It’s probably better that way, since the injury monster is seemingly picking off a new starter with every new session held lately at TCO Performance Center. But one absence in Eagan today had nothing to do with injury.

Defensive lineman Harrison Phillips has been a staple on the Vikings’ starting defensive line since he joined the team via free agency, prior to the 2022 season, starting all 17 games in each of the three seasons he’s worn purple — which totals to 51 regular season and two playoff games.

Minnesota Vikings trade Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets

On Wednesday, according to multiple reports, the Minnesota Vikings traded Phillips to the New York Jets in exchange for two 6th round draft picks, one in 2026 and the other in 2027.

ESPN sources: Vikings are trading DT Harrison Phillips and a 2027 7th-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 6th-round pick and a 2027 6th-round pick, pending Phillips’ physical.

Phillips now joins Jowon Briggs as the second DT that the Jets traded for Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/5FkVEHsox3

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 20, 2025

The return feels light for a guy who has meant so much to this defense, but with no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after 2025, this move tells us that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was planning to move on from Harrison Phillips sooner than later. So, when he got an offer for two day three picks, Minnesota’s GM pulled the trigger.

During his three seasons as a Viking, Pro Football Focus has Phillips on the decline. He came to Minnesota in 2022, after posting the second best defense grade of his career (75.2) for Buffalo in 2021. In his first season as a Viking, Phillips put up a 72.0 defense rating.

Phillips on the decline… or were other options just better?

But since 2023, the now 29-year-old out of Stanford has been playing way more nose tackle, due to Minnesota’s lack of talent on the defensive interior. After lining up over center just 250 times during his NFL career prior to 2023, Phillips did it 249 times alone that season and 205 times again in 2024.

Not only did the move further inside hurt Minnesota’s run defense, but it crushed Harrison’s PFF grades too, dropping his overall defense grade below 60, to 59.7 in 2023 and 58.3 in 2024.

How long has Harrison Phillips been waiting to hit the griddy 😆 pic.twitter.com/a6xcecIWQM

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) November 10, 2024

Related: Insider Still Doubting Kwesi, MN Vikings Defense…

If the Jets are smart, they will put Phillips back where he belongs, which is what we thought the Vikings would do, after the signings of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.

But instead, with those two additions, along with the emergence of youngsters like Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Taki Taimani and Elijah Williams… Minnesota decided they were better off without Harrison Phillips on the roster.

According to Thor Nystrom, the Minnesota Vikings are not done making moves between now and the end of training camp. They took multiple calls today on Harrison Phillips, but other interested teams were notified that he had already been traded to the Jets.

A different team asked about Harrison Phillips this afternoon in trade negotiations with the Vikings — they were told he’d already been traded to the Jets.

Kwesi has been burning up the phone lines this past week — this is only the start of the trades.

Buckle up. https://t.co/FLtjJWtBWg

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) August 20, 2025

Thursday Week 16 Minnesota Vikings injury report

Brian O’Neill (knee), who briefly left Sunday’s win against the Bears before coming back in, was limited Thursday, for the second practice in a row. Same can be said for DT Harrison Phillips (knee) and EDGE Patrick Jones II (knee). The most noteworthy development from this afternoon’s Vikings practice report was not of the positive variety.

After being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, future Ring of Honor safety Harrison Smith was not healthy enough to practice on Thursday, which is concerning, to say the least. It also leaves Harry’s availability up in the air for Sunday. KOC meets with media on Friday afternoon.

We’ll see if he has any updates on Smith, or if any insiders can dig something up before then. On the brighter side of Thursday’s injury report, Stephon Gilmore, Josh Oliver, and David Quessenberry (oblique) were listed as full participants. That’s the second-straight full practice for Gilmore, who hasn’t played the last two weeks.

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/yGp4uUKx59

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 19, 2024

Dallas Turner a full go after surprising late add yesterday

Yesterday, Dallas Turner surprisingly popped up on the injury report well after the initial list was released. But there’s no need to stress. Turner was back as a full participant in practice today, which sets him up to likely suit up on Sunday.

Related: Kirk Cousins is Ditching Atlanta… but When?

