Everson Griffen Ain’t Done Yet

VikingsTerritory insinuated for weeks the Minnesota Vikings need an EDGE rusher or two in free agency or from the NFL draft. While they may still pursue such a path, the plot thickened on Friday.

Everson Griffen, who missed the final half of the 2021 season mending his mental health, is not done playing in the NFL.

Griffen played for the Vikings from 2010 to 2019, departing in 2020 for stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. But in 2021, he “came home” to the Vikings, wiggling into starting lineup by ousting the second-year D.J. Wonnum from the starting job, at least temporarily.

After Minnesota’s ninth game, Griffen encountered a sudden, videotaped episode with his mental health, and he took the final nine games off to reset his life path.

At age 34, the working theory suggested Griffen would retire, owning a total of 85.5 career sacks — the 96th-most in NFL history. But nope — Griffen ain’t done yet.

It is unclear if Griffen will play again for the Vikings. But here’s the deal — he was oddly effective in 2021. Griffen notched a 79.0 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus and a season-long pace of nine or ten sacks. His production never outwardly slumped in Dallas or Detroit the season before, but he was not utilized as frequently as Minnesota preferred from 2014 to 2019.

The Vikings have an impending decision on Griffen’s pal, Danielle Hunter. The LSU alumnus has missed 79% of all games since the start of 2020, a dramatic dip in availability after a mostly healthy stretch from 2015 to 2019. Based on the way Hunter plays when not injured, he deserves a gargantuan contract, which the Vikings were trending to accommodate. Then, the injuries hit.

New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide to invest heavily in Hunter — or trade the EDGE rusher while his stock is high. Among many, the Hunter decision is a momentous one on Adofo-Mensah’s plate.

The new boss could opt for another year of Griffen, too, hoping his mental health is in a good place. Yet, at age 34, Griffen will begin a slow-down soon. Some EDGE rushers push the needle into their late-30s, but it is not the norm, especially regarding performance at a high level.

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Griffen would make sense in a similar role he held leading into the 2021 season — if Adofo-Mensah wants to retain his defensive leadership. Minnesota signed Griffen late in the summer of 2021, leaving it up to him to grab the starting job. Some thought he was washed up. He was not.

Griffen turns 35 in December and should be signable [for any team] at an affordable price.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).