6 free-agent defensive tackles the Vikings could sign in 2021
By Dean Jones
DaQuan Jones
If the Minnesota Vikings are looking for a dominant presence who can fill the void left by Linval Joseph, then DaQuan Jones should be high on the shortlist. The defensive tackle anchored the Tennessee Titans extremely well in 2020 on their way to yet another postseason appearance, giving them a stout interior presence who was incredibly difficult to move off the block.
Jones might not stuff the stat sheet like some, but one has to look beyond this to see just what an asset he is. The former fourth-round pick has tremendous athleticism for a man his size and this is matched by strength at the point of attack that allows him to dismiss offensive linemen at will.
Whether Jones is out of the Minnesota Vikings’ price range is questionable. Spotrac projects Jones to command an annual salary of $7.5 million on a two-year, $15.1 million deal when he heads to the bargaining table this spring, which could work providing Minnesota can make the necessary moves that put them in a better financial position heading into free agency.
The Penn State product also excels against the run, so his physical attributes would complement Michael Pierce really well. No doubt the Titans will make a strong run to keep the player around after he started every game in 2020, but there might not be a better chance for Jones to get a bigger payday elsewhere.