Vikings Have a “Questionable” New Free Agent
The Minnesota Vikings walloped free agency two weeks ago, adding players left and right out of the gate and fortifying the team’s trenches at a rate unforeseen by most longtime fans.
Vikings Have a “Questionable” New Free Agent
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Jordan Mason (RB, trade), Isaiah Rodgers (CB), Jeff Okudah (CB), and Rondale Moore (WR) in free agency in addition to re-upping with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
And according to Pro Football Focus, the Vikings have one “questionable” signing up against all other NFL moves — the acquisition of Javon Hargrave.
PFF’s “Questionable” Take on Javon Hargrave
Assessing wonderful and suspect free-agent moves, PFF’s Mason Cameron dropped the questionable label on Hargrave and new Seattle Seahawks wideout Cooper Kupp.
Cameron noted on Hargrave, “While the Vikings did possess a critical need to generate pressure from the interior, that void extends into the running game — which is not an area of expertise for Hargrave. Down the stretch, Minnesota struggled mightily to fit the run with any consistency, which profiled as a big reason why its playoff march was halted in the wild-card round.”
“From Week 14 onward, the Vikings interior posted just a 35.2 PFF run-defense grade (31st) as a unit. Of defensive tackles that clocked at least 100 run defense snaps, only Jalen Redmond generated a grade above 64.0.”
The Vikings’ defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season per rushing defense EPA/Play, so Cameron’s assertion that Brian Flores’ defense had problems stopping opposing running backs is a bit odd.
“That’s not a facet that Hargrave has shown any proficiency in over the past five seasons. Since 2020, the former 49er and Eagles defensive tackle has generated just 36.2 PFF run-defense grade – ranking 120th out of 132 qualifying interior defenders,” Cameron rounded out his critique.
Hargrave’s Background
Here’s Hargave’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 60.6
- 2023: 74.9
- 2022: 80.1
- 2021: 67.3
- 2020: 61.2
- 2019: 83.4
- 2018: 80.6
- 2017: 74.3
- 2016: 63.7
Hargrave spent four years to start his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then stayed in-state for three more years with the Philadelphia Eagles. From 2023 to 2024, he played with the San Francisco 49ers and hit free agency this month.
He’s now a Viking and is a two-time Pro Bowler with over 45 sacks to his name.
On the whole, though, Hargrave specializes in terrorizing quarterbacks more than stuffing the run. And that’s exactly what fans have asked for … for years.
PFF Loved Jordan Mason, However
On the other hand, PFF treasured the fit of new Vikings running back Jordan Mason. He turned purple via trade a week and a half ago with the San Francisco 49ers and will grab an RB2 job in 2025 behind Aaron Jones.
Cameron explained Mason’s perfect fit: “Kevin O’Connell’s reputation as one of the NFL’s premier quarterback whisperers may be what draws in the headlines, but the Vikings running game’s effectiveness is well worthy of praise also. Although Minnesota has seen an increased rate of gap concepts over O’Connell’s tenure, stretching defenses with outside zone remains the bread and butter of this Vikings offense, underscored by their 37% usage in 2024 (ninth-highest).”
“The Vikings offense struggled at times to find consistent production out of outside zone runs, ranking sixth in stuff rate, as over 25% of their carries ended in loss or no gain.”
Minnesota began to improve its ground game in 2024 after back-to-back seasons of woes in 2022 and 2023. Mason might help push the franchise over the top per rushing offense.
Cameron added on Mason, “While Aaron Jones produced a respectable 71.3 PFF rushing grade on outside zone runs, Jordan Mason is a significant upgrade when running the concepts. Over the past three seasons, the former San Francisco 49ers running back has earned the third-highest PFF rushing grade (90.7) at the position when running outside zone.”
“Mason generated 5.8 yards per carry and recorded a first down or touchdown on 26.8% of attempts – the highest rate of any back over that span (minimum 100 carries).”
More DTs on the Way?
On Hargrave, he and his teammate Jonathan Allen have markedly improved the defensive trenches on paper this offseason. But the Vikings may not be done with interior defensive line enhancements.
Somewhere early in April’s draft, Minnesota could land one of these high-profile DTs:
- Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
- Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
- Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
- Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)
Hargrave missed 14 games last season due to a triceps injury.
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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