Vikings Add Two More Veteran Defensive Free Agents
The Vikings added two more veteran defensive free agents on Wednesday, signing inside linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and outside linebacker Jihad Ward. Both players were drafted in 2016, turn 30 in May, and are joining their sixth NFL team.
Grugier-Hill was originally a sixth-round pick out of Eastern Illinois by the Eagles. He spent the first four years of his career in Philadelphia, then had stints with the Dolphins, Texans, Cardinals, and Panthers over the last four years. Grugier-Hill has made 42 regular-season starts, including a career-high 14 with Houston in 2021 and five with Carolina last year. For his career, he has 28 tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
With nearly 1,800 career special teams snaps, Grugier-Hill can be considered the Vikings' replacement for Troy Dye, who signed with the Chargers. He'll also be a depth option at inside linebacker behind starters Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman.
Ward was a Raiders second-round pick out of Illinois in '16. He started 13 games as a rookie, then was mostly a rotational player for the next five years of his career with Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Jacksonville. