Michael Pierce became the Minnesota Vikings first big free agent acquisition, but what can the imposing defensive tackle bring to the franchise?
The Minnesota Vikings wasted no time in replacing defensive tackle Linval Joseph with the signing of Michael Pierce from the Baltimore Ravens.
An undrafted product out of Samford, Pierce worked his way up the Ravens’ depth chart and became a key component in their defense. Although they ultimately fell short in the NFL playoffs, there was plenty to like about the player’s production.
This earned him some interest on the free-agent market before signing a lucrative deal with the Vikings. Pierce will get the chance to fill the void left by Joseph, who was released prior to the legal tampering period to give the organization some salary cap breathing space.
Pierce has some big shoes to fill, with Joseph playing well for the majority of last season. The decision to let him go was purely a business one and saved the Minnesota Vikings a little over $10 million in cap space.
There is little doubt Pierce has something to offer and is heading into the prime of his career. What he lacks in pass-rushing he more than makes up for in other areas.
How he settles into a locker room that has lost some influential members will be critical. The Vikings need some more veteran leadership and Pierce is a boisterous character that provides a real spark when he is in the mood.
This is the first real splash that the Minnesota decision-makers have made to bring someone new into the fold during free agency. Given the limited resources available, they are counting on Pierce to make a big difference.
Pierce’s NFL career so far
Michael Pierce deserves a tremendous amount of credit for rising from relative obscurity to a starting role in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens took a flyer on the undrafted rookie in 2016 and were rewarded with four seasons of good production.
Although Pierce only started one game in his first pro season, he played in all 16 regular-season contests and 36 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He made the most out of the opportunity on his way to 35 total tackles and two sacks.
His sophomore year was equally impressive and saw his time on the field rise to 54.5 percent of snaps, which is a career-high to date. Pierce was a commanding presence on the interior and ended the 2017 campaign with 49 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries.
The 27-year-old took a backward step in 2018 and started just two of 14 games for which he was available. This saw his production decrease and it is the only season where Pierce has failed to generate a sack.
He played 44 percent of snaps and notched 32 tackles. Pierce responded well to a down year to make a telling contribution in the trenches for a Baltimore team that was one of the best in the NFL in 2019.
With 35 tackles and half a sack from 49 percent of defensive snaps, Pierce emerged as a fine two-down back in a contract year that saw him primed for free agent interest.
Is Pierce worth the money?
The Minnesota Vikings played it safe when they gave Michael Pierce a three-year, $27 million deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus and $18m guaranteed.
This was a smart deal for the Vikings, who do have a potential out after the 2020 season if things do not go according to plan. Pierce can be released at a $5.1 million saving for the franchise next spring heading into the second year of his deal.
There is plenty of incentive for Pierce to perform well and secure the final two years of his contract, where he is due to be paid $7.9 million and $8.9 million. This is a win-win situation for the Vikings, who will be getting a productive player at a cheaper cost to Linval Joseph.
Leaving the onus on Pierce to produce consistent performances of a high standard should motivate the player. He made just $4.71 million during his time with the Baltimore Ravens and the Vikings will be hoping the player doesn’t become the latest NFL star to regress after securing big money.
Only time will tell as to whether Pierce is worth such a big financial commitment. It is going to take a little time to settle into a new defensive scheme. But the similarities with Joseph are stark and the player comes at a lesser cost.
This could be a masterstroke from the Vikings’ perspective if Pierce can make the sort of impact they expect. There should also be a real sense of urgency from the player’s perspective given his potential release this time next year.
What will Pierce bring to the Vikings?
Michael Pierce should fit in well to the Minnesota Vikings’ defense. Although he is primarily a two-down defensive tackle, the player brings a great deal to the table.
He is a stout run stuffer who plugs holes really well on running downs. Pierce is a commanding figure on the interior and represents a significant problem for opposing offensive lineman to shift.
The Minnesota Vikings are not going to get much out of Pierce in terms of pass-rushing. But in truth, they don’t really need to. They already possess some potent weapons to get after the quarterback on the edge, so they do not need this type of production from the former Baltimore Raven.
Pierce is also a high-character individual who plays with the enthusiasm and drive of a man who has grasped the chance to earn a living in the NFL. Head coach Mike Zimmer will be restricted in how he can use the player, but if he focuses on using him in a similar way to that of Linval Joseph then it could be a mutually beneficial move.
At a little over six feet in height, Pierce is on the small side for a defensive tackle. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in effort and is a solid tackling presence at the point of attack.
While his limitations are there for all to see, playing to Pierce’s strengths on a talented defensive front will be the key to any potential success the player has in Minnesota.
Was this a good move by the Vikings?
Acquiring someone with the experience and production of Michael Pierce was the best the Minnesota Vikings could have hoped for.
With the limited salary cap space, they were never going to tempt one of the bigger-name free agents to Minnesota. Getting Pierce on a team-friendly deal with the option to cut the player if he underperforms is a shrewd move from the Vikings’ front office.
It also allows them to focus on other areas of need in the upcoming NFL Draft. Although finding a long-term solution at defensive tackle will be high on their list of priorities, spending their two first-round picks on a wide receiver and cornerback would be more beneficial in a deep class at both positions.
This would give the Vikings the best possible chance of making a second consecutive playoff appearance and push to regain the NFC North crown. If Pierce excels in a new environment, then they can realistically still have the player for the best years of his career.
There is still plenty of work for the Vikings to do this offseason. The organization has little room for error when it comes to picking free agents or draft prospects in 2020 to aid them during what could be the final season of a rapidly closing window for the franchise.
Pierce’s arrival is a relatively low-risk, high reward move from the Minnesota Vikings. If things don’t work out then he will no doubt be moved on next spring. But if the defensive tackle plays up to his potential it could end up being a real coup for the franchise at a very good price.