Vikings Miss Out on Another Free Agent DT
Josh Frey
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Obviously, the Minnesota Vikings are entering uncertain waters at the quarterback position in 2024.
However, the other glaring need on their roster comes at the defensive tackle spot. Minnesota needs another producer from that position, but to this point, they haven’t been able to find one. On Friday, they saw another potential free agent target go off the board as well.
Vikings Miss Out on Another Free Agent DT
Teair Tart, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans back in 2020, entered the free agency market this spring. Ultimately, the defensive tackle ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report reported the acquisition, tweeting, “Breaking: Free agent DT Teair Tart is signing with the #Dolphins, per source. Tart had 8 TFLs in 11 games last season for the #Texans and #Titans.”
However, that decision reportedly did not come without efforts from the Vikings to bring him to Minnesota. Schultz followed up with another tweet which read, “Several teams were in on Teair Tart, including the #Vikings and #Texans – who wanted to bring him back to Houston – but Tart chose South Beach, where he starred at nearby @FIUFootball in college. The #Dolphins add a quality DT.”
At 6’2″ and 304 pounds, Tart brings decent size to the defensive tackle spot and primarily was used as a nose tackle in the middle of Tennessee’s defensive line before he was waived and picked up by the Houston Texans down the stretch of the 2023 season.
Throughout the first four seasons of his NFL career, Tart has appeared in 47 games, including 36 starts. He has recorded 79 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven passes defended, and an interception.
Unfortunately, this has proven to be a consistent theme for Minnesota this offseason. They were a team that also was reportedly interested in bringing in Christian Wilkins, who actually spent the first five years of his NFL career in Miami before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now, Tart is set to replace Wilkins in Miami, and the Vikings are still searching for more defensive tackle help.
Of course, the Vikings don’t necessarily need to rely on free agency for this defensive tackle help. The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in less than three weeks, and perhaps Minnesota will find a contributor or two through that process.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.