Former Vikings Linebacker Wants Back Into the NFL (But Says No to Contract Offer)
A former Vikings linebacker is good enough to play in the NFL. And, crucially, not just to play but to play at a high level.
Consider what Tom Pelissero had to say: “Eric Kendricks declined an offer to start out on Baltimore’s practice squad and is headed home this morning. Offseason shoulder surgery kept him out, but he’s in peak shape now and determined to keep playing. He has 1,174 tackles over 10 years, including 138 last season.”
Former Vikings Linebacker Eric Kendricks Wants Back In
No sense of exaggerating when claiming that Mr. Kendricks is one of the great Vikings draft picks of the twenty-first century.
Kendricks was chosen in the 2nd Round of the 2015 NFL Draft, an all-time great draft haul in Minnesota’s history; after all, Danielle Hunter arrived in the 3rd and Stefon Diggs in the 5th. Jumping into a time machine to redo the event would involve all three of those players — Kendricks, Hunter, and Diggs — getting chosen in the 1st. Anytime a GM picks a trio of players deserving of being a 1st-Round selection well past the 1st Round, the GM has done very well.
Part of the problem for Eric Kendricks is that he shared an NFL with Bobby Wagner and Fred Warner.
Mr. Wagner is still playing. In fact, he’s picking up work in the NFC, helping Washington to turn things around. He has had a stunningly impressive career, earning ten trips to the Pro Bowl and being a first-team All Pro a half dozen times. So, too, is he a Super Bowl champion. He’ll get into the Hall of Fame on the first try; anything less would be malpractice.
Meanwhile, Mr. Warner has proven to be no slouch. A four-time first-team All Pro, Warner is one of the critical pieces in San Francisco. He has been to the Pro Bowl four times and finished up at 6th in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2023.
Combined, Wagner and Warner are among best pair of inside linebackers over the past decade. Oh, and then don’t forget Luke Kuechly, someone who shined brighter than (almost) any other at linebacker. Plus, Roquan Smith is tremendous.
Meanwhile, Eric Kendricks has been quietly excellent. He has been a first-team All Pro a single time and to the Pro Bowl just once.
At his best, Kendricks makes football look effortless, a near certain sign that he puts in tremendous effort. The linebacker has wonderful athleticism and yet he must partner his physical abilities with high-level football intelligence alongside plenty of time working on his craft. If not, then Kendricks couldn’t act so instinctively. Exploding through the gap to tackle a runner for a loss is proof that the former Vikings defender is an athlete, a brain, and someone who works.
The cherry on top? Just that Kendricks has been one of the absolute best coverage linebackers. Carrying Davante Adams down the middle of the field in one-on-one coverage before batting the ball away is as good as it gets at the position.
Currently, Minnesota is navigating the injury to Blake Cashman. Operating without the matchup LB1 means bumping up Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace. Once Cashman returns, the move may involve leaning on the LB1 alongside Wilson, someone who is very versatile.
Standing at 6’0″ and weighing 232 pounds, Eric Kendricks is a fantastic player who should get an opportunity somewhere in the NFL. He has more than earned the right to be choosy about his next stop. While the possibility isn’t super likely, a Vikings reunion could happen.
Minnesota’s next opponent is Cleveland. The outcome of that game may partially guide Kwesi Adofo-Mensah toward buying or selling as the season progresses toward its trade deadline, which is roughly a month away.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
