The Case For Cutting Michael Pierce
K. Joudry
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The Vikings will soon be making cuts. We know this because the coaching staff is complete and free agency is almost here. One player who has frequently made his way into these Vikings roster conversations is Michael Pierce. Can the team afford to bring back their talented, oft-absent nose tackle?
The Vikings and Michael Pierce
Previous installments of this series have featured Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith, fan favorites who have been in town for a long time.
Pierce, unlike the aforementioned players, was brought in through free agency a couple seasons ago. The hope/expectation was that he’d not only replace but also upgrade on Linval Joseph.
When they made the decision to bring him aboard, the Vikings didn’t account for the impact of Covid (that’s not an indictment on the team; no one knew how profoundly it would impact our world). Rather than having a Joseph replacement, the Vikings had to respect Pierce’s decision to step away from football for 2020 to ensure he stayed healthy.
Heading into 2021, it appeared as though the team was going to put forth a formidable, intimidating defensive line. The Vikings partnered Michael Pierce with Dalvin Tomlinson, and Danielle Hunter was back. Unfortunately, all three missed time. In fact, Pierce only played in 8 games.
That means he has played 8 games in two full seasons.
When healthy, Pierce is a difference maker. What’s most surprising about Pierce’s PFF grade is that he has a borderline-elite 84.5 pass rush score. He is surprisingly nimble and has the power to collapse the pocket. He put together 3 sacks during the 2021 season, the most of his career.
His 67.1 run defense score puts him at 24th among DTs. It’s a bit of a disappointing grade, but the entire Vikings run defense struggled.
If everything remains the same, Pierce will have a $10.5 million cap number in 2022. Keep in mind the injury history, the new coaching staff & management, and then that he’s 29. There are no more guarantees on his contract, and a cut saves $6.5 million. Making it a post-June 1 cut means that number grows to $8.5 million saved. For all these reasons, Pierce ought to be considered as perhaps the team’s most likely cut candidate.
Closing Thoughts
I really like both the Vikings and Michael Pierce. Unfortunately, it looks like their union may be coming to an end.
With really pressing needs at corner, OL, LB, and EDGE, the Vikings may not be able to afford Pierce. It’s entirely plausible that Dalvin Tomlinson could kick inside to 1T. From there, Armon Watts has shown tons of promise. An elevated role for Watts may be best for the team.
Of course, getting cut isn’t the only option. A restructure could be worked out that allows the team to bring Pierce back for a more manageable deal. At this stage, though, it looks like the Vikings will likely be moving on from him.
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