Everson Griffen – Page 18 – Syndication Server

Everson Griffen coming back could save Vikings a draft pick

Griffen finished with eight sacks last season opposite Danielle Hunter.

Last week, Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen opted out of his contract with the team.

Even still, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer expects Griffen, 32, to be back with Minnesota in 2020.

We discussed what that could be long-term for Griffen and the Vikings here.

What could this mean short-term for the Vikings?

It means the Vikings have their starter at defensive end opposite Danielle Hunter — and a pretty good one. Griffen had eight sacks last season and had a Pro Football Focus grade of 76, a mark that ranked 26th among all edge rushers last season.

While the Vikings might sign or draft a defensive end for depth reasons, it won’t have to be a priority if they can indeed get a deal done for Griffen.

Of course, a deal is not done yet as free agency hasn’t even started. Talk in late February about free agency is exactly that: Talk.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says he met with Everson Griffen’s agent, expects him to be back

Mike Zimmer on Everson Griffen: “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Everson Griffen made the decision to void his contract and enter free agency, but that doesn’t mean he can’t re-sign with the team.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer seems optimistic that will happen.

“We met with his agent yesterday, I think it was. Everson (Griffen) is a terrific person for us,” Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine. “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Griffen’s contract void should not come as much of a surprise, regardless of whether he comes back or not. Due to the Vikings cap situation, Griffen’s contract took up too much space.

“I think he wants to back and those kinds of things usually work its way out,” Zimmer told reporters.

If Zimmer’s quote is any indication, it seems like the Vikings will re-sign him for a lesser deal, in order to have more space to sign other players. If Griffen re-signs, that would obviously change the first-round draft outlook of this team. Minnesota could shore up depth at other positions like offensive line or cornerback if Griffen is able to come back.

Vikings have 3 players in NFL.com top-101 free agent list

The folks over at NFL.com ranked the top 101 free agents of the 2020 offseason.

The Vikings had three players on that list.

Safety Anthony Harris ranks 19th after sneakily becoming one of the league’s best safeties over the last two seasons. It seems like he will be a priority for the Vikings this offseason, but we’ll see.

Defensive end Everson Griffen, who voided his contract, ranks 37th on the list. The Vikings could certainly use Griffen back in 2020 considering there’s no obvious starter opposite Danielle Hunter, but again, this team is cash strapped and a team (maybe the Seahawks?) could end up driving the price up.

And rounding out the list for the Vikings is cornerback Trae Waynes at No. 57. It feels like Waynes will get some sort of prove-it deal this season on a short-term deal, but we’ll see.

You can check out the full list here.

Everson Griffen has opportunity to cement legacy with Vikings if he returns

Last week, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen opted out of his contract with team, becoming an unrestricted free agent.

At 32 years old, Griffen can still play. He recorded eight sacks last season and we saw the explosiveness that made him so good during the prime of his career.

Where will Griffen play next?

It could be Seattle, to reunite with college coach Pete Carroll. There are also a handful of other teams that make sense.

Or it could be back to the Vikings, if they are able to create enough cap room to bring back Griffen and start him opposite Danielle Hunter.

If Griffen were able to sign with the Vikings and finish his career in Minnesota, it’s something fans would obviously love. But it’s also significant historically.

Griffen has 74.5 career sacks, just 24.5 away from 100 in his career. Griffen is 11 sacks away from Jared Allen’s spot for third all-time in team history, and 22 back from Chris Doleman for second.

Through his career, per Spotrac, Griffen has made nearly $56 million. That number will certainly pass $60 million this offseason.

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin: ‘Best place for Everson Griffen is going to be in Minnesota’

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin went on SKOR North and said that the best place for Griffen is going to be in Minnesota.

After reportedly voiding the rest of his contract and entering free agency, Everson Griffen’s next move has been on the minds of Vikings fans and fans of other teams across the league.

Griffen could re-sign with Minnesota or go to another team, and ESPN’s Courtney Cronin thinks the best option for the defensive end is staying in Minnesota.

“The Vikings had to make this move one way or the other,” Cronin said on the radio show Purple Daily, a program on SKOR North.

