The Minnesota Vikings needed to make some difficult decisions to relieve cap space this offseason, which left Linval Joseph on the outside.
Linval Joseph’s time with the Minnesota Vikings has come to an end after six seasons. The defensive tackle was released on Friday to ease the organization’s salary cap concerns.
The 31-year-old arrived in a big-money deal from the New York Giants in 2014 and became an instant fan-favorite. He was a hugely influential figure within the locker room and enjoyed a much-improved season in 2019.
Joseph is a brut force on the defensive line interior and freed up considerable space for star pass-rushers Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen last season. He still has a number of years left in the NFL given his high level of production.
Minnesota had just $1 million in salary-cap space to work before Joseph’s release. Sacrifices needed to be made by the front office decision-makers that also saw Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes shown the door.
The former second-round pick out of East Carolina’s departure was a necessary evil for the Vikings. This was a purely business decision given his recent performances and is a further sign of the cutthroat world of the NFL.
Joseph still has a lot to offer, but that will now be with another NFL team.
Joseph’s career in Minnesota
Linval Joseph has performed largely up to expectations during his time with the Minnesota Vikings. He was touted as someone who could shore up the defensive interior and fill the void left by Pat and Kevin Williams.
The former New York Giants player started all 16 games during his first year with the franchise. He started all 16 games during his first season with the Vikings and recorded three sacks and 48 total tackles.
The player was a commanding presence against the run and played in 67 percent of the team’s snaps. Things did not go as well in 2015 due to injury, which restricted Joseph to 12 games.
Joseph bounced back well to play every contest in 2016 and 17 on his way to 7.5 sacks, 144 tackles, and three forced fumbles. His influence waned significantly in 2018 that left some questioning his commitment to a Minnesota team that missed the playoffs.
The ten-year veteran answered his critics with an excellent 2019 campaign that resulted in three sacks, 44 tackles, and a forced fumble. He benefitted tremendously from being a two-down interior lineman for the majority of the season, which saw his snap percentage drop to 50 percent.
This allowed Joseph to stay fresh and make a real difference during downs where teams were more likely to run the ball. The Vikings have a solid defensive front rotation and this is something that proved highly beneficial for a player with a lot of mileage on the clock.
Joseph’s contract situation
Linval Joseph might still be of use to the Minnesota Vikings, but that was not enough to see him remain on the roster.
After proving his worth to the organization, Joseph penned a four-year, $50.35 million deal that included a $6 million signing bonus and $31.5 million guaranteed.
This gave Joseph financial security during the prime years of his career, but it also gave the Vikings an out after the 2019 season. The defensive tackle was set to count $12.88 million against the Minnesota salary cap next season and his release costs just $2.4 million in dead money.
This represents a significant saving of $10.48 million that as too difficult to ignore for the front office. They needed to make adjustments to ensure they are in a position to compete for a playoff berth once again in 2020.
Given the double-digit saving, they have made on Joseph, the potential of him moving on to pastures new was inevitable.
Minnesota gambled on winning now with big-money deals to performing stars on the current roster and high-profile free agents with mixed success. They are now paying the price and Joseph was a financial burden the Vikings needed to remove to boosted their long and short-term ambitions.
The impact of Joseph’s departure
The departure of Linval Joseph will have big implications on the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line.
They are losing a massive part of their run defense and Joseph clogs up a lot of space up the middle. This has been one of the strengths of the Vikings in recent seasons and is going to leave this area of the field needing reinforcements.
Joseph’s influence in Minnesota is also something that cannot be underestimated. He prides himself on being a locker room leader and possesses a real ability to inspire others around him through communication and his actions on the field.
Experienced players like this are hard to find in free agency, and they do not come cheap. Joseph will not be short of offers and may find himself on a team that has a better chance of lifting a Super Bowl next season.
Joseph’s release leaves Minnesota with Shamar Stephen and Jaleel Johnson as realistic starting options for new defensive coordinator duo Andre Patterson and Adam Zimmer in 2020.
Stephen played well last season but needs a force alongside him in order to produce. Johnson has not shown many signs of this so far and it remains to be seen whether he can be an effective NFL starter if given the opportunity.
The loss of Joseph also has an adverse effect on stud defensive end tandem Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen, providing the latter is brought back on a restructured deal.
How can the Vikings replace Joseph?
Anyone coming in to replace Linval Joseph for the Minnesota Vikings is going to have big shoes to fill.
The formidable defensive tackle is a big personality that impacts his teammates in a positive way, which was matched by his performance on the field. The Vikings will have to strike gold if they want someone who can come in and match Joseph’s production if he is inevitably released.
Given the financial constraints the Vikings’ are dealing with, the best option might be to scour the incoming college recruits and use a high-end NFL Draft pick to fill the void. There is plenty of projected first-round players at the position that will be within Minnesota’s reach either at the No.25 selection or by trading up a few spots.
They have plenty of needs in other positions so Minnesota will not want to give up too much draft capital if they want to pursue someone like South Carolina’s prominent interior disruptor Javon Kinlaw. Players like Ross Blacklock, Raekwon Davis, and Justin Madubuike are more realistic options and may be available without having to move up.
Finding someone to match Joseph’s consistency will be difficult in free agency. Defensive tackles who play at a high level do not tend to hit the market too often and the Vikings might go for a seasoned veteran on a short-term deal to plug the hole while a rookie learns the ropes.
This is far from an ideal situation and there can be no more room for error.