Meet a (Potential) Future Viking: Terrell Suggs
By Dan Zinski
Position: LB/DE
Age: 25
Years in League: 5
Teams: Baltimore Ravens
Accomplishments: 2-Time Pro Bowler; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2003)
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
2007 Stats
- Games Played: 16
- Tackles: 78
- Sacks: 5
- Forced Fumbles: 1
Injury History:
A few minor bumps over the years but has never missed a game due to injury.
Known For: Being the player Baltimore picked after the infamous Kevin Williams draft-day incident, which saw the Vikings go past their allotted fifteen minutes, allegedly because the trade they were trying to swing with the Ravens was held up by a busy league phone (they were going to draft Williams at #10 after moving down); posting an NCAA-record 24 sacks as a junior at Arizona State.
Why the Vikings Might Want Him: Suggs has 45 sacks in his 5-year career…12.5 more than the total of all the defensive ends currently on the Vikings roster. He is young. He never misses a game. Our aging secondary badly needs to have some pressure taken off it. Erasmus James and Ray Edwards both face uncertain futures after injury and/or suspension.
Why the Vikings Might Not Want Him: He had double-digit sacks in three of his first four years and 8 in the other year – then dipped to 5 this past season. He was accused of assault several years ago by an ex-friend, but was cleared of all charges.
What the Vikings Should Do: The Vikings are so desperate for a pass rusher that they should consider any and all possibilities, including looking at Suggs. He is a player I might even consider overpaying for. Yes, his production went down this year, but put him on a line where Pat Williams and Kevin Williams are consistently being double-teamed and watch those sack totals rise back over double-digits.
The Prediction: Baltimore will slap the franchise tag on Suggs and keep him. Or Suggs will opt to sign with the Arizona Cardinals (he has already expressed an interest in returning to Arizona, the state where he played college ball). Suggs does have a connection to Minnesota – he was born in Minneapolis – but I don’t think that matters. This one is a long-shot at best.