Vikings Rumors: Everson Griffen 'Probably' Won't Re-Sign with Minnesota as FA

Free-agent defensive end Everson Griffen has played the first 10 years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, but signs point to the 32-year-old playing elsewhere next year. 

Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported the following on Tuesday, noting the door isn't completely shut on a return yet:

The four-time Pro Bowler amassed eight sacks in 15 games in 2019 for the Vikings, who finished 10-6 and reached the NFC Divisional Round.    

Griffen was signed through 2022, but per ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the ex-USC Trojan met two contractual benchmarks in 2019 that enabled him to void the final three years of his deal and hit free agency:

"Griffen met two figures that voided the final three years of his contract (2020-22) by tallying six or more sacks and playing 57% or more of the snaps last season, and he exercised the right to opt out of his deal, a source told ESPN. That frees up around $13 million in cap space for Minnesota (along with roughly $800,000 in dead money)."

Griffen also said in a March 20 Instagram post that he planned to move on.

As Tomasson noted, the Vikings' interest in trying to retain Griffen might be tied to whether the team is able to land another top pass-rusher in the draft.

That may not be much of an issue with the Vikings holding the 22nd and 25th overall picks this year. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller gave three edge-rushers first-round grades: Ohio State's Chase Young, LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson and Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos.

Young, who Miller ranks as the best overall prospect, won't fall to Minnesota. But it's possible Chaisson or Gross-Matos either falls to No. 22 or drops far enough for the Vikings to move up.

Miller, of note, called a match between Gross-Matos and the Vikings as the best potential scheme fit among all edge-rushers.

The Vikings also still have Danielle Hunter (14.5 sacks) and Ifeadi Odenigbo (7.5 sacks) on the 2020 roster. As good as Griffen has been for Minnesota, the Vikings' pass rush may be fine with those two in the mix plus a rookie.