Linval Joseph – Page 24 – Syndication Server

Vikings terminate contracts with Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph

Minnesota has terminated the contracts of cornerback Xavier Rhodes and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

We knew Minnesota was eventually going to move on from certain veterans in the offseason, and on Friday, the team made it official.

The Vikings terminated the contracts of Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph. Joseph, 31, and Rhodes, 29, both commanded large salaries without a lot of dead money.

The move to cut Rhodes frees up $8.1 million in cap space and creates $4.8 million in dead money for 2020, per Over The Cap. The move shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, due to Rhodes’ level of play as of late. Rhodes had no interceptions and just six pass deflections in 2019-20.

The decision to cut Joseph saves the Vikings a little more than $10.4 million in space and creates $2.4 million in dead money for this season, according to Over The Cap. This move isn’t a surprise from a financial standpoint, but Joseph has been serviceable on the defensive line as of late.

“Xavier and Linval were key parts of building this team and establishing the Vikings defense the way we wanted,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said in a statement. “They’re pros and made everyone around them better. I wish them the best, and I know Rick and the personnel staff will stay in communication with them during free agency.”

Vikings 2020 Draft Wishlist: Defensive Tackle

The Minnesota Vikings might have a void to fill at defensive tackle. Would you want them to fill in in the NFL Draft?

Linval Joseph is yet another player that could be a cap casualty in the offseason. If that’s the case, it becomes crucial to find a player to replace him — either in the draft or in free agency.

If it’s the draft, it’s possible the Vikings go for a player in the first round. Joseph’s ability to plug up the holes has helped Minnesota stop the run, but the team is only average at doing that compared to other teams in the league. The Vikings ranked No. 13 in rushing yards per game, per Pro Football Reference, and losing Joseph opens up a pretty big weakness in the defense.

Minnesota should go for size here.

Possible options: TCU’s Ross Blacklock, South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw

What the Vikings can do about the Linval Joseph contract

Linval Joseph has been a stalwart of the Vikings defense these past seasons, but what should the team do about his contract?

Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph has shown glimpses of promise for the team, but with the way the salary cap situation is playing out at the moment, no player with a cut friendly contract is safe.

Joseph’s contract results in the Vikings saving over $10.4 million and creates $2.4 million in dead money in the first year, per Over The Cap. That’s a lot of money saved for a team that is considering re-signing talents like Everson Griffen, Anthony Harris, Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes. If Minnesota wants to sign even one of those guys, especially Harris, Joseph is a candidate that either has to restructure or leave, as hard as that would be.

I hope he restructures. He had three sacks, a forced fumble and 26 total tackles this season. Those numbers aren’t staggering, but he’s also a large defensive tackle, whose job it is to take up holes and command double teams, so sometimes that’s the way it goes, even if you’re doing things like getting pressure or the defensive as a unit is having success.

That said, Joseph’s numbers don’t necessarily stand out, and unfortunately for him the later years of his contract have no guaranteed money. It seems as though the Vikings will be able to restructure, signing him for much cheaper, or he will have to find a team in desperate need of a defensive tackle.

Rhodes and Joseph listed as ‘strong candidates’ for Vikings to release

At this point, Rhodes seems like he’ll surely be gone, while Joseph is more of a question mark.

The Vikings are currently in the hole when it comes to 2020 cap space.

Players will need to be let go in order for the Vikings to add any draft picks or free agents to their team this offseason.

Two likely candidates?

Cornerback Xavier Rhodes and defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

In a recent article over at NFL.com, Gregg Rosenthal listed both Rhodes and Joseph as strong cut candidates for the Vikings.

Here’s what he wrote about them:

It will be fascinating to see how far coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman go in breaking up the Vikings’ defensive band. These cuts won’t be easy, considering the players’ history with Zimmer, but Minnesota is the rare team in 2020 that actually needs to create some space.

If the Vikings cut both Rhodes and Joseph, they’ll save a combined $17 million.

At this point, Rhodes seems like he’ll surely be gone, while Joseph is more of a question mark.

9 potential cuts around the NFL the Ravens could be interested in

The Baltimore Ravens love a bargain in free agency and could look to other teams’ salary cap casualties this offseason to fill needs cheaply

NFL free agency comes in a few waves every year. Though all the attention is focused on the big-name players who have expiring contracts, the salary-cap casualties are often the free agents the Baltimore Ravens are most interested in. Around the NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal looked at a bunch of players who could get cut this offseason.

Though they have more salary-cap space expected than in previous years, I’d suspect that will once again be their strategy this offseason as they look to fill their needs with value additions.

In addition to typically being cheaper options, cut players don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. The Ravens love to play against that formula to get something in return for departing players they couldn’t afford. With outside linebacker Matthew Judon among the 21 pending free agents potentially on the way out, being savvy with who they sign would be wise for Baltimore to once again game that system this year.

Here are the 9 potential cuts that would be intriguing for the Ravens this offseason.