Cronin also said that the Vikings “were not going to be able to afford him at the $13.9 million cap hit” from his then-contract before he made the decision to void it.

“The best place for Everson Griffen is going to be in Minnesota, to come back on a restructured deal just like he did last year.”

With the comeback season Griffen had in 2019-20, on top of the need to have another good edge rusher besides Danielle Hunter, I think if it’s up to the Vikings, they should try and keep him.

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A look back at Everson Griffen’s resurgent year

If Everson Griffen doesn’t re-sign with the Vikings, he will always be remembered for his sack prowess and his comeback season.

Everson Griffen reportedly voided the remainder of his contract with the Vikings, and he will enter free agency, according to reports.

Griffen could re-sign with the team, but if he’s played his final snaps with the Vikings, he will be remembered as a player who persevered through adversity.

Griffen’s 2018-19 season was unfortunately marred by personal issues related to his mental health. Griffen missed five weeks of the regular season in 2018-19, and he suffered a down year in terms of stats because of it. The defensive end finished with 5.5 sacks.

But Griffen would be back. He went on to play every game of 2019-2020, besides Week 17 when the Vikings played their reserves. He finished with eight sacks. He also had 11 tackles for loss, compared to five the previous year. He even had an interception this season against the Eagles, the second of his career.

Griffen has spent all 10 of his seasons with the Vikings so far. He has 74.5 career sacks, and has made four Pro Bowls. Griffen went through a tough mental health incident, but he showed that he can still produce. He can still re-sign with Minnesota, but if this is the end of his playing days with the team, he will be remembered fondly by fans.

What the Vikings can do with Everson Griffen reportedly entering free agency

Everson Griffen will reportedly void his contract and enter free agency. Here’s what the Vikings could do going forward.

Everson Griffen reportedly voided his contract with the Vikings on Thursday and is now set to become a free agent.

The move cleared $13 million in cap space and resulted in just $800,000 in dead money. It’s almost a certainty that the Vikings will continue to reduce spending. The team can definitely cut players or restructure other contracts to make more room in the cap, but can they re-sign Griffen to a more team-friendly deal and keep him on?

Though it seems ideal for the Vikings, this move doesn’t seem likely to happen.

Griffen had a promising season in 2019-20: eight sacks and an interception. Griffen’s resume on top of a comeback season will garner some interest in the free agency market, and I don’t think the Vikings can financially match some of the teams that will want the defensive end. If they can, though, I think they should definitely do it. The combo of Griffen and Danielle Hunter on the ends has proven to be tough for opposing teams to stop.

Cutting Xavier Rhodes saves the Vikings a little over $8 million and leaves $4.8 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap. Cutting Riley Reiff saves $8.8 million and makes $4.4 million in dead money. Those moves could possibly be enough to re-sign Griffen if he really likes the situational fit of Minnesota. However, the free agency market is looming, and there will likely be some interested teams.

Report: Vikings DE Everson Griffen voided the remainder of his contract

The move helps clear $13 million in cap space for the Vikings.

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In not much of a surprise, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has voided the rest of his contract with the team, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.

That helps clear $13 million in cap space for the Vikings.

So, why would Griffen opt out? The 32-year-old is looking for more guarantees in the deal. Had Griffen opted in, the Vikings likely would have cut him regardless as a cap casualty.

Griffen was a 2010 fourth-round pick by the Vikings and has 74.5 career sacks. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler who had eight sacks last season and finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 76, a mark that ranked 26 out of 108 edge rushers.

Even at his age, Griffen has plenty left to contribute.

Per Spotrac, Griffen has made nearly $56 million in his career.

Per OverTheCap, the Vikings now have $1.3 million in cap space.

Vikings DE Everson Griffen opts out of final three years of contract

Vikings DE Everson Griffen has opted out of the final three years of his contract, but that doesn’t mean the four-time Pro Bowler is done in Minnesota.

Vikings DE Everson Griffen opts out of final three years of contract (Vikingswire)

Vikings DE Everson Griffen has opted out of the final three years of his contract, but that doesn’t mean the four-time Pro Bowler is done in Minnesota.