Due to Recent News, A Vikings Strategy Goes from Harebrained to Big Brained
For a little while, the idea of the Vikings targeting a pricey defensive tackle made very little sense. The roster already boasted Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, a pair of well-paid veterans. Adding another didn’t appear particularly helpful.
Does the calculus change now that both are heading for the door?
Sitting atop the pile of defensive tackle talent is Jalen Redmond. He has developed into a proven playmaker along the d-line, someone who is a cornerstone player for Brian Flores. Supporting him are a crew of young fellas with upside — Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and so on — and not much else. The appeal of John Franklin-Myers therefore comes back into focus.
A Vikings Strategy: Sign a Pricey DT?
Admittedly, the possibility is still somewhat unlikely.
Minnesota’s budget is in the process of getting sorted out. But while there are a variety of ways to insert money into the mix, the Vikings aren’t going to be able to outspend all competitors. What’s needed is talent for cheap, shrewd signings for players who end up outperforming the dollars and cents. Linebacker Eric Wilson is the golden example of someone who offered tremendous value last year. Minnesota’s ambitious, almost impossible task is to do so again (the front office does have ambition).
Now, all that means is that Minnesota has to be choosy. Signing every impact free agent isn’t happening. Signing one (maybe two) high-end players could be sorted out.
Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers offers a lot to like. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 288 pounds, Franklin-Myers possesses the kind of size that suggests he can be moved up and down the line. He’s built like a 3-4 defensive end, which works well for the 3-4 Vikings.
Last year with the Broncos, Franklin-Myers was in the A gap for a pair of snaps. He then had 156 snaps across from the B gap and had 299 snaps over the tackle (a defensive end in a 3-4, as mentioned). There were then 58 snaps as an edge rusher alongside 1 in the box.
Presumably, Coach Flores could work with that kind of versatility. In fact, the playcaller who is affectionately called “The Mad Scientist” would likely insist on enhancing the versatile ways that the veteran gets used.
In the past, Vikings voices have linked John Franklin-Myers to Minnesota’s need for a pass rushing defensive tackle. Admittedly, I didn’t see it, not with so much already invested at the spot. Now that Allen and Hargrave have been shown the door (or, at least, soon to be shown the door)? Well, that changes things.
Back in 2021, the defensive tackle signed a beefy deal with the Jets (OTC). The four-year contract tipped the scales at $55 million. He then redid his deal with the Broncos, agreeing to play for $15 million across a pair of seasons. He’s now moving toward a deal that’s closer to the $55 million total than the $15 million total.
The veteran had 25 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and 6 tackles for loss in 2025. The year prior, Franklin-Myers had similar production, most notably within his 7 sacks and 18 quarterback hits.
Playing for Vance Joseph — a sophisticated tactician who functions as the DC in Denver — means playing for one of the great minds in football. Shifting to the Twin Cities to play for Brian Flores would mean working alongside a similarly gifted leader.
On PFF, Franklin-Myers comes in at 59th in the free agency rankings. Consider the blurb: “Franklin-Myers has quietly been one of the anchors of Denver’s defensive success over the past two seasons, generating 95 total pressures prior to the AFC Championship Game. Dating back to 2020, his 300 total pressures rank 21st among all NFL defenders. One of the league’s more underrated defensive players, Franklin-Myers could turn that sustained production into a significant contract if he departs Denver.”
The contract estimate comes in at a trio of seasons at $45 million. If that projected deal got done in the Twin Cities, Minnesota’s task would involve dropping the cap charge in 2026 to a low level so as to make the cap charges work.
Other veteran defensive linemen who could help in Minnesota include (but are not limited to) Calais Campbell, Christian Wilkins, and Levi Onwuzurike.
