7 free-agent defensive linemen the Vikings could sign in 2023

Chris Wormley

2022 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Another player who was with Brian Flores in Pittsburgh last season is Chris Wormley. Wormley was a former third-round pick of the Ravens in the 2017 NFL Draft. He didn’t do much in three seasons in Baltimore and moved to their division rival in 2020.

After a slow first season, Wormely exploded in 2021 to the tune of seven sacks. He proved to be more than a one-trick pony as he also tallied 51 tackles and six tackles for a loss. He was moved inside to defensive tackle back in 2022, and his stats dipped a bit, but his season was also cut short when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

That is going to be the catch-22 when it comes to Wormley. Where is he at in his recovery, and what is his timeline to return to the field are two huge questions to ask. He’s a versatile player who has played defensive tackle, nose tackle, and both right and left defensive end. He can get after the passer and stuff the run and is already familiar with Brian Flores, but his health is the hang-up.

Wormley was expected to have a 6-9 month recovery dating back to December which should make him ready for potentially the start of the season. He could be a bargain get for the Vikings and one who could end up having a big impact in 2023.