An Update that May Give Vikings Fans Some Heartburn

Many Vikings fans believed that Minnesota ought to make a move for edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Even more persuasive was that plugged-in, knowledgeable football voices — such as former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond — advocated for the signing.

Plenty of time passed and now the time has passed. Mr. Clowney is working with the Texans.

Some basic contract details have now come through. Per Over the Cap, the Texans added the pass rusher for a single-season contract coming in at $5.5 million. The Vikings could have easily afforded such a financial commitment. In fact, Minnesota could have done a lot better, possibly leading to some confusion about Minnesota’s pursuit.

Vikings Fans May Not be Pleased with Clowney Contract

In the NFL, there’s no such thing as too many pass rushers.

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Pretty commonly, fans and analysts point out that it’s a passing league. The conventional wisdom thus suggests that landing an excellent quarterback and some formidable aerial weapons is the way to go. Plenty to be said for that approach, folks.

But then note that we’re talking about a two-way street. Teams are building scary passing attacks. In response, teams are building defenses aimed at neutralizing the threat. That’s where Jadeveon Clowney can help.

The Vikings will be an aggressive unit. Such is life with Brian Flores calling the shots. The DC displays an unusual proclivity for the blitz, leading the league regularly in his willingness to send 5+ players. Doing so helps to keep the offense on its heels but there’s a downside: not having as many players back in coverage.

Every so often, it’s nice to be able get home with four. No need to steal from Peter to pay for Paul when four pass rushers can beat five blockers. That numbers advantage leaves a DC with seven coverage men for what’s going to be a maximum of five potential receivers (but usually less).

A perfect world for the Vikings would mean being able see Andrew Van Ginkel, Jalen Redmond, Caleb Banks, and Dallas Turner get to the quarterback without help. Flores, though, doesn’t appear to be somebody who is content to send four across a full game. Having the option is what’s desired.

Is that cluster of talent above going to be enough? Or, perhaps, is the depth paper thin?

Right now, the best guess is that Eric Wilson, Jake Golday, and Ty Ingram-Dawkins are going to get called upon to help within the pass rushing department. So, too, can options such as Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss get leaned on for help. At DT, Levi Drake Rodriguez is a bundle of energy contained in shoulder pads; look for him to get penetration from time to time.

Signing Mr. Clowney would have upped the ante.

Note that Paul Allen asked Vikings GM Nolan Teasley about Clowney getting scooped up. Was the beginning of training camp, Allen asked, when great vets can be expected to put pen to paper? Check out some of what Mr. Teasley had to say: “It seemed like it aligned for him. I think he might live in the Houston area, came into the league with them, so there’s a connection there.”

The local connection, perhaps, provides some rationale for why the veteran could enjoy working with the Texans. Older players, in particular, tend to be choosy when finding a spot, opting for a good fit beyond just the dollars and cents within a contract.

Vikings fans may still have some quibbles. Onboarding a player of the same ability as Jadeveon Clowney — an assassin for hire as a pass rusher — would be a nice pickup. The team is sitting on north of $20 million in open cap space, meaning there’s some buying power.

The Vikings are still sorting through training camp practices at TCO. Minnesota’s debut preseason game takes place on Saturday, August 15th at the New York Giants. Keep an eye on how the pass rush looks.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.