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Minnesota Vikings: Top 5 breakout player candidates for 2018

By Sayre Bedinger

ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 10: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)UST 10: Dalvin Cook
ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 10: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 10, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)UST 10: Dalvin Cook /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball under pressure by Jaleel Johnson #94 of the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball under pressure by Jaleel Johnson #94 of the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

4. Jaleel Johnson, Defensive Tackle

The Vikings cashed in on the fall of Jaleel Johnson in the 2017 NFL Draft, making him the 109th overall pick (fourth round) out of Iowa.

While at Iowa, Johnson developed into one of the Big Ten’s most disruptive interior players, and was unsurprisingly very effective in preseason snaps for the Vikings in 2017.

He only appeared in five games as a rookie and didn’t record any statistics but will help give the Vikings enviable depth on the defensive line with Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson, and their star edge players.

Johnson racked up 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his final season at Iowa, showing he’s not just a big run stuffer in the middle. Johnson is a big man capable of penetrating and using quickness to get past interior linemen with relative ease.

He’s got star potential if he can stay healthy.

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