Vikings Audition Intriguing Free Agent
The Minnesota Vikings have two games remaining before the postseason, and with any luck — winning their next two games against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions — they’ll have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
Vikings Audition Intriguing Free Agent
And even with the regular season winding down, Minnesota has stayed active in auditioning free agents, evidenced this week by the tryout of interior defensive lineman Adam Gotsis.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted Monday, “The Vikings worked out Levi Bell, Adam Gotsis, Tyler Hall, Rayshad Nichols, Michael Ojemudia.”
At the time of this article’s publication (Thursday, December 26th), no contracts had materialized after the tryouts. Stay tuned.
Gotsis has been a part of the big leagues since 2016, drafted by the Denver Broncos in Round 2 eight years ago. Janik Eckardt of PurplePTSD, a sister site to VikingsTerritory, wrote about Gotsis this week: “Interior defensive lineman Adam Gotsis is the most prominent player on the list, having played in 126 NFL games with 54 starts. He registered 226 tackles and 10.5 sacks in those games.”
Eckardt added, “The Australian played for Georgia Tech and was a Broncos second-rounder in 2016. Following his rookie contract, he played four seasons with the Jaguars and, earlier this year, five games with the Colts. At the age of 32, Gotsis is actually a potential contributor if the Vikings are shorthanded at defensive end.”
These are the Vikings’ interior defensive linemen at the moment:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jerry Tillery
- Jonathan Bullard
- Jalen Redmond
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Travis Bell (Practice Squad)
- Taki Taimani (Injured Reserve)
Here’s Gotsis’ Pro Football Focus resume since joining the NFL in 2016:
2024 = 64.4
2023 = 61.0
2022 = 65.6
2021 = 52.3
2020 = 60.7
2019 = 59.8
2018 = 68.2
2017 = 64.9
2016 = 54.7
And his NFL body of work through nine seasons:
- Denver Broncos (2016–2019)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2020–2023)
- Indianapolis Colts (2024)
The Vikings encountered a short-term injury to Jalen Redmond during a Week 15 win against the Chicago Bears, and that concussion caused him to miss last weekend’s showdown + win at the Seattle Seahawks. Otherwise, the team has no long-term DT injuries besides Taimani, who is on IR.
Minnesota might’ve auditioned Gotsis in case of another DT injury, especially with the postseason about to arrive.
Oddsmakers believe the Vikings will ultimately snag the NFC’s No. 5 seed, a Wildcard spot, and hit the road in Round 1 of the postseason, probably against a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, or Los Angeles.
If not, Minnesota can win its next two games and host all eligible playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Gotsis turned 32 in September.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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