EDGE Trent Murphy, Buffalo Bills

Though Murphy never quite lived up to his second-round status for the Washington Redskins, he’s still been a productive member of the Bills since being drafted. Over the last three years, Murphy has 18 sacks and started 26 of the 45 games he’s been active for.

He’s not the star player many fans would want but he’s an impact contributor who could likely be signed for a steal when compared to the top pass rushers that will hit free agency. If the Ravens are trying to completely restock their outside linebacker depth chart this offseason, Murphy would likely find a good role given Baltimore only had one player (Matthew Judon) with more sacks in 2019.

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Vikings take DT Ross Blacklock in Todd McShay’s 2nd mock draft

Blacklock missed the 2018 season with an Achilles injury, but returned to be named First-Team All-Big 12 in 2019.

It’s mock draft season, baby!

The Super Bowl is over and now it’s time to focus on the next big thing in the NFL.

That’s right . . . The NFL Draft!

The Vikings have the 25th pick in the first round after finishing the season 10-6 and winning their wild card matchup against the Saints.

In his second mock draft over at ESPN, Todd McShay has the Vikings selecting TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in the first round.

Here’s a snippet of what McShay wrote about the pick:

Yes, Minnesota piled on 48 sacks last season and was in the top half of the league in run defense, but Everson Griffen is a free agent, and Linval Joseph isn’t getting any younger at 31. The big, athletic Blacklock can help that front remain strong.

In 2019, Blacklock had 40 tackles, nine for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

There are some injury concerns with the 6-4, 305-pound lineman. He missed the 2018 season with an Achilles injury, but returned to be named First-Team All-Big 12 in 2019.

With the uncertainty surrounding Minnesota’s defensive line in 2020, addressing that position seems like a sure-thing in the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Vikings take DE Marlon Davidson in 2nd PFF mock draft

Davidson played four years at Auburn and had a career-high 6.5 sacks last season.

With the Super Bowl now over, it’s time for NFL fans to focus on the upcoming NFL Draft.

The folks over at Pro Football Focus put together their second mock draft. With the 25th overall pick, Michael Renner has the Vikings selecting Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson.

Here’s what Renner wrote about Davidson:

Davidson was one of the biggest movers with his play at the Senior Bowl a couple of weeks ago. He has prototypical 3-tech traits even though he played mostly on the edge at Auburn. Earning an 83.8 pass-rushing grade playing out of position in the SEC is pretty dang impressive.

Most scouts think that Davidson can play both defensive end and defensive tackle at the next level, which will be big for the Vikings considering they could be without Everson Griffen next season. As far as the interior is concerned, Linval Joseph took a step back last season.

Davidson played four years at Auburn and had a career-high 6.5 sacks last season. He was named First-Team All-SEC in 2019.

Vikings’ free-agency watch: Defensive tackles

Is there a chance the Vikings could be looking for two new starting interior defensive lineman?

Under contract:

The Vikings will have everyone on the interior of their defensive line back in 2020, led by starters Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen.

Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes and Armon Watts round out that group.

Free-agent(s):

Nobody! But that doesn’t mean everyone will be back . . .

Cap casualty?

There are a few candidates here.

Joseph, 31, is the best out of this bunch, but also the most likely to be a cap casualty. Joseph has a cap hit of $12.8 million and the Vikings could cut him and save more than $10 million. I would expect the Vikings to restructure his deal rather than a full-on release.

Stephen, who underperformed in his first year back with the Vikings, has a cap hit of $5 million and the Vikings would save nearly $2.5 million if they cut ties with him.

Johnson, Holmes and Watts could all be let go for a very minor penalty, so they are all fair game as well.

Diggs, Joseph among those ‘out’ of Tuesday’s Vikings’ practice

It was a walk-through practice ahead of Saturday’s game against the 49ers.

The Vikings didn’t actually have a practice on Tuesday, but with the Divisional Round game against the 49ers set for Saturday, the Vikings had to make an estimation of who would practice at a walk-through.

Those listed as “DNPs” were cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (illness), safety Jayron Kearse (toe/knee) and defensive tackle Linval Joseph (knee).

We already know that Alexander will likely miss the contest as he’s set to undergo knee surgery.

Everyone else on the team was a full participant.

We’ll know on Wednesday whether or not the injuries to Kearse and Joseph, or the illness to Diggs, is something to worry about ahead of Saturday’s game.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen out of Thursday’s practice

It seems unlikely that Thielen will play on Sunday against the Lions.

For the second-straight day, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) as held out of practice. It’s starting to seem unlikely that Thielen will suit up on Sunday against the Lions, but we’ll see what his status is on Friday.

Also missing Thursday’s practice was starting left tackle Riley Reiff (concussion).

If Reiff can’t play, we’ll see Rashod Hill start at tackle.

Limited in practice was nose tackle Linval Joseph (knee), running back Dalvin Cook (chest), defensive end Everson Griffen (knee) and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen (knee).

Listed on the injury report as full participants include linebacker Eric Wilson (shoulder) and safety Harrison Smith (hamstring).

We’ll get the players’ official injury designation for Sunday’s game on Friday afternoon.