Could Eric Wilson end up back with the Vikings for the 2021 season?
By Adam Patrick
Could the lack of interest in Eric Wilson since the start of free agency lead to him re-signing with the Minnesota Vikings?
For the second offseason in a row, the Minnesota Vikings had some pretty notable members of their roster hit free agency this year.
Guys like Kyle Rudolph, Riley Reiff, and Anthony Harris have already found their home for the 2021 season. But there are still a number of former Vikings waiting in free agency to land with a team including Eric Wilson, Jaleel Johnson, Dakota Dozier, Sean Mannion, and George Iloka.
Of the group of Minnesota’s remaining free agents, Wilson not signing with a new team is the most surprising. Many felt he was going to generate a good amount of interest this offseason, but this just hasn’t been the case.
Is there any chance of Eric Wilson returning to the Minnesota Vikings?
After four years with the Vikings, Wilson became an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Some wondered if Minnesota would choose to keep him over Anthony Barr for the 2021 season, but it seems like the Vikings don’t have any intention of parting ways with Barr anytime soon.
Following a 2020 campaign in which he started 15 games for Minnesota and finished with 122 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions, and three sacks, most assumed the 26-year-old linebacker would have some offers on the table from other teams by now. But he’s still waiting to find out where he will be playing next.
There was a report earlier this month from the Colorado Springs Gazette’s Woody Paige that the Denver Broncos and ex-Vikings assistant general manager George Paton had Wilson on their “wish list,” of players to sign this year. But nothing has happened since that report was released.
With Wilson still available, some might wonder if he could just end up re-signing with Minnesota. But the Vikings signed former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Nick Vigil during the beginning of free agency and that felt like a move that pretty much put to bed any chance of Wilson returning this year.
Still, Wilson re-joining Minnesota can’t be ruled out until it actually doesn’t happen. Last year, most assumed Anthony Harris was going to land elsewhere and then he ended up remaining with the Vikings. So we really just never know how things might turn out.