Sports
Vikings Territory: If The Vikings Want A Free Agent DE, Now Is The Time To Act
Spielman could afford to bolster the wide receiver room behind a somewhat top-heavy combination of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.
July 21, 2021
The next destination on the Minnesota Vikings hype train is training camp, a mere eight days away in Eagan, Minnesota.
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And in the backdrop, general manager Rick Spielman possesses a cache of cash, unfamiliar territory for the Vikings at this time of year. Usually, the franchise has a few million in the bank, targeting small fish to round out the roster.
Minnesota maintains a cap space figure around $14 million — a number that fortuitously never seems to dip — to spend on other free agents or extend the long-term contracts of players like Harrison Smith or Brian O’Neill. Spielman could afford to bolster the wide receiver room behind a somewhat top-heavy combination of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. He could add one more veteran offensive lineman to safeguard against the annual pass-protecting doldrums.
Find out what's happening in Eaganfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
While those men might thrive inside this revamped Mike Zimmer-led defense, Hunter has never played professional football without Everson Griffen on the roster. Oh, by the way, Griffen is a free agent — that has even vocally proclaimed his desire to return to the Vikings in 2021.
If the Vikings have an appetite for another defensive end to complete the defensive free-agency bonanza, now is the time to act.
Because the who’s-who of free-agent EDGE rushers are finding new homes this week. First, it was Melvin Ingram, a fine pass rusher that unites with a fine pass-rushing organization in Pittsburgh.
Then, a lesser-sexy name in Alex Ofakor re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday.
Ergo, they’re flying off the board.
Talent-wise, the frontrunner for duty is Justin Houston.
Next, Olivier Vernon is a free agent, nursing a torn Achilles that he suffered last season at an inopportune time in Week 17 for the Cleveland Browns.
Otherwise, go with what you know. Everson Griffen created some social media turmoil at the beginning of the calendar year with puzzling tweets about the Vikings organization (particularly Kirk Cousins). But forgiveness is a rewarding trait for anyone. Should the Vikings welcome back Griffen, he would need very little acclimation — effectively “getting the band back together” for an all-in season.
The most fitting way to culminate the defense-only trend in free agency is to sign Houston, Vernon, or Griffen, canceling any doubt about the Vikings pass rush for 2021.
This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
