Dec 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (not pictured) during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings embark on training camp in 12 days and are less than nine weeks away from the start of the regular season.
The club hopes to best a 7-10 record from 2023, but oddsmakers believe Minnesota is on a similar win-loss path in 2024. Sportsbooks claim the Vikings will win about seven games — again.
Meanwhile, the DT portion of the roster could still use an upgrade, and these are six men the team could explore. Of course, Adofo-Mensah won’t add all six, but these are the best options, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most realistic).
How to Get Him:
Free Agency.
Why Suh?
Minnesota reportedly pursued Suh two summers ago, but no deal came to fruition. He later joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. And last season, Suh didn’t play for any team, nor did he explicitly retire. The Vikings might encounter a hurdle when exploring his free agency because they’re not a true-blue contender, but at the right price, Suh could be gettable.
Suh, for one last run, would help solve the longstanding DT questions, at least for a single season.
How to Get Him:
Trade — probably a 6th-Rounder.
Why Godchaux?
Minnesota has no true nose tackle on its defensive roster, and while Godchaux isn’t a Pro Bowler, he’s huge and has ties to Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphins days. The Patriots can play former Viking Armon Watts or Daniel Ekuale at this position.
The only disclaimer here is that Godchaux isn’t a standout superstar. He merely might be a slight upgrade to Minnesota’s existing options.
How to Get Him:
Trade — probably a 6th-Rounder.
Why Robertson-Harris?
In April, the Jaguars drafted rookie DTs Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson in Rounds 2 and 4, respectively. Robertson-Harris could be the eventual odd man out. Minnesota could use a dependable three-technique defensive lineman.
How to Get Him:
Trade — probably a 6th-Rounder.
Why Hurst?
Cleveland used Round 2 of the draft to select DT Michael Hall of Ohio State, a rookie who might already be ahead of Hurst on the depth chart. Of course, the Browns just re-signed Hurst in March, making a trade somewhat unlikely, but that move occurred before the Hall selection.
Remember, too, that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last worked from the Browns before becoming the top dog in the Vikings’ front office. He should have a clear line of communication with Cleveland’s brass.
How to Get Him:
Trade — probably 2026 4th-Rounder & 2025 5th-Rounder.
Why Allen?
Trading for Allen would undeniably put an exclamation point on the offseason. He delivered a quieter year than normal last season but could bounce back in 2024. The two-time Pro Bowler has no more guaranteed money on his current contract, and Washington could deal him this summer for a fresh start.
How to Get Him:
Bargain Bin Free Agency.
Why Joseph?
Yes, The Big Goon is old — he’ll be 36 in October — but the man has latched onto a couple of teams in consecutive seasons, including the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and Buffalo Bills in 2023. Joseph wouldn’t necessarily have to start for the 2024 Vikings, but he’d provide nose tackle depth, which Minnesota lacks entering training camp. Joseph spent six seasons in Minnesota, so he knows the place quite well.
In March, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted about lessening Harrison Phillips’ snap count in 2024, “Vikings also hope that added depth will help them manage DT Harrison Phillips’ playing time as well, per Kevin O’Connell. Phillips played a career-high 839 snaps last season.”
We’re not sure where that added depth might be. The team has several DTs but few NTs. Joseph to Minnesota, as weird as it may sound, actually makes sense.
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 MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Basset Hounds, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.