As the confetti settles on another Super Bowl, one thing is clear: the defensive line is back in the spotlight-and not just on the edges. This year’s title game was a showcase of two elite defenses going toe-to-toe, but it was Seattle’s interior dominance that stole the show. While the Patriots held their own for most of the night, it was the Seahawks' relentless pressure up the middle that ultimately tipped the scales.
Seattle didn’t need a marquee edge rusher to wreak havoc. Instead, they leaned on a trio of interior linemen-Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, and Leonard Williams-who controlled the line of scrimmage with sheer power and precision.
New England simply had no answer. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye was under siege from the jump, with no clean pocket to step into and a run game that never found its footing.
The space those three consumed up front made every blitz dialed up by Mike Macdonald feel like a knockout punch.
To be fair, the Patriots brought some muscle of their own in the middle, led by free agent addition Milton Williams. But Seattle’s ability to dominate without a premier edge presence-relying instead on a rotation of solid, if unspectacular, contributors like Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, and Demarcus Lawrence-underscored a growing trend across the league: interior pressure is becoming the new gold standard for disruptive defense.
That brings us to Minnesota.
The Vikings have long been known for tough, disciplined defense, but when you stack their interior line up against what we just saw in the Super Bowl, it’s clear there’s work to be done. Jalen Redmond’s emergence in 2025 was a bright spot-his quickness and ability to shoot gaps gave the unit a much-needed jolt-but he can’t carry the load alone. Minnesota’s big-ticket veterans on the interior didn’t live up to expectations.
Jonathan Allen battled injuries all season and never found his rhythm. Javon Hargrave, once a force, struggled mightily against the run and was eventually relegated to third-down sub-packages. With both players carrying hefty contracts into next year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Vikings explore ways to move on-whether that’s a release or a trade to clear cap space.
The need for reinforcements is obvious. If defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants to take the next step with this unit, the interior has to be a priority.
Minnesota needs more than just depth-they need difference-makers. And whether that help comes via free agency or the draft, it’s going to take real investment.
If interim GM Rob Brzezinski decides to hit the open market, there are a few intriguing options. For a true nose tackle who can anchor the run defense, names like D.J.
Reader and DaQuan Jones stand out. Reader is a brick wall against the run, while Jones brings a little more juice as a pass rusher.
Both are over 320 pounds and built to handle double teams, exactly the kind of presence Minnesota lacked in 2025.
If the Vikings are looking for more pass-rush upside, Sheldon Rankins and John Franklin-Myers could fit the bill. Rankins has long been a disruptive force on passing downs, and Franklin-Myers-still just 29-has quietly been one of the more underrated interior defenders in the league. He’s due for a payday, but he could be worth the price for a team looking to upgrade immediately.
There’s also a familiar face to consider: Khyiris Tonga. After spending 2025 in a rotational role with the Patriots, Tonga could be a low-cost, high-reward signing for Minnesota.
He knows the system, he’s reliable, and while he won’t transform the defense on his own, he could be a stabilizing presence in a retooled rotation. Pairing Tonga with a high-upside rookie could be a smart way to bridge the gap between now and the future.
And speaking of the future, the draft offers some compelling options if the Vikings want to go young and build from within.
Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter is a name to watch. At 6'4", 330 pounds, he moves with a rare blend of power and agility.
His hand usage and ability to shed blocks in the run game are already NFL-ready, and while he still needs to refine how he handles double teams, the tools are there. He’s the kind of player who could anchor a defensive line for years to come.
Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald brings a different skill set. He’s not as nimble as Hunter, but he’s a true space-eater with the kind of raw strength that defensive coordinators love.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to D.J. Reader, and it’s easy to see why.
He may not flash on every play, but he’s the kind of guy who makes life easier for the linebackers behind him.
Then there’s Clemson’s Peter Woods-a bit of a tweener, but in today’s NFL, versatility is a virtue. Woods isn’t a perfect fit for any one role, but he can play across multiple fronts, and his violent hands make him a handful when he gets a clean shot.
His shorter arms can be a liability against double teams, but when he wins the hand battle, he wins it decisively. His 2025 season was underwhelming, but the 2024 tape shows a player with real upside.
Bottom line: Minnesota can’t afford to roll into 2026 with the same interior group and expect different results. Flores has shown he can scheme pressure from anywhere, but even the most creative defensive minds need horses up front.
Whether it’s a splash signing in March or a big swing on draft night, the Vikings need to find their next interior anchor. Because if the Super Bowl taught us anything, it’s that games are still won-and lost-in the trenches.