The Vikings have made only minor additions to their defensive tackle group so far. Before the offseason, defensive tackle was a clear area of need for the Vikings, but despite their reported interest in Christian Wilkins, who ultimately signed with the Raiders, they have made only limited moves in that position.
They signed Jerry Tillery, a former first-round pick known for his pass rush ability, to a one-year deal. They also re-signed Jonathan Bullard and added former Ram Jonah Williams to replace Dean Lowry, who was released.
Speaking at the NFL Owner’s Meetings in Orlando, head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the state of the Vikings’ defensive tackle position, saying, “We really wanted to try to find a couple impactful players in the front, if we could.” He mentioned their efforts in free agency and highlighted the different skill sets they’ve added to the defensive line room, including Tillery, Bullard, Harrison Phillips, and Jaquelin Roy, who showed promise in his rookie year. O’Connell also emphasized the upcoming draft as an opportunity to further strengthen the team.
While the Vikings have bolstered their defense with additions like edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Blake Cashman, and cornerback Shaquill Griffin, they could still use another impact player at defensive tackle. They may address this need in the upcoming draft or see improvement from players like Roy in his second season.
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