Vikings Predicted to Sign Top Defensive Free Agent
After years without one, the Minnesota Vikings need a defensive tackle impresario, and one might be on the way.
Vikings Predicted to Sign Top Defensive Free Agent
That’s the latest and greatest theory from ESPN, an outfit that made free agency predictions this week, and for Minnesota, highly sought-after defensive tackle Milton Williams could land in Minneapolis.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert predicted Williams to Minnesota: “The Vikings tried to sign free agent Christian Wilkins last season to give them some juice on the interior of the defensive line, and they’ll take another swing here. Over the past two seasons, they have 91 sacks — but only nine have come from defensive tackles.”
Seifert claimed the contract would check in at four years and $96 million, with $75 million guaranteed.
And Seifert wasn’t alone.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano followed suit. “The decision: Williams agrees on a new deal with the … Vikings. It was between Minnesota and Denver, and the fourth year on the deal and the stronger guarantee push this toward the Vikings. This is also a team that won 14 games last season, and while there’s a lot to like about Denver’s trajectory, the Vikings are already a contender,” Graziano noted.
“They give Williams the best chance to get back to the Super Bowl soon.”
Without Williams or any newcomer interior defensive linemen, the Vikings have these men under contract for 2025 as of early March:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jalen Redmond
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Taki Taimani
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
The position obviously needs attention, and most onlookers of Vikings football expect general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to spend at the spot. In fact, Adofo-Mensah 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.”
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 Adofo-Mensah restructures existing players’ contracts. The working theory is that he could spend a sizable chunk on an impactful defensive tackle.
And per ESPN, that spending will likely transfer into Williams’ wallet.
Free agency is four days away.
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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