Vikings meet with an intriguing free-agent linebacker on Tuesday
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings reportedly met with free-agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks on Tuesday, the brother of current Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks.
It has now been about a month and half since the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Eric Kendricks agreed to an extension that will keep him under contract with the team until 2024. Kendricks will no longer become a free-agent in 2019 and the Vikings get to keep a guy around who has led their defense in tackles in each of the past two seasons.
When the young linebacker does eventually take the field for Minnesota in 2018, it could possibly be with a very familiar face.
According to the Star Tribune, the Vikings met with free-agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks on Tuesday. Mychal is Eric Kendricks’ older brother.
The elder Kendricks was released by the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Since the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, he has spent all six seasons of his NFL career in Philadelphia.
Minnesota Vikings
In six years with the Eagles, Kendricks appeared in 85 games and accumulated a total of 454 tackles, 27 pass deflections, 14 sacks, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
Yahoo Sports reported that the veteran linebacker also has visits planned with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders this week.
If Minnesota is able to sign him, Kendricks would provide some much needed depth and experience behind his brother and Anthony Barr.
Right now, the Vikings’ linebacker depth consists of Ben Gedeon, Eric Wilson, Kentrell Brothers, Reshard Cliett, Antwione Williams, Garret Dooley, Devante Downs, and Brett Taylor. Seven of these eight players are 25-years-old or younger and the majority of them have never really seen the field on Minnesota’s defense during the regular season.
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By adding Mychal Kendricks, the Vikings would be able to breathe a little easier if his brother or Barr were to go down with an injury at any point in 2018.