Don’t Forget 1 Free Agent throughout the Vikings Summer
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings own roughly $18 million in cap space with about five weeks before training camp, an impressive sack of cash to spend on the summer’s top free agents if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the mood.
Don’t Forget 1 Free Agent throughout the Vikings Summer
The club arguably has suspect roster depth at cornerback, off-ball linebacker, and outside linebacker (if Danielle Hunter is traded). It could also stand to improve at defensive tackle, particularly Jonathan Bullard’s spot from last year.
Accordingly, Vikings fans should monitor Ndamukong Suh’s free agency until he’s no longer available.
The Vikings were interwoven in the Suh rumor mill last summer, too, but he declined to sign anywhere until midseason, landing with the Philadelphia Eagles amid a push to the Super Bowl. Philadelphia came up short in the championship, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. But at least Suh got there, eh?
At the moment, the 36-year-old is a free agent isn’t retiring, but also wants nothing to do with any team’s training camp — the perks for a veteran in the NFL, indeed. Suh told NFL Total Access in May, “I have no desire to be in a training camp. I will come in and watch and look and give some advice, but when Week 1 happens, I’ll be ready.”
The Vikings were credibly linked to Suh a year ago, but the two parties were allegedly stuck on financial terms. A cash-strapped Adofo-Mensah reportedly couldn’t meet Suh’s asking price. On June 21st, 2022, USA Today’s Tyler Dragon tweeted, “There is mutual interest between the Raiders and Ndamukong Suh, per a source. Another team to keep an eye on is the Vikings. The Raiders and Vikings have both had multiple conversations with the free-agent DT.”
Suh remained on the Vikings radar all summer, at least in theory, but then the 2022 regular season kicked off, Minnesota started hot out of the gate, and SuhMania disappeared.
Suh also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the Eagles stint, even winning a Super Bowl with the club in 2020 over the Kansas City Chiefs. To date, he’s played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Buccaneers, and Eagles. The Nebraska alumnus notched a 64.2 score from Pro Football Focus in 2022. He played eight games and 174 defensive snaps for the Eagles.
A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro, Suh is likely headed for Hall of Fame induction when he calls it quits, recording 71.5 sacks in his career.
Without Suh, the inside of the Vikings defensive line will probably contain some combination of Harrison Phillips, Khyiris Tonga, and ex-Packer Dean Lowry. Suh has always been known for equitably stuffing the run and getting after quarterbacks. There should be a scheme fit for him in a Brian Flores-led Vikings defense.
Suh played on an 8-game, $1.8 million deal in 2022. Last year was the first of his 13-year career as a reservist player.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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