The Cardinals are interested in former Vikings EDGE Everson Griffen, per an ESPN report.
It’s a little strange former Minnesota Vikings EDGE Everson Griffen has taken this long to find a new employer.
Griffen, whose 2019 Pro Bowl efforts combined a lethal defensive tandem with fellow EDGE Danielle Hunter a year ago, opted out of his contract in Minnesota prior to the start of the league’s new year last March.
And the 32 year old remains an unsigned free agent.
But that could change soon, according to a new report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who reported the Arizona Cardinals could be courting Griffen’s services for 2020.
“Two veteran free agents who have had markets despite not signing — Jason Peters, Everson Griffen,” Fowler said in a tweet Friday evening. “Both have had strong interest from multiple teams (Cardinals believed to be among those for Griffen). Both staying patient, waiting for right opportunity.”
It’s important to note Griffen is originally from Arizona, so the veteran pass-rusher could seek to return to a region familiar to him. And he would also be able to pair up with another prolific pass-rusher, Cardinals EDGE Chandler Jones, who had 19 sacks in 2019 — second only behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Shaquil Barrett.
Vikings to rely on Danielle Hunter, Ifeadi Odenigbo
The chances of Griffen somehow returning to Minnesota seem remote, even if the veteran’s market has been relatively dry up to this point.
Fortunately, relying on a player like Hunter isn’t exactly a bad way to go. Yet the Vikings are going to want to give the 2019 Pro Bowler a little bit of additional help, which prompts fourth-year pro Ifeadi Odenigbo into a more prominent role than the support piece he was last season.
Odenigbo, the Vikings’ seventh-round NFL Draft pick from 2017, appeared in 16 regular-season games a year ago, registering 23 tackles and an impressive seven sacks.
Not bad for a situational pass-rusher.
With Griffen likely out of the picture, it’ll be up to the 26-year-old Odenigbo to supply a lot more pass-rushing help this season to take some of the pressure off Hunter as Minnesota’s two primary edge rushers.
Simply put, Odenigbo will have an excellent opportunity. And as far as Griffen’s future, it’s only worthwhile to wish him the best of luck moving forward.
Except for any moment he’s playing Minnesota, of course.