Vikings Add Second Pro Bowl Defender In 2 Hours
The Minnesota Vikings have made it an emphasis to spend big on Tuesday after having a rather quiet day on Monday that was built around re-signing cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. The other moves were the additions of Isaiah Rodgers to the cornerback room, Ryan Kelly to solidify the offensive line, and depth safety Bubba Bolden.
Vikings Add Second Pro Bowl Defender In 2 Hours
Tuesday, however, started with a bang when the Vikings acquired defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. The former Commanders defender will be a welcome change to the defense that had been lacking a real disruptor for years.
But they didn’t stop there, adding two-time Pro Bowler Javon Hargrave to the DL rotation. Tom Pelissero reported:
“The Vikings aren’t done: They’re also closing in on a deal with two-time Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave and plan to sign him after his release from the 49ers is official Wednesday, sources say. So Jonathan Allen heads to Minnesota and now another huge D-line move in the works.”
Hargrave is currently still employed by the 49ers, but San Francisco has been planning to release the veteran. Then, the Vikings can officially sign him.
The defender just turned 32 and is coming off a season in which he barely surpassed 100 defensive snaps due to a partially torn right triceps. The subsequent surgery ended his season after only three games.
Age and injury surely play a factor, but GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made sure over the years to sign such players whose value might be a little diminished with a decent chance to outplay their deals. It’s a little risky to sign aging players coming off an injury, but it’s noteworthy that he had never played fewer than 15 games in a season prior to 2024.
Hargrave has played in 130 NFL games, recording 45.5 sacks and 380 tackles. He played four seasons with the Steelers before switching Pennsylvania teams, signing with the Eagles in 2020. Three years later, he moved to California to join the 49ers.
In that last free agency in 2023, he was viewed as the crown jewel on the defensive line, which shows his potential. That’s when he cashed in big. Hargrave signed a four-year deal worth $84 million. He can get after the passer, something the Vikings haven’t had in years. Now, they suddenly have two of those guys with Allen and Hargrave, who met at the 2021 Pro Bowl.
Hargrave surpassed 50 QB pressures in each of his last three healthy seasons. That would’ve ranked him second on the 2024 Vikings, behind only Jonathan Greenard but ahead of Andrew Van Ginkel.
The defensive line room suddenly looks like a strength rather than a liability.
The purple team now has eight defensive linemen under contract for the 2025 campaign:
- Jonathan Allen
- Harrison Phillips
- Javon Hargrave
- Jalen Redmond
- Taki Taimani
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
It’s important to have a strong rotation along the defensive line. Too much was put on Phillips’ plate in 2023 and 2024, but now, he can focus on what he does best: stopping the run. Meanwhile, Allen and Hargrave, although they aren’t weak run defenders, can hunt quarterbacks.
That defensive front paired with Greenard, Van Ginkel, and a hopefully emerging Dallas Turner is a nightmare for offensive coordinators, at least on paper.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt