Vikings Lose Out on All-Pro Target After He Signs with NFC Rival
The Minnesota Vikings could have used another Pro Bowl-caliber player in the middle of Brian Flores‘ swarming defense, but it was not to be.
Minnesota took a hard look at Darius Shaquille Leonard after the Indianapolis Colts released the three-time All-Pro on November 21, but the linebacker ultimately chose to play elsewhere.
“Leonard … has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles,” Grant Gordon of NFL.com wrote on Monday, December 4. “Leonard visited with the Eagles on Wednesday after he initially visited with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. He’s decided to go with first-place Philadelphia for the stretch run as the reigning NFC champions look for a Super Bowl return.”
Last 2 Losses May Have Damaged Vikings’ Chances to Land Shaquille Leonard
With Leonard now out of the equation, the Vikings are more likely to stick out the stretch run with the personnel they have.
“If the Vikings were going to add someone for the end-of-the-year stretch, it likely would have happened during the bye,” Bleacher Report’s NFL Staff wrote Monday. “They’re committed to making it work with the guys in the building, and Jefferson’s return should help as well. Plus, Marcus Davenport is now eligible to return from injured reserve, so the team has plenty of help on the way.”
Davenport, hampered by injury for much of the 2023 campaign, has played just four games for Minnesota after signing a one-year, $13 million deal during the offseason. However, he has tallied 6 pressures, 4 QB hits and 2 sacks across those four performances and should offer a meaningful complement of production playing opposite Danielle Hunter, who has proven among the best edge-rushers in the NFL this season.