Vikings Could Have Chance to Add Massive Roster Upgrade
The Minnesota Vikings will visit the postseason this January no matter what, and one item left to determine is seeding. The purple team could enter the tournament as a Wildcard combatant, the No. 2 seed, or the No. 1 seed with homefield advantage throughout.
Vikings Could Have Chance to Add Massive Roster Upgrade
Conveniently, one future Hall of Famer could be available before too long — Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell. He’s evidently been given word by the Dolphins that they’ll release him as a goodwill gesture to pursue a Super Bowl if Miami is eliminated from postseason contention.
It goes without saying that the Vikings should pounce on his free agency if so.
Associated Press‘ Alanis Thames wrote this week about Campbell’s budding free agency, “Campbell said Wednesday that he and the Dolphins could have conversations about releasing him so he can join a playoff contender if Miami (6-8) is eliminated from the postseason soon.”
Minnesota doesn’t really have severe weaknesses at Campbell spot(s) — Harrison Phillips, Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bullard, and Jalen Redmond are playing well — but Campbell would represent a significant upgrade.
The Baltimore Ravens reportedly almost acquired Campbell at the NFL’s trade deadline seven weeks ago, but Miami inxayed the arrangement, telling Campbell it would release him if the playoffs became out of reach. Well, the Dolphins are about one loss away from that inevitability.
Mike McDaniel said about the Dolphins’ grace, “It speaks to what he means to the team, that teams would be willing to do that, and there was some competition for that. But yeah, my job is to speak on behalf of what’s the best thing for the 2024 Dolphins.”
“Weeks back before the trade deadline and stuff, there was a small conversation that you really didn’t hope would ever even become a thing. And it was kind of like just something to talk about. Nothing concrete or anything like that. I don’t know if we’re there just yet, but it’s definitely something you think about,” Campbell said.
Campbell has an 83.4 Pro Football Focus grade through 15 weeks, a mind-boggling mark for a 38-year-old — or anybody. He ranks sixth among his DT peers and can serve as a mammoth asset to some team’s Super Bowl push.
At 12-2, with eyes on homefield advantage throughout the postseason, the Vikings make sense as a suitor.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should immediately enter the Campbell sweepstakes if the Dolphins live up to their end of the bargain. He’s the perfect asset for Minnesota in the postseason.
Imagine this purple defensive front:
- Jonathan Greenard
- Harrison Phillips
- Calais Campbell
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
In fact, the Vikings should’ve signed him in the summer. His free agency lasted from March to June.
Campbell is a six-time Pro Bowler.
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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 MIN 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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