Vikings Rumor Mill Pivots to Pro Bowl Pass Rusher
Based on a social media hint, the Minnesota Vikings were supposed to be in the mix for free-agent EDGE rusher Chandler Jones. That didn’t pan out as Jones signed with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, followed by the news of wideout Davante Adams traded to the Raiders, too. Not a bad offseason so far for Las Vegas.
So, while the Vikings navigate contract extension talks with current EDGE rusher Danielle Hunter, the rumor mill pivoted to another free-agent pass rusher — Za’Darius Smith from the Green Bay Packers.
Smith has already caused a whirlwind of offseason news, reportedly signing with his old team, the Baltimore Ravens, but reversing course on Thursday. Evidently, the Anthony Barr back-out from the 2019 free agency period set a trend as it seems quasi-normal now for players to renege at the last second. Randy Gregory, anyone?
Missing almost all of 2021 due to a back injury, Smith won’t cost us as much as Jones or Gregory. Smith will turn 30 years old when the 2022 regular season starts, and for a player coming off a season-long injury, his price tag will pale in comparison to some premium pass rushers. In fact, the Ravens nearly snagged Smith for $9 million per season.
Ideally, the Vikings could sign Smith to pair with Danielle Hunter. But with the Vikings and Hunter allegedly at a stalemate amid contract talks, Minnesota could trade Hunter for draft capital while showcasing Smith as the main pass rusher in 2022. The goal, though, would be to finagle a deal with Hunter, sign Smith for that $9 million per-season figure, and call it a day for the pass-rusher search inside free agency.
Smith signed with Packers as a free agent — spending four years with Baltimore beforehand — in 2019. When healthy in 2019 and 2020 with Green Bay, Smith ranked third in the NFL for sacks (26.0), tying Aaron Donald. Only T.J. Watt and Shaquil Barrett sacked quarterbacks more in those two seasons.
Here’s Smith’s Pro Football Focus career output:
- 2015 = 58.3
- 2016 = 54.1
- 2017 = 60.5
- 2018 = 71.0
- 2019 = 90.2
- 2020 = 76.7
- 2021 = n/a
He’s a pass-rush merchant whose skillet is heavy on the side of sacking quarterbacks while not quite as apt at stopping running backs. But that’s why the Vikings have Dalvin Tomlinson, Harrison Phillips, and Armon Watts — to curtail tailbacks.
If the Vikings are to vindicate the rumor mill with a pursuit of Smith, they’ll have to continue restructuring veteran contracts — or trade players away.
Minnesota has $2.5 million available in cap space as of March 17th.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. 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).
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