7. Restructuring Everson Griffen’s deal
Saying Griffen didn’t have a good season for the Vikings in 2018 is not going to cause anyone to gasp in disbelief. But Griffen also had a pretty valid excuse for why his numbers took a hit last year.
The fact that Griffen only missed five games in 2018 is an impressive feat considering what he was going through off the field. It’s also no surprise though that he wasn’t really his normal havoc-wreaking self after he returned from his absence either.
Even if Griffen a typical season that ended with him racking up at least 10 sacks in 2018, Minnesota was still likely going to ask him to restructure his contract during the offseason. But his disappointing campaign last year just gave the Vikings enough leverage to get him to agree to a lower salary in 2019.
There was a real possibility of Griffen not being a member of Minnesota’s roster for next season. But the Vikings were able to restructure his deal and keep the veteran pass rusher around for at least another year.
Griffen has said that he wants to be a Viking for his entire NFL career and if he goes back to performing like his old self in 2019, that is something that is definitely a lot more likely to happen.