Free agent defensive tackle David Parry visiting Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t done adding talent to the competition at training camp and it is reported defensive tackle David Parry is visiting the team.
Even though the dust has settled on free agency and the 2018 NFL Draft has been completed, teams like the Minnesota Vikings are still searching for players who can help make their team more competitive heading into the preseason.
It has been reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter that the Vikings are looking into the availability of free agent defensive tackle David Parry and are actually visited with the big man on Thursday.
The 6-foot-2, 317 pound nose tackle was a fifth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons there, starting all 32 regular season games for the team before being claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints for one season where he found action in only one contest. In his 33 total games played, Parry accumulated 49 tackles and 30 assists, including four sacks.
Parry hasn’t gotten much interest from teams since an incident in February of 2017 where he allegedly stole a golf cart taxi resulting in charges of robbery, auto theft, criminal damage, resisting arrest and driving under the influence according to Pro Football Talk.
Minnesota Vikings
Plus, he struggled to stay healthy with the Saints due to an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.
It’s interesting to see Minnesota taking a look at Parry since the team has been taking some more chances on players with red flags lately and could use some depth in the middle of the defensive line. However, a visit does not mean the Vikings will end up signing Parry.
Minnesota enters the 2018 season with Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson as the starters in the middle of the defensive line with second-year player Jaleel Johnson, rookie Jalyn Holmes, Dylan Bradley, and Curtis Cothran rounding out the players competing for spots.
Considering Parry’s experience and production and professionalism going forward, the Vikings may see him as a valuable asset for training camp to either win a spot on the roster or push the younger, less experienced players to be at the top of their game.
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It wouldn’t be shocking to see one of the recent undrafted free agents be released in favor of a more experienced player with 32 games of starting experience, but all that will likely depend on how the meeting between the Minnesota Vikings and David Parry goes.