Turner earned a solid 71.2 PFF grade and picked up his second sack of the season. Thankfully, that development can continue in week 16, now that he’s back to full health. Unlocking another level of Dallas Turner’s talent could be a huge boost for Minnesota Vikings defense, as they start to close in on playoff games.

But that isn’t the entire pregame story, this week. Sure, the Minnesota Vikings are 10-2, but they just fell behind another half-game in their own division on Thursday night, when the Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers, to move to 12-1, on their season. If the purple want to keep pace, they have to beat the Falcons.

Final Minnesota Vikings Injury Report – Week 14

And they will have to do that with one of the most crowded final injury reports of the season. On Friday, top cornerback Stephon Gilmore was officially ruled out, after missing practice all week. But he wasn’t the only one listed. Starters Dalton Risner (RG), Andrew Van Ginkel (EDGE) and rookie kicker Will Reichard, among others, were all listed as questionable.

Dalton Risner was one of the best offensive linemen on the Minnesota Vikings roster, last week, in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, posting an 88.0 PFF pass blocking grade, and a 69.9 overall grade. Both were 15-20 points higher than his career average.

On Thursday, the 29-year-old, 6-year NFL veteran surprisingly popped up on the injury report. One day later, he’s listed as questionable to play, meaning the Vikings may have turn back to Ed Ingram, who was a healthy scratch in week 13.

Related: Local Insider Would Bet on Blossoming Safety Leaving the Minnesota Vikings

Andrew Van Ginkel, who is near the top of just about every statistical defensive category on the Vikings roster, including tackles (59), sacks (9), interceptions touchdowns (2) and tackles for loss (15). He has been limited all week with a thigh injury.

Vikings defense in danger of losing their best players vs Atlanta Falcons

Losing Van Ginkel would be devastating to what the Vikings are trying to do defensively, especially since arguably their best cover corner is already out. The same can be said for Harrison Phillips, who is one of the emotional and veteran leaders of a Minnesota defense that relies on those guys to run the very free-willed defense that Brian Flores likes to run.

Even Pat Jones is enjoying a career year, The 26-year-old has played in 12 games and recorded 7.0 sacks, easily a career-high. The more of these guys they lose, the less freelancing and on-field adjustments will be made, pre-snap. In theory, that should make the Minnesota Vikings defense more predictable for a veteran QB like Kirk Cousins.

Related: Top 10 Most Defining Moments of Kirk Cousins Career with the Minnesota Vikings

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said that the Vikings will make a decision on Will Reichard today. As of now, John Parker Romo is still on the roster, but KOC said earlier this week that, barring any setbacks, Reichard was expected back vs the Falcons. Long-snapper Andrew DePaola is expected to return, after the team released his replacement earlier in the week.

The Vikings have been struggling with some minor injuries among several players. Even though many of them played in the game against Detroit, they still ended up on Monday’s injury report.

Minnesota Vikings Monday injury report

The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have a real practice today; it was just a walkthrough. Still, they released their first injury report of the week, and it’s once again way longer than we’d like to see.

Monday's #Vikings injury report*

*The Vikings did not hold an official practice Monday and the injury statuses are an estimation pic.twitter.com/NjN6qKzbaG

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 21, 2024

The Vikings provided an update on their estimated injury statuses following today’s unofficial practice. It appears that LB Blake Cashman, who missed Sunday’s game against the Lions, is still not on the field.

This isn’t a promising sign with a game just a couple of days away. I wouldn’t count on him being ready by Thursday, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Related: Upcoming Minnesota Vikings Game Flexed to Prime Time

Star running back Aaron Jones left the game early in Week 5 but made a comeback for the Lions matchup in Week 7, playing the whole game. The Vikings listed him as limited today, but they’re likely just being cautious with him. Honestly, I wouldn’t stress about him missing any more time.

Pat Jones and Harrison Phillips both made the injury report last week and are back on it again this week. They were limited participants in practice toward the end of the week, but both still played on Sunday.

The Vikings seem to be playing it safe with these guys, but there’s probably no reason to stress about them missing Thursday’s game.

