The Dream Free Agency Addition for the Vikings
K. Joudry
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DeForest Buckner has long been a menace from the defensive tackle spot, making him a dream addition for the Vikings.
In 2016, the 6’7″, 295 pound DT was chosen 7th overall. His intial seasons in San Francisco were impressive, such as his 2018 when he compiled 12 sacks, 20 QB hits, and 17 TFLs. The next season, he’d be named a second-team All Pro. The season after – his first with the Colts – he became a first-team All Pro.
Why isn’t he getting love on the free agent lists? Well, it’s because he’s still under contract, but that’s a reality that may soon change.
The Dream Addition for the Vikings
Sustaining success in the NFL as one climbs into their late 20s is no sure thing. Buckner has proven to be capable of doing so.
During the most recent season, the DT had 8 sacks, 22 QB hits, and 11 TFLs. He added on 74 tackles, 3 PDs, and 2 forced fumbles.
The veteran finished the season as the 8th-best DT on PFF. The worst he has ever done in his career is 31st, and that was back when he was a rookie. In other words, DeForest Buckner has either been very good or elite in the PFF rankings throughout his career. More recently, he has been elite, putting together a couple top-10 seasons over the past 3 seasons.
In 2019, Buckner helped the 49ers on their Super Bowl run. Over 3 playoff games, he had 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 TFLs, and 4 QB hits. Since nothing warms cold, purple hearts quite like Aaron Rodgers losing in the playoffs, I’ve tossed in a video of Buckner sacking #12 up above.
Following the 2019 season, Buckner was traded to the Colts. The cost was a first-round pick, a high price for a defensive tackle, underscoring how much he can impact the game.
Buckner’s time in Indianapolis has been a success, though one wonders if they’ll soon part ways. The Colts are coming off a very poor season where they finished with a 4-12-1 record. Rebuilding needs to take precedence, so one wonders if it makes sense to retain the high-priced DT.
Buckner will have a $19.75 million cap hit in 2023. The entirety can be scrubbed from the books if they simply decide to cut him. There’s no dead money left. Alternatively, the Colts could get the same savings through a trade. Presumably, any team acquiring the DT would look toward a new deal to make the cap hit easier to digest.
Improving the Vikings Defense
Fixing Minnesota’s horrendous defense is no small feat. One could certainly argue that the team’s inability to slow down seemingly any QB was the main reason why the season came to such a sudden, disappointing conclusion (though a certain throw on 4th & 8 didn’t help).
Not too long ago, PFF published a piece detailing every team’s main area of weakness heading into the offseason. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s the defensive tackle position that gets named for the purple and gold. With Dalvin Tomlinson set to hit free agency, Minnesota certainly finds itself with a notable need (though Khyiris Tonga has been re-signed).
If DeForest Buckner gets cut, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be the first person to call his agent. If DeForest Buckner becomes a trade candidate, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be the first person to give Chris Ballard a call.
Given the cap constraints, Minnesota won’t be able to hand out the world’s most lucrative contract. What they can do, though, is put together a highly competitive offer if they lean into the 2024 and 2025 budgets (and maybe even some void years).
From our current vantage point, the NFC looks pretty wide open. The Eagles, to be sure, are the favorites heading into the upcoming year and the 49ers aren’t too far behind. That being said, it’s hard to take the Cowboys seriously (Exhibit A + Exhibit B). The Vikings – depending on how things shake out in the coming weeks and months – could find themselves toward the top of their conference as the season inches closer.
Bringing in the right free agents – the ones that make a huge impact by filling roster deficiencies – can make all the difference once football arrives in September. DeForest Buckner, should he become available, is someone who could make Minnesota’s defensive front considerably more intimidating.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Spotrac, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
