Minnesota Vikings sign former Chicago Bears DT Will Sutton, waive Toby Johnson
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings made an early morning transaction on Wednesday as they continue to add new faces to their defensive line this offseason.
In a bit of an under-the-radar move, the Minnesota Vikings announced the signing of a new addition to their defense on Wednesday in former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Will Sutton. However, since adding Sutton put the Vikings over the 90-man roster limit, the team also had to part ways with defensive tackle Toby Johnson.
We have signed DT Will Sutton (@SweetTeaWillie) and waived Toby Johnson.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 17, 2017
đź“°: https://t.co/ZrhwCnoroq pic.twitter.com/i4dAcKg3pn
I appreciate the @Vikings organization for everything #InDueTime
— Toby Johnson (@Future020113SEC) May 17, 2017
The 25-year-old Sutton was selected by the Bears in the third-round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Arizona State. While at Arizona State, the defensive lineman earned a bunch of accolades including Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013), first-team All-Pac-12 (2012, 2013), and first-team AP All American (2012, 2013).
However, Sutton’s accomplishments in college have not exactly translated to success in the NFL.
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In three seasons with Chicago, the defensive lineman has compiled a total of 60 tackles and not a single sack. In 2016, he only appeared in eight games due to an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.
He was originally drafted by the Bears to play in their 4-3 defense, but Chicago hired John Fox in 2015 and switched to a 3-4 scheme on defense and Sutton struggled to make a significant impact. Minnesota is hoping that his strengths will begin to show again now that he will be back playing in a 4-3 defense.
Adding Sutton certainly does continue to raise questions about the future of Sharrif Floyd with the Vikings. The defensive tackle only played in one game last season due to a knee injury and his return to football is reportedly not a guarantee right now.
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Minnesota does seem to preparing themselves for life without Floyd and the addition of Sutton, along with a couple of other interior defensive lineman this offseason, seems to give a good indication about how the Vikings feel about their former first-round pick returning to the field in 2017.