6 free-agent linebackers the Vikings could sign in 2020

Sam Acho

Sam Acho has been around the NFL for a long time since he was drafted in 2011 by the Cardinals. He spent the first four seasons of his career in Arizona before signing with the Chicago Bears in 2015. Most recently, he was with the Buccaneers after a very brief stint with the Buffalo Bills in the 2019 preseason.

Acho has been mostly used as a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end in his career and he isn’t the traditional type of linebacker the Vikings use. He’s 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, and is a former college defensive end. He could possibly garner interest from Minnesota because he might be able to add a new wrinkle or two to their defense next season.

The Vikings decided to bring in Dom Capers this year as a senior defensive assistant. Capers is a guy who primarily used a 3-4 base defense in his coaching career and he might convince Minnesota to use some of the elements from this formation in 2020.

The Vikings could look for an edge rusher this offseason to pair with Anthony Barr and Acho would fill that role. He could also play with his hand in the dirt and add depth at defensive end if Everson Griffen ends up signing with a different team this year.

Acho is 31-years-old and while he’s carved out a nice career as a role player in the NFL, he hasn’t exactly been a star. He’d come at a team-friendly price and give Minnesota a versatile new weapon for their defensive front seven.