Why the Vikings should re-sign Richardson
There’s no real doubt about it, the Vikings had one of the best defensive lines in the NFL in 2018. And the addition of Richardson was a big reason why.
Along with their new defensive tackle, Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, and Linval Joseph, Minnesota’s defensive line made games a very unpleasant experience for opposing quarterbacks during the majority of the year.
Under the guidance of Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson, Richardson returned to being a dominant force like he was during the early portion of his career.
His 47 total quarterback pressures in 2018 were more than any other Minnesota defender not named Danielle Hunter. Richardson also finished the season tied for the second-most defensive stops on the Vikings’ roster.
Minnesota took a risk on a guy last offseason whose career seemed like it was stuck in a bit of a rut. But the risk paid off and the Vikings’ signing of Richardson proved to be one of the team’s best decisions of the year.
At 28-years-old, the talented interior pass rusher likely still has a handful of good seasons left in him, especially if Patterson remains his positional coach. If Minnesota can figure out a way to re-sign Richardson this offseason without mortgaging their future, it is definitely a move the team should seriously consider.