Will TJ Hockenson and Dalton Risner be back this week?

TE TJ Hockenson could make his return this week, but he was still technically limited during practice on Monday. The Vikings were close to having him ready last week but ultimately decided to hold him out. If he’s feeling good, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back on the field by Thursday.

It’s also worth noting that Dalton Risner was listed as a full participant today, which puts him in a great position to start on Thursday night in place of Ed Ingram. This switch will definitely be an upgrade for the team.

Actives/Inactives: Minnesota Vikings final injury report vs Detroit Lions

The Minnesota Vikings final injury report was released on Friday, but changes have already been made since. The Active/Inactive report just released. Here is who is in and out vs the Detroit Lions.

Blake Cashman and Akayleb Evans were officially ruled out on Friday, after not practicing during the week. Losing Cashman is a tough hit for the Minnesota Vikings defense, especially since he’s been playing pretty well this season.

Related: 4 Stats to Know for Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings Matchup, Analyzing Impact

Who’s in, who’s out for the Minnesota Vikings

However, this opens the door for second-year standout Ivan Pace Jr., who will now take over the green dot responsibilities, meaning he will have Brian Flores in his helmet, and be tasked with relaying his calls to teammates.

T.J. Hockenson was listed as questionable on Friday, but both he and Dalton Risner were ruled out on Saturday, among a flurry of Vikings roster moves. Nonetheless, he is getting close to making his comeback and is expected to play on Thursday night vs the LA Rams.

Related: Is Ty Chandler About to Lose His RB2 Spot for the Minnesota Vikings?

Star running back Aaron Jones was also listed as questionable, earlier in the week. He is active and will play vs the Lions. Pat Jones and Harrison Phillips, two important players on the defensive line, are also active. Given Detroit’s success on the ground, this season, the Vikings need Harrison Phillips on the field.

Dalton Risner was a surprise inactive, when the Minnesota Vikings broke that news on Saturday. Nonetheless, starting RG Ed Ingram is reportedly on a short leash. Risner appeared fired up earlier in the week and ready to play, calling himself 100% and saying that he has been able to play for weeks. Instead, he’s inactive again.

Surprises like Blake Cashman, Pat Jones, Harrison Phillips, and, of course, Aaron Jones, who isn’t exactly a surprise but is still listed as week-to-week, didn’t practice yesterday. However, almost all of them were back on the field for Thursday’s practice.

Thursday Minnesota Vikings injury report

The injury report is the longest it’s been all year, which is surprising since the Vikings have been relatively healthy up until now, especially coming off a bye week. Injuries are just a part of the game, but today brought some positive updates.

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/HZqhXjlXWE

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 17, 2024

Blake Cashman, an important player on defense, has managed to stay healthy throughout the season. However, he’s recently been dealing with a toe issue that has sidelined him from practice all week. As a result, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that he’ll be able to play on Sunday against the Lions, which means Ivan Pace Jr. will take over the green dot responsibility.

Another player to watch on the injury report this week is Pat Jones, who ranks 7th in the league with 5 sacks. He’s been dealing with a shoulder injury and missed practice on Wednesday, but he managed to get in some limited work today. This is a positive sign as he aims to be ready for Sunday’s game. We’ll see if he can participate fully in practice tomorrow.

Related: Aaron Jones Injury Update: Vikings RB Keeps Thursday Practice Promise

Starting running back Aaron Jones suffered an injury during the Week 5 Minnesota Vikings victory against the New York Jets. He didn’t practice yesterday but managed to do some limited work today. His status for Sunday’s game still remains uncertain, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.

Harrison Phillips, another crucial player on the defensive line, is dealing with a shoulder injury. Similar to Pat Jones, he missed practice yesterday but had a limited participation today, which is definitely a positive sign.

Dalton Risner and TJ Hockenson back at Practice

It’s exciting to see Dalton Risner back at Minnesota Vikings practice this week after missing the entire season so far due to a back injury. He might have the opportunity to step in and take over Ed Ingram’s spot on the offensive line this Sunday.

