3 free agents who could help the Vikings immediately in 2022
By Adam Patrick
A.J. Johnson – ILB
During the 2022 offseason, the Vikings used some of their spending money to sign former Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Jordan Hicks
Through two games, Hicks has accumulated 17 tackles, one sack, one pass breakup, and one interception. All respectable numbers, but PFF currently has him graded as their 67th-best linebacker in the NFL, and heading into Week 3, he has the worst defensive grade from PFF on the entire Minnesota roster.
If the Vikings want to bring in someone who could be a much better fit for their current defensive scheme, former Denver Broncos linebacker A.J. Johnson could be their guy.
Johnson was on Denver’s roster when Ed Donatell, Minnesota’s current defensive coordinator, was running the defense for the Broncos. He only started six games for Denver in 2021 due to a torn pectoral, but he was still given the ninth-best defensive grade among all linebackers around the league by PFF.
Johnson is someone who has starting experience (34 starts in four seasons) and he should be able to adjust quickly to a defensive scheme that he is very familiar with.