SI.com: Pro Bowl DT on the Docket for Vikings
SI.com’s Conor Orr theorizes that former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short will join the Minnesota Vikings next week during free agency.
The first disclaimer about this hypothesis from Orr is that the man is credible. He was one of the only pundits in the United States to predict the Vikings would upend the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFC Wildcard Playoff game. New Orleans was heavily favored as home savants, but Kirk Cousins and the Vikings disagreed – and Orr was correct with his prognostication. Of course, that does not mean Orr is right eternally, but it does prove his forecasts often have merit.
On Short to the Vikings, Orr notes:
“The Vikings are going to have to replenish their needs via the draft at this point. There are no quick fixes here at their price point, which means hoping that one of the veterans available, like Short, Johnathan Hankins or someone like Jurrell Casey can come in and provide meaningful snaps on a budget.”
Short was dumped by the Panthers on February 16 and remains unsigned. Dating back to 2017, Short earned about $17 million per season. He will not cost that much this time around. Why? Because he has missed 84% of all football games since the start of 2019.
Recently, the Vikings have released Kyle Rudolph, Riley Reiff, and Dan Bailey. New faces are coming. One might be Short.
Short’s Bio
Before 2019, Short was one of the best 3-technique defensive tackles in the universe. In 2018, he logged an 83.7 Pro Football Focus grade. The year prior, 2017, he scored a 91.8 which is smoldering for any player. If he can put to rest his longstanding shoulder-injury issues, Short would be a terrific addition to a Vikings defensive line that is thirsty for repair.
Current Browns defensive lineman, Sheldon Richardson, was the last man at the Vikings 3-technique spot to make a noticeable impact. After Richardson departed for Cleveland, Minnesota has employed average-to-serviceable personnel at the 3-technique position. Meaning – they perform well enough not to be considered a liability. And, yes, that means teensy inklings of a pass rush – nothing like Richardson delivered from a pressure standpoint in 2018.
Short has been chosen for the Pro Bowl twice in his career and has tallied 32 sacks in 99 career games.
Stock Is Low
Short began netting big money in 2017 when he inked a deal for five years and $80 million. For 2017 and 2018, he was mostly worth that sort of contract. Then, the injury bug entered his life. Because he has missed so much time during the last two seasons, he is no longer a dependable asset for the Panthers.
But he might be a commodity for a different franchise – at a reduced price. If one is remotely familiar with the Viking salary cap, “reduced price” anything amid the last few seasons is bees-to-honey stuff. Minnesota is tasked with fortifying its weaknesses on a skinny budget. Short on a prove-it deal or something longer in the neighborhood of $8 million per season would be desirable. At the peak of his powers, the man is meritorious of more than $8 million. Yet, when he doesn’t play – like 2019 and 2020 — teams are standoffish. A contract in this arena would exhibit Sheldon Richardson vibes.
And Short would be an upgrade from the Tom Johnson, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson sandwich frequently on the menu for Minnesota at 3DT in years past.
Short-to-Vikings Changes Offseason Roadmap
Should Orr’s idea actionize, well, the Vikings won’t need a defensive tackle in the 1st Round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In some mock drafts, general manager Rick Spielman pounces on Christian Barmore, a defensive tackle from the University of Alabama. Short filling the 2021 3DT portion of the depth chart in free agency crosses off the need for a youngster, unless Spielman sees Short as a one-year rental.
Minnesota is clearing cap space. If they can find enough dollars, they can adequately address several roster needs in free agency and use the draft as a venue for the Best Player Available. As it stands, though, the Vikings need two offensive linemen to field a startable unit. Two of those could be on the docket for free agency or perhaps just one.
Short-to-Minnesota would probably nudge draft soothsayers to the idea that Minnesota will draft an offensive lineman in the 1st Round. And that’s just fine if Short is tapped to hold down pass-rushing duties on the Vikings interior defensive line.