Tight end TJ Hockenson is also back at practice, having been returned since the Friday before the London game in Week 5. It’s looking promising for his return to be very soon, but he’s still participating in practice on a limited basis.

Harrison Phillips gets to stay with the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings originally signed Harrison Phillips to a three-year deal in 2022. Phillips could have tested out free agency this offseason. Phillips’ new contract extension keeps him wearing purple through the 2026 season. His presence provides stability for the interior defensive line. $13 million of the potential $19 million extension, is guaranteed.

The #Vikings are signing veteran DT Harrison Phillips to a two-year contract extension worth up to $19 million with over $13M guaranteed, per sources.

A 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee, Phillips is now locked in with Minnesota through 2026. pic.twitter.com/gbrL9oMAJI

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 10, 2024

After spending four years in Buffalo, Harrison Phillips is now in the third season with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee last year for the franchise. The former third round pick has started 35 straight games for Minnesota. He has compiled 73 solo tackles and 5.5 sacks.

To God be the Glory! #SkolVikings https://t.co/gB1cQbuF3v

— Harrison Phillips (@horribleharry99) September 10, 2024

Phillips is a captain for Kevin O’Connell’s squad this season. He is also a leader for Brian Flores’ defense. It isn’t easy to find players that compete at a high level and fit the organizational structure so well. Phillips embodies that for Minnesota and it’s easy to see why general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants to keep him around.

Another thing that stuck out, watching the #Vikings game again today, was what a good day Harrison Phillips had.

Strong hands in the run game to shed blocks, and a solid pass rushing contribution, with a sack and this pressure of Daniel Jones. pic.twitter.com/DGWhOFHrqx

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) September 10, 2024

Thanks to the money saved by parting ways with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Vikings have been able to spread the wealth this year. Cap space has been utilized for extensions given to Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, and now Phillips. Being able to keep that much talent on the roster is a huge boost for the team.

Related: Packers Fan Has Full Meltdown Watching Aaron Jones, Sam Darnold Lead Vikings

How the Vikings acquire help and depth for Phillips remains to be seen. You can bet that the defensive line will be a focal point during next April’s draft.

Yesterday, we found out Bynum is playing a little bit of hardball with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, as the two sides try to negotiate a contract extension prior to Sunday’s game. Then, later in the day, TJ Hockenson re-worked his deal, to alleviate some salary cap pressure.

Check Out: How to Watch Minnesota Vikings Games

Watch out for a Harrison Phillips contract extension…

But the Minnesota Vikings front office will continue to crunch the numbers and negotiate their way to a better future for the next two days. And Bynum may not be the most likely beneficiary. According to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North), a sneaky name to watch is interior defensive lineman, Harrison Phillips.

“What about Harrison Phillips? I have not heard a peep about Harrison Phillips, also entering a contract year. I just know they think the world of Harrison Phillips. This is reckless speculation, but if an extension were to get done, before kickoff on Sunday, I would keep an eye on Harrison Phillips.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Once we get to kickoff in week one, attention usually shifts to football, making contract talks and salary cap maneuvering a bit more difficult. That’s why these contract negotiations are being closely monitored, over the next couple of days.

How good has Phillips been for the Minnesota Vikings?

Harrison Phillips is only 28-years-old, and entering the final year of his deal. As of now, he is the only reliable interior defensive lineman the Vikings currently have on their roster. Extending him makes sense now, from a salary cap standpoint, and in the future, as it locks in one of the organization’s best defenders, long-term.

The former Buffalo Bill had the best season of his career in 2023, especially from a production standpoint. His three sacks were double any other season. Phillips totaled 92 tackles. His previous high was 59, in 2022.

Flores said in his presser last week that Phillips was in charge of shifts for the DL.

They've drawn false starts in critical situations in each of the last two weeks (1st and goal at the one last week, 4th and 1 this week).

The Vikings are winning the mental battle on defense. pic.twitter.com/SrsGFXf76X

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) November 14, 2023

"Disaster signing" puts on run defense clinics like this every single week.

