The Minnesota Vikings had an anemic pass rush during the 2020 season and spent some resources to make sure that wouldn’t repeat itself in 2021. They accomplished their goal of getting after the quarterback more, finishing second in the NFL with 51 sacks.

They were sixth in the league in pressure percentage and when they got to the quarterback they finished the job. It was a total team effort when it came to rushing the passer as Minnesota didn’t have a single player reach double-digit sacks.

D.J. Wonnum led the way with eight sacks, followed by Danielle Hunter who had six in only seven games. Hunter is a premier pass rusher and if he can remain healthy, will finish near the top of the NFL in sacks in 2022. 10 more players at multiple sacks on the season, as the Vikings got after it from every spot on the field.

This season, they will be even tougher to block as they bolstered their pass rush even more with Za’Darius Smith. Originally, it sounded as if Smith would be heading to the Baltimore Ravens following his release from the Green Bay Packers. Smith had begun his career there, so it was a place he was comfortable with.

However, after seeing how much money other pass rushers were getting on the open market, Smith backed out of the four-year, $35 million deal they had been working on. Instead, he signed a three-year deal with Minnesota that can be worth up to $47 million.

With Smith in the fold, the Vikings now have a second dominant pass rusher to rely on opposite of Hunter. For too long Hunter was the sole player capable of wreaking havoc in the backfield, but that is no longer the case. He will be getting plenty of help from Smith and Wonnum in 2022.

Smith had injuries of his own in 2021, appearing only in Week 1 before being sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. However, he was able to get back onto the field for the team’s divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, he picked up another sack, showing that he still has plenty of pass-rushing juice left in the tank.

After spending the last three seasons with the Packers, Smith will undoubtedly be motivated to now play against them twice a season with the Vikings. Getting after Aaron Rodgers and other opposing quarterbacks is key for Smith and the Minnesota defense as it will help compensate for a secondary that is weak on the perimeter.