In the early stages of organized team activities this spring, Harrison Phillips stood at the podium and praised Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, noting how their presence was going to help keep him fresh in 2025.

In hindsight, that exchange feels a little bit awkward.

Though he was technically right about Allen and Hargrave stepping in and making an immediate impact, Phillips didn’t account for the fact that they would make him expendable in the process.

In the aftermath of training camp last month, the Vikings made the tough decision to trade Phillips to the New York Jets, a shocking move on the surface that seemed to signal a mentality shift up front. It would appear that the Vikings are prioritizing the ability to rush the passer above everything else.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, left, and nose tackle Javon Hargrave work on a drill during practice at the team’s NFL football training camp, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

As effective as Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel were off the edge last season, the defensive line as a whole failed to hold up its end of the bargain. As a result, unless defensive coordinator Brian Flores wasn’t dialing up some sort of blitz, the Vikings weren’t able to generate pressures.

The numbers for the starting defensive line were particularly damning, as Phillips (15), Jerry Tillery (17), and Jonathan Bullard (6) all struggled to put up pressures. For context, the pressures leaders among defensive linemen last season, according to Pro Football Focus, were Zach Allen of the Denver Broncos (75), Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs (74) and Osa Odighizuwa of the Dallas Cowboys (60).

There’s a lot be said about being able to rush the passer without having to blitz; the constant threat of interior pressure from the defensive line can absolutely wreck a game plan.

That was on full display last season when the Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs. They were completely overmatched in the trenches, and it paved the way for the Rams’ blowout victory. As the Vikings reflected on everything that went into that loss, they opted to overhaul the interior of the offensive line, while also making a point to revamp the interior of the defensive line.

That included signing Allen and Hargrave in free agency, bringing in a pair of defensive linemen who were elite at rushing the passer in their prime, and still seem to have something left in the tank as they near the twilight of their careers.

The new look defensive line will be unveiled Monday night at Soldier Field when the Vikings open the season against the Chicago Bears.

FILE – Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) leaves the field after pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

Asked about adding Allen and Hargrave to the defense, Greenard said he was excited as soon as it happened this spring, and even more excited after getting to see them in action this summer. The fact that Allen and Hargrave can win with a combination of power and finesse makes them difficult to contain at the point of attack.

“You’ve got to deal with them,” Greenard said. “No matter what, they’re going to be in the backfield somehow, whether they’re making a sack or pushing the pocket. That’s the part that makes my job easier. They have been a great addition to this team.”

It will be interesting to see how exactly Flores decides to deploy Allen and Hargrave in the heat of battle. Will he design exotic schemes to get them on an island with lesser foes? Will he simply let them go mano-a-mano with whoever is across from them?

“I think every day we’re learning a little bit more about those guys,” Flores said. “There’s a lot to like about both of them.”

As for Allen and Hargrave, they couldn’t be more happy to be playing together. They used to be division rivals in the NFC East when Allen was with the Washington Commanders and Hargrave was with the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a welcome change.

“I’ve been following his career for a while,” Allen said. “Just having the ability to play beside him is super fun.”

“He’s always been somebody I’ve looked at throughout his career,” Hargrave said. “He’s a hell of a player.”

Meanwhile, the rest of the defensive line should help complement Allen and Hargrave with their wide array of skill sets, whether it’s Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram Dawkins or Elijah Williams.

How high are the expectations for this particular group?

“I’m not a big fan of expectations; I’m a big fan of standards,” Allen said. “I think expectations are based too much on results, whereas standards are based on how we come in and work every day.”

“We hold each other to standards that we probably can never meet,” he added. “That’s what’s going to make us great.”

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