Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer brought years of experience as a defensive coordinator to Minnesota in 2014, and the team has used high draft picks to bolster the defense the past two years.
Since Zimmer’s hire, the Vikings have tabbed linebacker Anthony Barr at No. 9 in 2014 and cornerback Trae Waynes 11th overall last year.
General Manager Rick Spielman also aggressively traded back into the first round in 2014 to nab quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, then followed the Waynes pick in 2015 with linebacker Eric Kendricks in the second round and defensive end Danielle Hunter in the third.