Vikings Bring Pro Bowl Linebacker in for a Tryout
For the most part, the Vikings’ defense has been playing wonderfully. The pair of games have resulted in just 23 points against. Do the simple math and that means Minnesota is allowing an average of 11.5 points against per game.
Not bad.
Even still, the Vikings are always looking to improve. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is constantly searching for ways to improve, which goes back to his understanding that roster building is eternal. To that end, the word from The NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero is unsurprising. The insider passed along the update: “#Vikings worked out LB Kwon Alexander.”
Vikings Tryout LB Kwon Alexander
For a time, Kwon Alexander was regarded as one of the better linebackers in the NFL.
The 6’1″, 227-pound Alexander is built like a modern linebacker. A bit smaller, yes, but someone who ran a 4.55 forty. He got scooped up at No. 124 back in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that has had some formidable defenses in recent seasons.
After his rookie deal, Alexander landed a mammoth contract to become a 49er. The linebacker agreed to a four-year pact that promised to pay $54 million. No doubt, an impressive pay day for an off-ball linebacker.
The issue is that things didn’t work out particularly well. There was some time spent on the IR before eventually getting traded to the New Orleans Saints. More IR trips have followed even as Alexander has journeyed over to the Jets and Steelers.
At 30 and with multiple injuries in his past, Alexander likely doesn’t have the wheels he once had. Minnesota, though, is doing their due diligence on a player who made the Pro Bowl back in 2017. The year prior, Alexander had some gaudy statistics, piling up 145 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 passes defended, 12 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.
In all likelihood, the Vikings are simply collecting info. The current top twosome of Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace have been playing well, especially the veteran free agent addition. Pace continues to play with great burst and aggression but would do well to eliminate some of the missed tackles.
Behind the top two are Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah. Dallas Gant resides on the practice squad after showing off plenty of promise during the preseason.
Minnesota’s open cap space currently sits at a touch beyond $12 million. In other words, there’s more than enough open room if Adofo-Mensah decides that a bit more linebacker depth would be prudent.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
