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A week after signing defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson away from Seattle, the Seahawks have returned the favor on the Vikings.
But the salaries will be just a bit different.
After Richardson officially became a Viking last Friday, the writing was on the wall for 33-year-old unrestricted free agent Tom Johnson. So why not head to a team that had a void at defensive tackle...like the one in Seattle after Richardson left? According to multiple reports, Johnson’s deal with the Seahawks is for one year and up to $2.7 million. Chris Tomasson explains the overall structure:
Source says #Vikings free-agent defensive tackle Tom Johnson has agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million base salary deal with Seattle with incentives that could make it worth as much as $2.7M For instance Johnson would get extra $200,000 for 3 sacks, an extra $350,000 for 5 sacks etc
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 23, 2018
While Johnson has never been as highly heralded as Richardson, he was an absolute steal during his four seasons with the Vikings. He played in 65 of a possible 67 games, starting 27 including the playoffs. Johnson accumulated 16 sacks and was an important rotational defensive tackle until starting all but one game in 2017. The grand total that the Vikings paid Johnson over those four seasons: $7.845 million. That’s what you can an absolute steal.
Unfortunately with a crowded roster at his position and Johnson’s advanced age (he turns 34 in August), he became expendable. But there is little doubt that Johnson could be just as much of a bargain in Seattle as he was in Minnesota over the past four years. Best of luck to “Sebastian Thunderbucket” with the Seahawks—except, of course, the week where the Vikings come to visit in 2018.