Sheldon Richardson is back in Minnesota. Considering the fevered reaction from the Vikings fan base over his return you’d think that he had an extended prior run with the team. He’s been gone more years (2) than he was with the Vikings (1) but that doesn’t matter. All that does matter is that he’s back. The Vikings signed Richardson to a one-year deal for $3.6 million that can be worth up to $4.35 million with incentives. The base deal just happens to be about the same amount that was saved with Danielle Hunter’s tweaked deal. I guess that means that the Vikings got a happy Hunter AND added Richardson without really impacting their available salary cap space. That’s good football business.
Veteran Free Agent Additions:
Greg Joseph, K
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT
Stephen Weatherly, DE
Patrick Peterson, CB
Xavier Woods, S
Nick Vigil, LB
Mackensie Alexander, CB
Tye Smith, CB
Parry Nickerson, CB
Amari Henderson, CB
Bashaud Breeland, CB
Sheldon Richardson, DT
A kicker! The Vikings kicked off the offseason by adding a kicker. After that, it’s been all defense. Well, not quite. They did trade a sixth-round pick for G/C Mason Cole but 11 of the 12 veteran free agent additions have been defensive players. This offseason has had a clear purpose. On paper, the Vikings defense has been improved. Now, that improvement has to be seen on the field. It’s going to be fun to watch.
Richardson isn’t the only defensive free agent making a return to Minnesota. Stephen Weatherly and Mackensie Alexander return after a single season with another team. Weatherly signed with the Carolina Panthers and Alexander signed with the Cincinnati Bengals last offseason. Both are back this offseason. These returns are nice to see. Players like it in Minnesota.
The addition of Richardson gives the Vikings a very interesting defensive tackle group.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Michael Pierce
Sheldon Richardson
Armon Watts
James Lynch
Jaylen Twyman
Zeandae Johnson
Jordon Scott
I doubt that last year’s starting duo, Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson, would make the team. Seeing as Stephen was released after Tomlinson signed and Johnson wasn’t re-signed, they didn’t make the team. The defensive tackle rotation will be interesting. With the addition of Richardson to a group that already includes Tomlinson and Pierce, I can’t help but think that Mike Zimmer, Andre Patterson, etc. might work some 3-4 looks into the playbook. Although the formation that I can’t seem to shake from my mind is probably more of a shifted 4-3. Zimmer has stressed the need to adapt to changing offenses. A front like this would be an interesting twist:
DE Sheldon Richardson
NT Michael Pierce
DE Dalvin Tomlinson
LB Danielle Hunter
LB Eric Kendricks
LB Cameron Smith/Chazz Surratt/?
LB Anthony Barr
Hunter and Barr standing up on opposite edges, flanking Richardson, Pierce, and Tomlinson would be fun and frisky. The strength of the Vikings defensive line now rests with the defensive tackles. The coaches are now tasked with getting the right combinations in the right places. In response to the potential use of these varied fronts, I’ve seen and heard grumbles from fans about playing players out of position. Those grumbles sound a lot like the pre-draft criticisms of Justin Jefferson. The criticism that he could only play in the slot because that’s where LSU played him was always a substitute for thinking. There’s no question that Pierce can play over the center. He’s done it. Tomlinson and Richardson have played all across line. They can play anywhere between the tackles. Seeing Barr standing up on the edge more often would be a welcome sight to damn near everyone. Hunter is a freak. He can play anywhere the coaches put him. The Vikings linebackers are off-the-ball linebackers. They’re off-the-ball linebackers no matter the front. 4-3, 3-4, shifted 4-3, 5-2, whatever. I recall a playoff game against New Orleans in which Hunter and Everson Griffen played on the inside and ripped up the Saints offensive line. Imagine that. Successfully playing players outside of their assigned position.
I grew up with the Purple People Eaters so I’ve always been a fiercely loyal fan of the 4-3. The few years in the early 1980s that the Vikings ran a 3-4 never felt right. Despite my 4-3 loyalties I thoroughly support throwing something different at offenses this year.
Welcome back Sheldon!
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