6 Vikings free-agents who will return to the team in 2019

Tom Johnson – DT

Tom Johnson had been a member of the Vikings since 2014, but he left after the 2017 season and ended up signing with the Seattle Seahawks. For the Seahawks last season, Johnson played in just one game for the team before being cut.

Seattle was planning on bringing him back after he cleared waivers, but that didn’t happen as Minnesota swooped in and surprisingly brought him back. Tom Johnson ended up doing typical Tom Johnson things for the Vikings in 2018. He finished the year with 4.5 sacks and 23 tackles in rotational duty for Minnesota.

That has been the story of Johnson’s career in the NFL. He only plays a handful of snaps every game, but he will still have a big splash play every now and then.

Johnson will be 35-years-old by the time the 2019 season starts and at that age, there will not be a long list of teams pounding down the door for his services this year. He has to feel some attachment to the Vikings as they picked him up when the Seahawks dumped him last season. Johnson also is a great fit on Minnesota’s defensive line, evidenced by his 20.5 total sacks during his time with the team.

Ultimately, it will depend on the veteran defensive tackle and whether or not he wants to play another season in the league. If Johnson does elect to extend his career, the Vikings make the most sense for him and the team.

Minnesota would love to bring fellow defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson back for 2019, but they probably won’t be able to afford it. So the Vikings would likely be replacing his production with a rotation of Johnson (if he returns), Jalyn Holmes, and a rookie.

Being part of a rotation is something Johnson and his 35-year-old body would be used to and productive in. His veteran presence would also be a huge help to the young guys on Minnesota’s defensive line, as he could mentor them and speed up their maturation process.