Vikings Still Eyeing Ndamukong Suh, Interior O-Line Market

Eric Strack — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 19:05:04 +0000

The NFL season is just a couple of weeks away. So with one preseason game remaining, this Saturday in Denver, the Minnesota Vikings are focused on cutting their current roster down from 85, to 53. But 1st-year general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, has already proven a willingness to externally upgrade the Vikings’ roster, when he traded for a new backup QB.

Kwesi isn’t done either. The Vikings still have holes in their depth chart. Defensively, the purple could use depth help on the interior of their line. And on offense, Kevin O’Connell and Kirk Cousins would appreciate a better starting center than Garrett Bradbury.

Vikings Looking to Improve in Trenches

According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North), the Minnesota Vikings’ front office is keeping close tabs on free agent defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh, who would be the perfect addition for Ed Donatell. The problem point, with Suh, continues to be his price tag. Suh is still demanding an exorbitant $9M per year.

Wolfson couldn’t name names, when discussing what interior offensive lineman the Vikings have been in contact with. But apparently, he’s from the AFC and can play both guard and center (00:45 mark – Transcribed Below).

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mj4BNIifdAJ1IsMfWihQu?si=5a64cd7c4156407d

“The Vikings would happily take Suh, at a very low number. He reportedly is looking for upwards of $9 million, to play this year. The Vikings are not paying Ndamukong Suh $9 million, or anywhere in that ballpark, from what I can gather. Would they take him at a much much much lesser number? Yeah, I do believe they would. The Vikings continue to kick the tires, I hear, on at least one AFC offensive lineman who has position flexibility. So, he could play center.” – Darren Wolfson – The Scoop Podcast

Training Camp Hookie

I like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s methodical approach to improving the Minnesota Vikings roster. If Ndamukong Suh would rather sit out of training camp and preseason, than make reasonable contract requests, then let him.

If Suh wants to play football in 2022, and all reports claim he does, then he’ll eventually sign a reasonable declining player contract and suit up. Like most NFL veterans, he probably doesn’t like training camp or preseason. Hopefully, Suh’s free agency price will drop significantly next week. Then, we will see if his interest in Minnesota is real.

Bradbury in Trouble

For Garrett Bradbury, the writing appears to be on the wall. Much like Kellen Mond and Sean Mannion, he’s been deemed by new leadership, as not good enough. So, with rosters cutting from 85 to 53 next week, I expect the Minnesota Vikings to make an upgrade at center. Whether that will be via trade or a veteran who’s been cut for financial reasons, we’ll soon find out.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Vikings in Contact with Ndamukong Suh

Eric Strack — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 19:00:14 +0000

The Minnesota Vikings are still trying to beef up their defensive line and they have money to spend. Thus, they’ve turned to one of the highest profile names left on the free agency market, DT Ndamukong Suh.

This, according to USA Today’s Tyler Dragon, who makes it clear that the Las Vegas Raiders are front-runners to land Suh’s services.

There is mutual interest between the Raiders and Ndamukong Suh, per a source. Another team to keep an eye on is the Vikings. The Raiders and Vikings have both had multiple conversations with the free-agent DT.
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) June 21, 2022

At 35 y/o, Ndamukong Suh isn’t the dominant beast up the middle that he once was and his PFF grades show that. After peaking in 2017 (85.6), Suh’s grade has steadily shrunk and fell all the way to 49.4 last season with the Bucs.

Still, Suh has started every game of every season since 2011. That includes 718 snaps last year. He’d be the exact type of steady, veteran presence the Minnesota Vikings are looking for. But he isn’t a guy who should play over 500 snaps anymore.