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On the heels of the news that Danielle Hunter and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to restructure the star defensive end’s deal, there is news coming down of the purple bringing back another familiar face.
I’m hearing that there could be a reunion in store for the #Vikings and free agent DT Sheldon Richardson, per source. Some more good news shaping up for the team’s defensive line ahead of the start of mandatory mini camp tomorrow.
— Jack Day (@jack_h_day) June 14, 2021
Jack Day of KFAN in Minneapolis is reporting that the Vikings are getting close to finalizing a deal with defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. These reports have been confirmed by both Field Yates of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Richardson played for the Vikings for one season back in 2018. In that season, he started all 16 games and collected 4.5 sacks. Richardson’s signing would give the Vikings a pass-rushing presence on the inside that they currently lack. Free agent signee Dalvin Tomlinson and the returning Michael Pierce are both very good run defenders, but neither are particularly known for their pass-rushing prowess at this point.
We all know that the defensive line was a sore spot for the Vikings in 2020. But, you know, the defensive line in 2020 didn’t have Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Sheldon Richardson to rotate in, either. If the Vikings wanted to take what was, arguably, their weakest position in 2020 into a strength, they’ve taken some significant strides towards doing just that.