Dec 2, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (25) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings roster was “set” with a heap of new free agents on the defensive side of the ball from Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Sheldon Richardson, Bashaud Breeland, to Xavier Woods.
Then, a return to health by Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce (COVID opt-out), Eric Kendricks, and Anthony Barr would solidify the defense after a gruesome showing in 2020. The Vikings ranked in the bottom five for the NFL’s defensive units in 2020 – a fall from grace by Mike Zimmer who hangs his purple hat on defense.
Well, that solidification might need scaling back – at least for a while. A growing concern on the status of Anthony Barr is evident. He’s beset by a mystery injury that jeopardizes his availability for Week 1, per the Vikings coaching staff.
This does not necessitate a pressing of the panic button, but it does bear resemblance to the Danielle Hunter dealings from the summer of 2020. Hunter encountered a neck tweak at this time last year – that turned out to be a season-ending malady.
Barr won’t necessarily miss all of 2021, but the groundwork is laid for adverse news with the Adam Zimmer soundbite.
With a Barr absence, players like Blake Lynch, Chazz Surratt, Ryan Connelly, and D.J. Wonnum might be called upon for increased work. But that leaves a lot to chance for a defense that desperately wants to rekindle Top-10-in-the-NFL form.
A solution exists.
Curiously, K.J. Wright is unsigned at the moment, and he’s a Seattle Seahawks alumnus with a Pro Bowl appearance and Super Bowl ring on his resume. And the Vikings have about $13.5 million in available cap space.
Nov 3, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50). Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Two weeks ago, adding Wright would have signified an embarrassment of riches at the linebacker spot. Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr were theorized to reunite for 2021 after injuries disabled the duo’s presence for most of 2020. Nick Vigil was signed in March, likely holding the inside track to start at weakside linebacker. He’s also the WLB1 listed on the Vikings unofficial depth chart at the moment.
Yet, the Vikings have shown a desire to get deep-deep on defense this offseason. See: The signings of Sheldon Richardson and Bashaud Breeland. Adding Wright – even if Barr turns out to be totally healthy by Week 1 — would be Richardson-esque from a too much is never enough perspective.
Wright turned 32 this summer, spending 144 career games in Seattle. There, he reached one Pro Bowl five years ago while tabulating 941 career tackles. In fact, that 941 tackles mark since 2011 is the fourth-most in the NFL. The man can tackle.
Wright would not be needed if Barr was fully ready this preseason. Yet, 2020 taught the Vikings that Zimmer cannot drag a full group of reservist players to stardom or even mediocrity. Zimmer needs his guys. Barr is a Zimmer Guy, and if he cannot play 17 games this season, well, a Wright swap into the lineup makes sense.
Another item of the utmost importance: Barr is generally the linebacker sent to blitz when Zimmer dials up an aggressive pass rush. It is a mystery which substitutes – Lynch, Surratt, Connelly, Wonnum, or Vigil – would do that during a Barr absence. In Seattle, Wright was sent on blitzes frequently. Per Stathead.com, Wright was sent to blitz 72 times on Pete Carroll’s 2020 Seahawks squad. That’s a lot and could be reasonably replicated with the Vikings.
It is rarefied earth for the Vikings to own $13 million in cap space during late August. What will general manager Rick Spielman do with it? Save it for a rainy day? Extend the contracts of Harrison Smith and Brian O’Neill?
The addition of Wright would a sensible strategy for the money if Barr’s injury odyssey gets grimmer.
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I think the Vikings should extend O'Neill and then Smith. OL is my priority because of the instability/mediocrity there in recent years. Wright would be nice but I think LB is a less urgent need. We may end up spending some of that money on a backup QB. Stanley (especially) and Browning (he piqued interest when he was the only QB in practice but has disappointed since then) are likely headed out the door.
This is a one dimensional take - all very well to add Wright but who will then be cut from the 53 - Barr, Dye, Surratt, Boyd, Westbrook? I'd expect we'd happily roll with Blake Lynch or Dye for a few weeks.
I think it's already unlikely that we can get James Lynch and Willekes through waivers if they don't make the 53. Signing Wright for a half season rental could mean losing another long term prospect.