Clear Evidence that a Young Viking Has Dropped Down the Depth Chart
If the name Eric Wilson sounds familiar, it’s because it should: the new Vikings linebacker is actually an old Vikings linebacker. Back in 2017, Wilson joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent, putting in work for Minnesota until departing for greener pastures in the 2021 offseason.
He’s back in the Twin Cities. The evidence suggests that he has leapfrogged a young Viking — fourth-year player Brian Asamoah — within the defensive hierarchy. One need only to look at the money to come to the conclusion. Take a look at his contract details, as relayed by The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling: “Eric Wilson got a one-year, $2.6 million deal from the #Vikings, with a $1.33M base salary ($1M fully guaranteed), a $1M signing bonus, a $100K workout bonus and up to $170K in per-game roster bonuses.”
Eric Wilson is Ahead of a Young Vikings Linebacker
Before going too far, consider the quick thought from Sean Borman, who is building off of the update from Goessling.
“Eric Wilson gets $2M fully guaranteed, a fairly strong commitment by the Vikings,” Borman writes. “Wilson’s place on the 53-man roster appears secure, barring any surprises. Should see a lot of special teams work.”
Indeed, the financial commitment from Minnesota isn’t too shabby, all things considered. No, it isn’t Blake Cashman money, but it’s a decent step ahead of what last year’s LB3 — Kamu Grugier-Hill — demanded: $1,377,500 (with just $142,500 in guarantees).
Wilson is going to be on the roster (as Borman notes). Furthermore, there’s a suggestion that his role is going to about more than just being a special teams contributor, though that’s undoubtedly a major part of the equation. The money means that he’s being viewed as the LB3, an important job given that both of Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. missed time last season due to injury.
Brian Asamoah, in turn, is sliding down to LB4.
Asamoah was drafted at No. 66 back in the infamous 2022 NFL Draft. His spot on the final roster is far from a sure thing. Last season, the linebacker snagged just 33 snaps on defense. Again, remember that there were injuries to the top pair of linebackers, so there’s certainly a hint that Brian Flores doesn’t have a pile of confidence in the young Viking.
In the NFL, the money always tells the truth. Investing in Wilson in the manner that they did reveals that he’s the LB3. So, too, do actions speak loudly. The playing time, or lack thereof, for Mr. Asamoah is concerning when it comes to his roster security. For whatever it’s worth, Asamaoh did play a ton on specials, putting in 321 snaps for Matt Daniels across seventeen games.
If a linebacker gets scooped up in the 2025 NFL Draft, Asamoah’s time with the Vikings could be coming to an end.
In 2024, Eric Wilson was putting in work for the Packers. Across seventeen games, Wilson snagged twelve starts, earning 558 snaps on defense. He was also on the field for 321 snaps on special teams (ironically, the exact number from Asamoah in MIN). Wilson’s season ended with 72 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB hits, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble.
In September, Wilson will hit his 31st birthday. He stands at 6’1″ and weighs 230 pounds, a build that’s well-suited for being a modern linebacker (the days of being a 260-pound thumper who only comes downhill in run defense may have come to an end, at least for now; the proliferation of passing requires linebackers with more agility and speed).
Since entering the NFL, Eric Wilson has played for the Vikings, Texans, Eagles, Saints, and Packers. Maybe he’ll finish off his career where it all started back in 2017.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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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 social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.