Bleacher Report Picks Surprising Free Agent to Stay in Minnesota
Dustin Baker
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Bleacher Report released an analysis of all 2021 NFL teams and the free agent each team should retain – including the Minnesota Vikings. This offseason is not at all like 2020 when Minnesota was forced to make backbreaking decisions that involved the departures of Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Andrew Sendejo, and Stephen Weatherly. 2021 is in no way, shape, or form that foreboding.
The only challenging choices to ponder during this brand of free agency regard Anthony Harris and Eric Wilson. Indeed, other players are on the docket for free agency, but none are “big names” like Harris or Wilson.
For practical purposes, Harris is as good as gone. He played on the franchise tag last season, and for the most part, will not merit a long-term extension. Harris was not a poor performer in 2020, yet his impact in 2020 paled in comparison to his 2019 output. For example, Harris led the industry in interceptions in 2019. For the pandemic season, he tallied zero interceptions. That is often termed regression.
Harris can score a large-ish deal elsewhere, and the Vikings do not have the cap space to wheel and deal.
But they probably can re-up with Eric Wilson – per Bleacher Report. Immense detail was not provided by Bleacher Report on why Wilson should be re-signed, but analyst Brad Gagnon did compare the contractual situation of Harris and Wilson. He noted:
“Harris will also turn 30 in October, while underrated 26-year-old linebacker Eric Wilson is coming off an impressive three-sack, three-interception breakout campaign in which he recorded 122 tackles and eight passes defensed in 16 games (15 starts).”
So, Wilson-over-Harris is the outsider theory as of now.
Not as Expensive as One Might Think
When the offseason commenced, some folks – the author of this article included – theorized that Wilson would be too expensive for the cash-strapped Vikings. And make no mistake, Minnesota is low on funds. They can relieve the cap a bit in the next several weeks with some soul-searching roster moves pertaining to Kyle Rudolph and such, but general manager Rick Spielman will not be a prolific buyer this offseason. Per his resume, Spielman will be a prolific drafter.
Wilson will not be in a camp of otherworldly expense. The linebackers that command elephantine contracts are the ones that rush the passer on an every-play basis. That isn’t Wilson. The 26-year-old is a Swiss army knife-type defender that emphatically does not specialize in run-stopping or routine quarterback pressure. He is a quintessential middle-of-the-defense linebacker.
And men with those assignments do not break the bank – unless they are monumental game-changers like Eric Kendricks. Wilson is no Kendricks. Linebackers of Wilson’s caliber typically earn around $5 million per year. The Vikings can likely afford that.
Impressive 2020 Stats
Bleacher Report detailed the stats. 122 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions. For a player that began his NFL career primarily as a special teams guru, this is noteworthy. Wilson has climbed the Vikings depth chart and was serendipitously aided by injuries to linebacker Ben Gedeon. Wilson was a reservist player to Gedeon in 2017 and 2018. He effectively replaced Gedeon when called upon and hasn’t looked back.
Veteran Anthony Barr should return to the team after a season-ending injury last season. Barring a shock release or trade, Barr is a mainstay of Mike Zimmer’s defense that can presumably return to form in 2021. His absence – along with about four other defensive starters – was tangibly felt in 2020.
If Bleacher Report is correct, that leaves Minnesota with a familiar trio at linebacker: Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Eric Wilson. This is a productive threesome when all three players are upright and healthy.
But Yikes on Run Defense
Wilson – despite the stately statistics – has one glaring flaw. Well, two, if conjoined in logic. His overall Pro Football Focus grade in 2020 was 53.5 – not great. It was yanked to hell by a 38.3 run-stopping score. And that run-defense grade is atrocious. Wilson struggles with tackling, missing 12.2% of all tackles during the pandemic season. Anthony Barr, in his last full season of 2019, missed 2.5% of all tackles. One might be tempted to shrug shoulders and think the variance is not too grave. But that is a fallacy.
Barr is a tremendous tackler. Wilson is not. Plain and simple.
However, Wilson is a bit splashier than Barr from a playmaking standpoint – and that might earn him a spot on the 2021 Vikings alongside Barr and Kendricks.