In a season in which several rookies provided standout performances in the NFC North (and the NFL overall), Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was voted the best of them all by ESPN's division staff writers. That's right, the 2015 second-rounder impressed more than Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, fellow Vikings Stefon Diggs, Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman who rounded out the top five. That's saying something, considering each of those rookies played important roles for their respective teams at one point or another during the season.
Kendricks was especially helpful as an injury replacement en route to an NFC North-leading 11-5 record for the Vikings.
"Kendricks, who began the season in the Vikings' nickel package and shifted to an every-down role when Gerald Hodges was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in October, led the Vikings with 92 combined tackles and wound up with four sacks, winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for October," ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling wrote. "He became a key part of coach Mike Zimmer;s blitz package, and though he missed two games with a rib injury and seemed to see his impact fade once nose tackle Linval Joseph was hurt late in the season, the second-round pick looks like a fixture in the Vikings' defense."
Kendricks may be outshined a bit by standout linebacker Anthony Barr, but he more than held his own in an impressive rookie season. However, that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.
"He'll have to improve in pass coverage, but considering it was one of his strengths coming out of college, Kendricks should give the Vikings reason to believe he will in 2016," Goessling continued.
The Vikings finished the 2015 regular season ranked No. 13 in yards allowed per game (344.2) and No. 5 in points (18.9). The defense was particularly adept at stopping the pass, surrendering just 234.9 yards per game through the air.
