7 free-agent defensive ends the Vikings could sign in 2022
By Nik Edlund
Al-Quadin Muhammad
2021 Team: Indianapolis Colts
Al-Quadin Muhammad may not be a familiar name to Vikings fans or even the casual NFL fan, but he’s a very good defender who deserves a lot more attention league-wide. He’s definitely a player who seems like he is just starting to come into his own.
He entered the league with the Saints back in 2017 but was cut the following year. The Colts picked him up, waived him, and then signed him to their practice squad. He was called up to the active roster a few weeks later and he hasn’t looked back.
Muhammad has gotten better every season he’s been in the league, topping it off in 2021 when he became a full-time starter.
He started all 17 games last year, and had six sacks, 48 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, hit the quarterback 13 times, and forced a fumble. He’s a player whose stock is trending upward and who is entering free agency at the right time.
It’s hard to imagine the Colts letting an impressive young player like this go, but plenty of other teams will see his value. One would think he could be had at a decent price, but his productive 2021 season, paired with his age, could price him out of the Vikings range.
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Muhammad is one of the lesser-known players on this list, but one who has one of the higher ceilings of anyone. He may not initially get Vikings fans excited, but once they get familiar with him, that’ll change.