The Minnesota Vikings made the biggest move in free agency and added prized quarterback Kirk Cousins, but they’re set to grab another valued player, Sheldon Richardson, from the open market.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the defensive tackle has agreed to a one-year deal with the Vikings.
Richardson will join Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph and Danielle Hunter to complete one of the league’s most respected defensive lines.
Given that talent, there could hardly be a better place for Richardson to rejuvenate his career. After collecting 16.5 sacks during his first three seasons, he’s mustered just 2.5 sacks since the 2016 campaign.
While simple production in that category doesn’t tell the whole story for defensive tackles, being surrounded by three excellent players should help Richardson. Perhaps that means he’ll be a difference-maker in demanding extra attention, but his numbers should rise, too.
Richardson, a first-round pick in 2013, spent four seasons with the New York Jets prior to suiting up for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.