3 former Vikings the team should consider adding before the 2022 trade deadline

Sheldon Richardson – DL

Current Status: Free Agent

With the Vikings now utilizing a 3-4 defensive alignment, some might think that Sheldon Richardson wouldn’t be a fit since Minnesota used a 4-3 defensive alignment during his two seasons with the team.

However, some of Richardson’s most successful years in the NFL have come while playing in a 3-4 defense. His first four seasons in the league were spent with the New York Jets, who primarily used a 3-4 defensive alignment.

All that happened was Richardson won the Defensive Rookie of the Year during his first season with the Jets, and then in year two, his performance earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.

The Vikings are set with Dalvin Tomlinson and Harrison Phillips at the top of their defensive line depth chart. But behind these two, Minnesota could still use some help.

Jonathan Bullard has the third-most defensive snaps among Vikings’ defensive linemen this season, followed by James Lynch and Ross Blacklock. Neither of these three linemen have done a whole lot with their opportunities on the field this year though.

Richardson will turn 32 at the end of November, so his time in the NFL is definitely nearing the end. But after finishing with the second-most pressures among Minnesota defenders last season, he should still have a little left in the tank to help the purple and gold this year if they’re interested in bringing him back in the building.