After failing to make the playoffs last season, the Minnesota Vikings hope they can contend again when the NFL returns later this year. One way the team can make it happen during the offseason is by signing Justin Madubuike away from the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite a slow start, the Vikings looked like they found their groove back at some point last season. Unfortunately, Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8, disrupting any momentum they’ve built toward the playoffs.
This led Minnesota to finish third in the NFC North division with a 7-10 record. As a result, the Vikings failed to grab a playoff spot as they entered the offseason with several of their players, such as Cousins, entering free agency.
That’s why the team may need to bolster its defense before the upcoming season starts. To do that, the Vikings may need to sign Madubuike to a projected $81 million contract in the coming days.
Why The Minnesota Vikings Must Sign Justin Madubuike In Free Agency
Getting Madubuike makes sense for a team that ended last season on a disappointing note. Aaron Schatz explained more in his article for ESPN:
“Defensive end Jonathan Bullard is a free agent, while 30-year-old Dean Lowry missed half of last season with a pectoral injury and has only 0.5 sacks over the past two years. The Vikings’ defense improved significantly last season but could use improvement at 5-technique defensive end.
Enter Madubuike, who can play as either a 3-tech tackle or a 5-tech end. In a breakout season, he had 13 sacks with a career-high 56 combined tackles and was named second-team All-Pro. He’s a powerful pass-rusher who also is a strong run defender,” Schatz wrote.
Madubuike offers the Vikings a lot of versatility on the defensive end of the field. With a sharp increase in sacks, tackles, and quarterback hits last season for the Ravens, it’ll make sense for Minnesota to pry him away from Baltimore.
If the Vikings find a good replacement for Cousins at quarterback and sign Madubuike to a contract, the team can show signs of contending next season. In any case, it’d be best to keep an eye on both parties to see what happens next.
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1 Comment
He is getting the franchise tag put on him 10000% so what the heck are u talking about !!!!!!