Vikings Say Sayonara to Nose Tackle
The Minnesota Vikings made their first new free-agent move of the offseason Monday night, reportedly signing defensive tackle Harrison Phillips away from the Buffalo Bills.
Phillips will play for the Vikings on a three-year, $19.5 million deal, fortifying the defensive trenches inside Ed Donatell’s new 3-4 scheme and perhaps solving a suddenly leaky run defense by Minnesota amid the last two seasons.
The acquisition of Phillips, though, created a crowded house among Minnesota’s interior defensive linemen, inserting the ex-Bill into a group already showcasing Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Armon Watts. All four men are reasonable starters.
Following the Phillips signing, Pierce was set to be released after just two seasons — well, one really — with the Vikings.
Pierce was already speculated as a cap casualty as new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah faced critical salary-cap decisions. Releasing Pierce saves the Vikings a net $6.2 million in cap space.
When Pierce played in purple, he was outstanding. He forewent the 2020 season due to COVID concerns (asthma) but suited up in 2021. And in that season, he played in just eight games.
Pierce was Rick Spielman’s “splash” signing in the 2020 offseason. But when it was all said and done, Pierce missed 76% of all Vikings games, making the decision by the Adofo-Mensah this offseason cycle a relative no-brainer. Minnesota tried to retain Pierce — at a discount — but he allegedly declined.
Pierce will be 30 this November and is free to sign anywhere. The Vikings also attempted to trade him but evidently didn’t encounter a robust market.
The Pierce-for-Phillips swap affords the Vikings youth. Phillips is just 26, an alumnus of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Bills on the same day the Vikings drafted right tackle Brian O’Neill.
Minnesota now has about $2.5 million in cap space as of late Monday night. The Pierce move put the franchise “above water” with the salary cap for the first time this offseason.
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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