Last season the Minnesota Vikings went 8-7-1, finishing second in the NFC North Division. The team lived down to preseason expectations. Many thought the Vikings would be a wild card team at best in the NFC. Their defense allowed 21.3 points per game, which ranked ninth in the NFL. The previous season the Vikings ranked first in points allowed.

The Vikings' defense lost some of its juice from 2017. Its energy and production didn't rise to the same levels in 2018. Pro Football Reference ranked the Vikings' front seven ninth in the league. The defense wasn't terrible by any stretch, but after setting the bar so high a year before, Minnesota just as clearly had a down season.

The only player who seemed to live up to top-tier standards was Sheldon Richardson. He had 49 tackles and 4.5 sacks on the season, solidifying the middle of the defensive line. Otherwise, only Danielle Hunter seemed to have literal statistical production for Minnesota. He posted 14.5 sacks on the season along with 72 tackles.

The Vikings' bread and butter is their defense. They have one of the best collections of defensive players in the league. However, they are still one addition away from being the best in the NFL. Per Over the Cap, the Vikings will have around $7 million of cap space coming into the offseason. Richardson is now a free agent.

This is just enough to sign their draftees and pick up a veteran. They could do some cap-shedding maneuvers and stretch contracts, they should be able to create enough room to sign one more difference maker, a dynamic defensive player who can put them on a higher level.

Ndamukong Suh was a very important talent for the Los Angeles Rams this past season. Without him, they couldn't have made a Super Bowl run. He had only 4.5 sacks, but he also added 49 tackles, four pass deflections, and four tackles for a loss.

His ability to plug gaps and stop the run is unheralded. He has never had high sack numbers, getting more than 10 only once. He has had 10 or more tackles for a loss in five seasons over the course of his career.

Pro-Football Focus gave him an 82.6 ranking last season. This put him among the top 20 defensive tackles. His impact allowed Aaron Donald to collect 20.5 sacks. Without Suh, Donald had only 11 sacks the year prior.

Suh's presence at nose tackle would do wonders in replacing Richardson, who is now a free agent after signing a one-year deal worth around $8 million per year. Suh will potentially be even cheaper than Richardson, especially in a long-term contract.

The Vikings are at a point of no return. They need to utilize their defensive depth while they still have it. Adding Suh would complete their defense. The Chicago Bears won't have the only top defense in the NFC North next season. With some work on offense, the Vikings could very well be an NFC title contender as well.