4 reasons why the Vikings should keep Everson Griffen around for 2020

His experience can’t be matched

If the Vikings decide to part ways with Everson Griffen this offseason, they will need to find someone new to be their other starting defensive end alongside Danielle Hunter.

Whoever Minnesota’s choice is as his replacement, they’re not going to find someone who has the same amount of experience in Mike Zimmer’s defense as Griffen.

Finding a talented free-agent defensive end or a young pass-rusher in the draft are among the paths the Vikings could take this year to replace Griffen. But it may take a while for Minnesota’s new starting defensive end to adjust to Zimmer’s scheme, no matter how much talent or potential they might have.

If Minnesota figures out a way to keep Griffen around for 2020, his experience can also be used to the team’s advantage in ways that extend further than just his performance on the field.

He’s not naive and he knows his time in the NFL is heading toward the end. So if the Vikings decide to select a young defensive end in one of the early rounds of this year’s draft, then Griffen is someone who would be able to show them the ropes and help them along next season like Brian Robison recently did a few years ago with Hunter.