7 Minnesota Vikings that deserve to play in the Pro Bowl

The regular season of the NFL is nearing its end, which means it’s time to start thinking about the postseason and the Pro Bowl. Voting for the Pro Bowl has begun, and it is now up to you, the fans, to make your voice heard. This is your chance to tell the league – and the rest of the world – who you believe were the finest players in the 2023 NFL season, and there are several Minnesota Vikings players who are deserving of the trip to Orlando.

For the Vikings and their fans, this season has been a roller ride. The Vikings started the season as terrible as it could get, losing each of their first three games and four of their first five, with turnovers aplenty. Then they bounced back to win their next five games, but in the process they lost both their star wide receiver and starting quarterback.

The Vikings are now on a two-game losing slide and have entered their bye week with substantial quarterback worries. The way they end the season will almost certainly have an impact on the Pro Bowl vote, but they have a number of guys that are deserving of a spot regardless of how good Minnesota plays from here on out.

I did not include Justin Jefferson in this list owing to his injuries and extended absence, but his name recognition may be enough to get him a nod. Let’s get started with the names!

OLB Danielle Hunter

This is a simple one. Hunter has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Vikings all season. He presently leads the NFC in sacks and is only two sacks behind Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt for the league lead.

Hunter and the pressure he’s been able to put on opposing quarterbacks has been an important aspect of Brian Flores’ defensive system, allowing the Vikings to stay in games they had no business being in given the offense’s turnover issues.

Hunter’s future with the Vikings will be decided in the offseason, and whether or not he can be signed to a long-term contract. But that is an issue for another day. For the time being, he is a Pro Bowl-caliber defense.

TE T.J. Hockenson

T.J. Hockenson has not only been one of the finest tight ends in the NFL since joining the Vikings in the middle of last season, but he has also been one of the best receiving threats in the game regardless of position.

At the position, George Kittle and Travis Kelce get all the attention, and rightly so, but Hockenson’s play over the last couple of seasons has been right on par with them. This season is no exception.

Hockenson now leads all tight ends in receptions, is second only to Kelce in yardage, and is third only to Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews in touchdowns. Hockenson has been an important part of the Vikings offense, acting as a safety valve for quarterback Josh Dobbs as he’s been acclimated into the offense.

LS Andrew DePaola

We’ll keep it short and sweet this time. Long snapper is a position that is heavily focused on reputation, much more so than the skill positions. DePaola, the reigning first-team All-Pro long snapper, has had no notable gaffes this season. That should be plenty to bring him to Orlando.

LT Christian Darrisaw

The effectiveness of the Vikings offensive line has received a lot of attention this season. Depending on who you ask, they’re either one of the league’s worst units or have been quite solid overall and have taken more flak than they deserve.

The truth is almost certainly somewhere in the middle. But, regardless of which side of the debate you choose, Christian Darrisaw has been the finest of the bunch.

According to PFF grades, Darrisaw is one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL this year, tied for third with New England’s Trent Brown, with an overall score of 85. Darrisaw is second in pass block grade among tackles, trailing only Dallas.

He’s a touch further down the list in PFF’s run blocking grade, but his 79.3 still ranks in the top 10. Those performances should be enough to earn Darrisaw his first Pro Bowl berth.

CB Byron Murphy Jr.

The defense has been the undisputed trigger for the Vikings salvaging their season. Flores’ scheme has befuddled offenses all season and has been the reason Minnesota has been able to be in some of the games they have been in.

Without the defense performing as well as it has, this squad is more likely to compete for the top selection in the 2024 NFL draft than a playoff spot. The pressure that Hunter and crew have been able to apply has been crucial to the defense, but so has the performance of the back end.

This begins with Byron Murphy Jr. This season, Murphy has been the Vikings’ finest cover corner, ranking near the top of the league in performance. He currently ranks seventh in the league in pass defense with 13 and is tied for ninth in interceptions with three.

S Camryn Bynum

Camryn Bynum may not have the stats of his teammate Murphy, but he has been just as important to the Vikings defense’s success this season, if not more so. Bynum has been one of the league’s best safeties this season, even outperforming colleague and future Hall of Famer Harrison Smith.

Bynum has been instrumental in allowing Flores to be as aggressive as he has been all season with the Vikings defense. You can’t blitz to Flores’ levels unless you trust the coverage on the back end, and Bynum has been instrumental in that trust.

Bynum is the league’s fifth-best safety according to PFF, after only Jevon Holland, Antoine Winfield II, Jesse Bates III, and Jabrill Peppers.

This season, Bynum has also received the seventh-highest coverage grade from PFF and a top-15 run defense grade, demonstrating that he is one of the finest at his position in all aspects of the game. Definitely deserving of his first Pro Bowl selection.

S Josh Metellus

One of the distinguishing characteristics of a Flores-led defense is the presence of a defender who can play wherever on the field. A chess piece who can play several roles and excel at them all. Minkah Fitzpatrick was the element for the Dolphins and Steelers. This season, it’s been Josh Metellus for the Vikings.

Metellus is experiencing a breakout season in his fourth year with the Vikings. For the first time in his career, Metellus has been granted a starting job, and he has justified Flores’ faith in him handsomely. He has excelled at all levels of defense, making big plays and forcing important turnovers. He’s been solid in coverage and also plays an important part on special teams.

While he isn’t at the top of the position in any one category, he has been remarkably consistent across the board, logging ratings of at least 70 in overall defense, rush defense, and pass rush. He’s having the best season of his career, and he deserves to end it with his first trip to the Pro Bowl.