Everson Griffen‘s hope of rejoining the Vikings could come true. The veteran defensive end is set to work out for the Vikings tomorrow, reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minnesota (via Twitter).
We heard last month that the longtime Vikings pass rusher wanted to return to Minnesota, with Griffen acknowledging that he “never should have left the Vikings” in the first place. That report indicated that the veteran also had the support of some former teammates regarding a reunion, but the signing wasn’t expected to come to fruition. Now, Griffen has a chance of landing back in Minny.
Following a 10-year stint with the Vikings that saw him make four Pro Bowl appearances, the 33-year-old split the 2020 season between the Cowboys and Lions. Despite playing for two teams and missing two games due to contracting COVID-19, Griffen finished with six sacks last season. No Viking rusher compiled more than five. Yannick Ngakoue reached five before the Vikings traded him in October; no one still with the team tallied more than three sacks in 2020. The Vikings finished with just 23 sacks last season, which ranked 28th in the NFL.
Minnesota’s D-line situation looks better going into the 2021 season. Danielle Hunter is on track to return after missing all of last season due to a neck injury. The team has three veteran D-tackle starters — Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson and Sheldon Richardson — set to join Hunter. The Vikings also used third- and fourth-round picks on ends — Patrick Jones II (Pittsburgh) and Janarius Robinson (Florida State) — in April. That said, Griffen could profile as a veteran stopgap opposite Hunter. He has three double-digit sack seasons on his resume and was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2019.
I feel like we’d be damn stupid not to have Griffen taking snaps ahead of Weatherly. Why stop improving the defense when upgrades are right in front of you?
Like many other teams, the Vikes are a QB away from competing.
I think they need to get rid of their GM Rick Spielman. He overspent badly a couple of seasons ago creating a real cap crisis for the team. They had to let Diggs go and lost some other decent players which hurt team morale. His strategy before this season was to stockpile 7th round picks in the draft, which gets you nowhere.
They had Diggs on a very team friendly deal, they didn’t trade him because of cap constraints. They traded him because he didn’t want to play in a run first offense and wanted out, and they got a good offer for him.
Who have the Vikings lost due to the cap? They’ve kept essentially every home grown star besides diggs.
Cousins is overpaid of course but he’s an above average starting quarterback and a massive upgrade over Case Keenum, who he replaced.
Spielman has done a solid job overall since taking over. Things could definitely be much worse.
Spielman alienated several players by his constant demands for pay cuts and contract restructures. Kevin Stefanski saw where this was trending and was wise to leave when he did.
What are you talking about? Alienated players? Is that why all these guys come begging to play for the team again after they leave? Players love the organization.
Like all GMs, Spielman has done some things really well and some thinks poorly. Since you brought up Diggs, don’t forget Spielman found him in the 5th round, Kendricks on the 4th, Cook in the 2nd, Thielen UDFA, Griffen in the 4th ( please bring him back), Harris UDFA. Hunter on the 4th. Yea he wiffed on Treadwell, Waynes and Hughes, but Spielman is great after the first round lol. Cousins is grossly overpaid, but he hasn’t given out very many bad contracts.
Somehow forgot to include Ponder as a bust first rounder for Spielman, too. And he isn’t allowed to draft kickers anymore lol
Good lord the capital the Vikings have pissed away on kickers is comical.
Diggs turned into Jefferson. I’m fine with that.
Diggs was prima donna , self 1st guy…..
He actually thought it was HIM that did the Minneapolis miracle when all he really did was jog into the end zone after 2 db’s made the worst play on a ball i’ve ever seen. Even then the dumb ass had to rip his helmet off and pose like he had made a exceptional play all on his own. Only weeks after getting flagged for the same dumb selfish act.