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Projecting the 10 Best Defenses in the NFL in 2016

Courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports

8. Minnesota Vikings

A young defense that’s clearly on the rise, the 2016 season could very well be when this unit breaks out big time. Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, both former first-round picks, have another year of experience under their belt.

Harrison Smith has proven himself to be among the top safeties in the entire game. Meanwhile, Minnesota was able to add a high-upside corner in Mackensie Alexander in the second round of this year’s draft. That’s a whole heck of a lot of talent in the secondary.

Though, it really is the surplus of elite-level options in the front seven that should have other NFC North squads worried. Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr represent one of the best young linebacker tandems in the game.

Everson Griffen has proven himself to be among the most-consistent pass-rushing defensive ends in the game, racking up 22.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Brian Robison continues to fly under the radar on the other end as a solid guy against the run.

If Minnesota can continue to see improvements from its young core on defense, the ceiling really is the limit here.

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