Harrison Phillips is very good at his job. https://t.co/dhmNX58LAp pic.twitter.com/qWVPLED2LF

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) March 13, 2024

Related: How to Watch Minnesota Vikings Games

Because he had to play out of position for most of last season, Harrison’s PFF grades do not reflect the same kind of light as his raw statistics. He posted a career-worst 59.7 defensive grade, fully equipped with a 42.2 tackle grade.

How you feel about Harrison Phillips probably has a lot to do with how much respect you pay to PFF grades. Nonetheless, he represents consistency and Brian Flores loves him. Thus, keep your antennas up for a possible extension.

Jalen Nailor

The summer of Jalen Nailor is over. Coaches have consistently highlighted how well Nailor has performed during training camp. But now it’s time to put all the hype behind him and deliver when the games actually count.

• Jalen Nailor stats (career): 12 receptions, 208 yards, 1 TD

For Nailor, having a career year shouldn’t be too difficult. He’s entrenched as the WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He’ll even have increased opportunities due to T.J. Hockenson’s injury absence, plus a possible Addison suspension later in the season.

Jalen Nailor on 24 preszn routes (small sample):

25% TPRR (very good)
3.9 YPRR (elite)
81.3 PFF REC Grade (good)

Vikings have lots of Qs behind Justin Jefferson (Addison: injury/suspension risk, Hock: injury). Nailor is a clear late round target for mepic.twitter.com/8GosRPpamp

— Sam Sherman (@Sherman_FFB) August 26, 2024

Not only will Nailor have a new career-high in receiving yards, he should have no trouble doubling his career yardage total. But to do so, he’ll have to avoid the injured list, which has been his biggest flaw so far.

Related: Top Minnesota Vikings Moments in Team History

Ty Chandler

Aaron Jones is the unquestioned Vikings’ starting running back. But that doesn’t mean Ty Chandler won’t see increased opportunities. After averaging a respectable 4.5 YPC last season, Chandler has earned a longer leash in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Plus, keeping Jones’ legs fresher in his age-29 season will be crucial too.

• Ty Chandler stats (2023): 102 carries, 461 rushing yards, 3 TD, 21 receptions, 159 receiving yards

Chandler brings the type of explosiveness to the backfield that Alexander Mattison just didn’t possess. Get ready for Chandler to show off his 4.3 speed all season long. If he can get loose for big plays, the Vikings’ RB duo will be very productive, helping ease the burden from Sam Darnold’s shoulders.

Ty Chandler showing off the burst 💥

📺: #LVvsMIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HQXK9MseAZ

— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings 1st Round Draft Picks of All-Time

Harrison Phillips

Harrison Phillips has done a fine job since signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Vikings in 2022. But now he’s headed into a contract year and his second season in Brian Flores’ defense. Not only will having the added pressure to perform and extra familiarity help, but he’ll also be boosted by all the new additions to the front seven and secondary.

• Harrison Phillips stats (2023): 92 TKL (2 TFL), 3 sacks, 2 PD – 59.7 PFF grade (65th among NFL DL)

Harrison Phillips on what Brian Flores has done for this Vikings defense #SKOL@horribleharry99 | @JOEL9ONE | @betmgm pic.twitter.com/acRnSgmIOq

— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) September 2, 2024

Ideally, the Vikings will have a better pass rush with more versatile athletes available to be rotated in. Having players like Stephon Gilmore should force quarterbacks to hold onto the ball longer. Add it all up, and we could see the best version of ‘Horrible Harry’ yet.

Camryn Bynum

Cam Bynum may not be the human Swiss Army knife that the positionless Josh Metellus is, but he, too, can do it all. A former fourth-round pick, Bynum has continued to raise his ceiling in all three of his previous seasons. Now, we’re anticipating an even better result, with Bynum making a legitimate push to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. Yet, the 26-year-old was already pretty good last season.

• Cam Bynum stats (2023): 137 TKL (2 TFL), 0.5 sack, 9 PD, 3 FF, 2 INT – 73.2 PFF grade (21st among safeties)

We could see Bynum’s tackles go down with the addition of Blake Cashman, plus the continued emergence of Ivan Pace Jr. But Bynum can make an even bigger impact by creating more turnovers. If so, the Vikings’ defense could be a lot better than most expect.

