Is Sheldon Richardson the missing piece for a historical Vikings defense?
Does the addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to the league’s number one defense have the possibility to make the Minnesota Vikings unit one that is truly remembered in NFL history?
Sometimes the best football teams come together at the right time, at the right place, with the right guys.
We should look no further than our own newly Hall of Fame enshrined Viking Randy Moss to witness that. After establishing record-shattering numbers in his first five years in the NFL, the outrageously talented wide-receiver was traded from Minnesota to Oakland in 2004. There Moss put up only above-average numbers in two seasons.
Then, of course, he was traded again to the New England Patriots in 2007 and lead that team to a 16-0 season with an NFL record 23 touchdown catches.
New Viking defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, one of most agile and explosive defensive lineman in the NFL, has similar career nuances.
First of all, he has talent. Richardson, a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, was elected Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year in 2013. In 2014, he went to the Pro Bowl. New York loved him. But in 2015, when the Jets were playing well, Richardson got into trouble with the cops.
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In 2016, with the team paying Darelle Revis $17 million to play corner for a 5-11 with one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, New York fell out of love with the entire team, including Richardson.
In 2017, Richardson was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Most likely expecting talent and continuity around him, he found himself on a team that was unraveling professionally.
Between defensive lineman Michael Bennett’s own run-ins with the law, cornerback Richard Sherman’s declarations of greatness and safety Earl Thomas’ complaints about the contract he had previously signed, Richardson would not be blamed if he was disappointed in his new professional home.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll moved Richardson from defensive end to defensive tackle–no small thing–and still, Richardson came out and performed. In his new position, Pro Football Focus ranked him 27th out of 122 qualifying lineman in 2017.
So how does Richardson fit in with the Minnesota Vikings?