The Minnesota Vikings are releasing a linebacker
The Minnesota Vikings made a jump as a team overall in 2022. The Vikings won the NFC North but couldn’t win a playoff game in Kevin O’Connell’s first year as their head coach. Many of the team’s problems were on defense. The Vikings intend to make changes to that group this offseason.
According to Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, the Vikings are releasing linebacker Eric Kendricks. He earned All-Pro honors in 2019.
https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1632743065814220800
Kendricks received high grades for his play by Pro Football Focus for the 2019-20 seasons. However, he regressed the previous two years for the Vikings. He earned overall season grades of 59.2 in 2021 and 61.1 in 2022. Kendricks recorded one sack last season with 97 solo tackles and 41 stops. He missed 15 tackles.
The Vikings need some cap space to improve their defense. According to Over The Cap, the Vikings are over $24 million in the red. The Vikings were tied for giving up the 28th most points in the regular season in 2022.