Peanut punch! Camryn Bynum! 🥊💥 pic.twitter.com/a4sFP8li1z

— WeAreDBnation (@WeAreDBNation1) December 12, 2023

Related: Another Sam Darnold Believer Surfaces

Sam Darnold primed for career year with Minnesota Vikings

This one’s a no-brainer. Now that J.J. McCarthy isn’t breathing down his neck, Sam Darnold has nothing to worry about. There won’t be any knee-jerk reactions from fans calling for the backup if he makes a bad throw. This is Darnold’s job to lose.

But we wouldn’t bet on that happening. In fact, a strong argument could be made that the former No. 3 overall pick is primed for a career year.

• Sam Darnold’s stats in his best season (2019): 61.9% comp. rate, 3,024 passing yards, 19 TD, 13 INT

Kevin O’Connell sets his quarterbacks up to succeed with a scheme that gets pass-catchers wide-open. Plus, Justin Jefferson tends to make all his QBs look good. While we can all laugh at Darnold’s bloopers with the Jets and Panthers, for the first time in his career, he’s in a position where he can thrive. Seriously, look at one of the lineups he was dealing with in New York.

Looking at the last time the Jets played the 49ers back in 2020. These were the Jets starters that day. pic.twitter.com/qvIuyywhvU

— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) September 2, 2024

We all remember the Chris Herndon nightmare. Frank Gore was 37. No wonder that was his last NFL season. But seriously, Chris Hogan, Breshad Perriman? Maybe Perriman would be this team’s WR3, but Hogan likely wouldn’t even make the roster, at least not the 33-year-old version Darnold got stuck with. How can a QB succeed with that rag-tag group of ‘talent’? The answer is, they couldn’t.

But Darnold doesn’t have to worry about that in Minnesota, playing behind what should be a decent offensive line and a skill position group that some feel could be the best in the NFL. All we’re saying is, don’t sleep on Darnold yet.

Related: How does Sam Darnold rank compared to his NFL QB peers?

The pair of offseason transactions moved the Vikings from $2 million over the salary cap, to $2 million under, meaning Kwesi & Co have reached cap compliancy.

Source confirms the #Vikings have agreed with Bills DT Harrison Phillips on a three-year, $19.5 million deal. We'll see what that means for the middle of their defensive line, but for the time being, three's a crowd.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 15, 2022

The Vikings cut Michael Pierce, saving more than $6.2 million on the cap, shortly after they signed DT Harrison Phillips.

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 15, 2022

Who is Harrison Phillips?

Harrison Phillips didn’t find his way to a starting role on a deep Bills defensive front until the end of last season. He started the final 8 games in 2022 (including playoffs) and has 11 total starts under his NFL belt. But the Vikings clearly see the young 3-year veteran as talented interior defensive lineman who’s just hitting his stride in the league.

If right, they’ll sure up the inside of a shaky-looking defensive line and pay a much-needed bargain bin rate to do it. Given how often Pierce failed to take the field while on the Minnesota Vikings roster over the last two seasons, Phillips will be an upgrade as long as he’s active on Sundays.

Now should Harrison Phillips (#99 in the highlight video below) play as well as some of the Twitter experts believe, then the Vikings are off to a good offseason start. But there’s a lot of work left to do.

Vikings essentially swap out Michael Pierce (78.5 PFF grade in just 8 games in 2 seasons) for Harrison Phillips (75.2 PFF grade in '21), who had a 78.9 grade vs. run. Likely a better fit for new defensive scheme, and a little cheaper.

— Kevin Brown (@KevinBrownNFL) March 15, 2022

What’s Next for Vikings?

Making decisions on what to do with Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr make sense as the next logical steps for Kwesi & Co, which I wrote about in detail on Monday. But I’d imagine this front office wants to hit free agency on Wednesday with as much flexibility as possible.

To free up more money, the Minnesota Vikings could look at restructuring, extending, trading or cutting the contracts of Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, and even Dalvin Cook. Given how this “new” regime has handled the offseason so far, all four are expected to return after agreeing to help move money around.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan