushers make the list, and they also had both starting offensive tackles make it. Right tackle Brian O'Neill, who has been ultra-consistent during his NFL career, checks in at 68. He was missed in the playoffs after suffering a season-ending injury in Green Bay in Week 17.
No. 68: Brian O'Neill
O’Neill gave up 24 total pressures in 16 games at right tackle for the Vikings this season. His run blocking was outstanding, with him earning an 83.3 PFF grade in that facet, and his absence due to injury late in the year was an obvious problem for Minnesota to try and overcome.
The Vikings' defense finished 31st in yards allowed in 2022, but it still managed to have three players ranked in the top 101. Future Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson had one of the best seasons of his career at age 32, recording five interceptions and 15 total passes defended.
No. 78: Patrick Peterson
Peterson may not have the same athletic ability as earlier in his career, but he has the experience and veteran savvy to still be an excellent zone cornerback. Peterson posted an 82.5 PFF coverage grade in 2022 — his best since 2018 — and allowed a 66.8 passer rating into his coverage.
Last but not least, polarizing Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins snuck onto the list after winning a career-best 13 games in 2022. His aggressiveness and toughness were huge for the Vikings during Kevin O'Connell's first year as head coach, even if Cousins threw a career-high 14 interceptions and had the lowest passer rating of his career as a starter. Will his second season with O'Connell yield improved numbers? And will he be playing in 2023 on the final year of his contract, or has he earned a long-term extension?
No. 97: Kirk Cousins
Cousins had some spectacular games in 2022, including passing for more than 10.0 yards per attempt on two separate occasions and leading the biggest comeback in NFL history, no matter how that comeback unfolded. He now has five straight years with a PFF grade of at least 79.3.
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