Milton Williams’ Price Tag Comes into Focus for Vikings
The Dallas Cowboys did not let their man see free agency’s light of day.
Milton Williams’ Price Tag Comes into Focus for Vikings
Jerry Jones and Co. re-signed defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa on Tuesday, handing the veteran lineman a deal worth $20 million per season.
ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote, “With free agency closing in and the deadline to use the franchise tag coming Tuesday, the Dallas Cowboys were able to keep one of their own off the market, agreeing to a four-year, $80 million deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.”
“The deal includes $58 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus, Odighizuwa’s agent, Sam Leaf Ireifej, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Odighizuwa’s salary-cap number in 2025 will be $6.25 million.”
It’s unclear if the Vikings had any budding interest in Odighizuwa’s would-be free agency. However, many Vikings fans expect the club to be players in Milton Williams’ free-agent market, a defensive tackle who plays for the Cowboys’ rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
And thanks to Odighizuwa’s extension, folks now know Williams’ upcoming price tag: at least $20 million per season. More realistically, he’ll top Odighizuwa’s deal by about $1 million or so per season.
Williams transformed into an elite pass-rushing DT last season, notching a marvelous 90.4 PFF mark via pass rush. That ranked second in the NFL behind Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume since joining the league in 2021:
- 2021: 49.0
- 2022: 72.6
- 2023: 69.7
- 2024: 70.1
Minnesota has about $63 million to spend in free agency as of early March, its most in years. The number could climb higher, too, if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah restructures existing players’ contracts. The working theory is that Adofo-Mensah could spend a sizable chunk on an impactful defensive tackle.
Adofo-Mensah also hinted last week that he plans to improve the defensive trenches. “To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” the Vikings boss told reporters at the NFL Combine.
He also mentioned to KFAN, “We know what we need to improve. We’re going to be intentional about attacking the things we need to get better at. That’s not just gonna be one thing — we’re going to really aggressively attack it because we believe in turning potential weaknesses into strengths, and that’s how we’re approaching the offseason.”
Let it be known: if Minnesota wants a piece of Williams, the free agent market’s top DT prize, the price will be $20 million or more.
NFL free agency kicks off Monday with “legal tampering.”
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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