Vikings continue defensive shuffle by adding LB Jordan Hicks

The Minnesota Vikings agreed to phrases Tuesday on a two-year, $12 million contract with linebacker Jordan Hicks, persevering with a revamp on protection to suit a brand new scheme and work across the wage cap.

Hicks spent the final three seasons with Arizona. As a result of the Cardinals launched him final week, he was eligible to get a deal formally finished with any workforce previous to the beginning of the brand new league yr on Wednesday. In any other case, gamers cannot signal with new golf equipment till then.

Hicks will probably slide into new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell’s system as an every-down linebacker subsequent to 2019 All-Professional decide Eric Kendricks.

The 29-year-old Hicks was a third-round draft decide by Philadelphia in 2015 who performed his first 4 seasons with the Eagles, successful a Tremendous Bowl in 2017-18. He has began 51 straight video games — plus one within the 2021 playoffs for the Cardinals — for the third-longest lively streak by NFL linebackers.

The Vikings additionally saved up their line of defense shuffle by finalizing the discharge of nostril sort out Michael Pierce for wage cap financial savings forward of free company. The seventh-year veteran performed in solely eight video games for the workforce.

The transfer will save greater than $6.2 million on Minnesota’s cap quantity. Pierce will go away a $4 million cost in useless cash for the remaining prorated portion of the bonus he signed for in March 2020.

The Vikings reached a contract settlement late on Monday, in response to a number of experiences, with free agent and former Buffalo defensive sort out Harrison Phillips in a swap of run stoppers. Phillips will enter his fifth NFL season.

Pierce opted out of his first yr with the Vikings because of COVID-19 issues associated to his persistent bronchial asthma, so his contract rolled over to 2021. The 6-foot, 340-pound Pierce performed properly when he was obtainable, with three sacks in eight video games whereas taking part in roughly half of the snaps.

He suffered a triceps muscle tear in follow and tried to play via it in opposition to Cleveland on Oct. 3, however he aggravated the damage and wound up lacking the following seven video games. Pierce additionally was sidelined for the ultimate two video games with an sickness.

Minnesota’s biggest-money addition in free company final season was defensive sort out Dalvin Tomlinson, who solidified the 3-technique place that had lengthy been in flux. However a workforce that has had so many robust defensive traces through the years has seen this vital group immediately dry up.

Donatell’s system makes use of a 3-4 alignment as the bottom bundle, however whatever the position of the defensive finish — within the new scheme or the previous one underneath former head coach Mike Zimmer — the Vikings badly want some pass-rushing assist.

Danielle Hunter nonetheless profiles as a standout at age 27, however because of two fluke accidents he has performed in solely seven of 33 video games during the last two years. He has an $18 million roster bonus due on Sunday, a deal that seems sure for renegotiation.

Everson Griffen will turn out to be a free agent, together with his taking part in future unclear. D.J. Wonnum, who had eight sacks final season, is the one different move rusher with vital expertise on the roster.

Exterior linebacker Anthony Barr is Minnesota’s highest-profile participant eligible to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent when the market formally opens for signings and trades on Wednesday afternoon. The Vikings beforehand gave a one-year extension to quarterback Kirk Cousins to decrease his wage cap hit by $14 million and prolonged a one-year contract provide to restricted free agent kicker Greg Joseph that offers them the suitable to match any provide he had been to get from one other membership.