The Minnesota Vikings have brought back defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson for the 2021 NFL season and it is hard to know what to expect from him.
It appears as though the Minnesota Vikings aren’t going to let themselves get pushed around on defense the way they did during their 2020 campaign. The Vikings have been very active in making sure they have a lot of talent available to stop the run and defend against the pass in effort of making the playoffs this year.
This year’s roster boasts new faces in Patrick Peterson, Xavier Woods, Dalvin Tomlinson to go with returning players Mackensie Alexander and Stephen Weatherly while the team worked out a deal to put Danielle Hunter on the field in 2021. Plus, Minnesota will get Michael Pierce in the lineup after he sat out last season due to COVID-19 concerns.
When the roster seemed ready to roll for minicamp, the Vikings made a couple of transactions that included signing veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to a one-year deal worth $3.6M.
This is an interesting move for Minnesota, considering their salary cap situation and their current roster. So let’s break this transaction in terms of what Sheldon Richardson has to offer the Vikings and what to expect from him in the upcoming season.
The Good
Depth at defensive tackle
For the first time in his NFL career, Sheldon Richardson will enter a situation where he won’t be relied on to do much heavy lifting. Entering his ninth season, he will be behind Dalvin Tomlinson on the team’s depth chart at defensive tackle and could be used rotationally and situationally.
Keeping both Tomlinson and Richardson fresh would be a nightmare for opposing offenses. There were too many times last year the defensive line was worn down and defeated, allowing themselves to be pushed around. That shouldn’t be the case if he’s not on the field on a regular basis.
Willingness to work
Sheldon Richardson is coming to Minnesota with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He had 7.5 sacks during his two seasons in Cleveland before returning to the Vikings, yet settled for a smaller role on a familiar team with the Vikings.
This is an opportunity for the big man to put together an impressive year to show he is still a monster on the defensive line and transition that into a more substantial role with a bigger contract for 2022 and on.
Reliability and versatility
Missing two games in five seasons is an impressive feat for any player in the NFL. Considering how physical things can be in the trenches with bodies being pushed everywhere and players hitting the ground, it’s a surprise more linemen don’t end up missing time.
Richardson should be considered insurance for the defensive line and could be a versatile addition who could play either defensive tackle or defensive end for the Vikings if asked and he was willing to do so, according to an interview on Vikings.com.
The Bad
Coming off a down year
Last season was a tough one for Sheldon Richardson. His pass-rush grade of 66.1 from Pro Football Focus leaves much to be desired and he graded out only slightly better than that against the run with the Browns.
Thankfully, PFF isn’t the end-all when it comes to NFL stats. Richardson tied for the 11th most pressures with 51 last year, meaning he was effective, just not consistently. Since he is turning 31 this year, it will be something to keep an eye on since he’s seen heavy action over his career despite being able to avoid major injuries.
Having an undefined role
Being a jack of all trades can be a wonderful thing for a player, but having to get in a mindset to “get in where you fit in” can be difficult. However, if he does remain a situational pass rusher, any worries of him playing out of position could be elevated. This will be something to watch.
More needs on the roster
It’s great that Minnesota is securing the defensive line, but a lack of depth at other positions, including safety, wide receiver, and the offensive line, has to be worrisome for the fan base going forward.
What to expect from Sheldon Richardson in 2021
It’s hard to know exactly what Sheldon Richardson will do for the Minnesota Vikings without knowing exactly what roles he will play in the defense. At the very least, the purple and gold got themselves a strong pass rusher to use situationally and generate pressure up the middle. At the most, Minnesota could move Richardson around the defensive line and get him more snaps, especially if the pass rush opposite Danielle Hunter lacks effectiveness in 2021.
Using him in both roles could result in big success, including a handful of pressures each game to add up to around 40 or so on the season and result in about five sacks thanks to opposing offenses needing to stay honest, thanks to Hunter and Pierce.
Richardson will keep Tomlinson fresh and allow him to be even more effective as a run stuffer. Making the team’s defense as a whole stronger against the run as well as generating pressure up front.
Sadly, this will likely be a one-year rental for the Minnesota Vikings since Richardson has a good chance of flourishing under this coaching staff in a smaller role and earning a bigger contract after the 2021 season by signing with a team that needs a lot more help on the defensive line.
What do you expect from Sheldon Richardson during the 2021 NFL season? Do you anticipate less or more than what is listed above? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section.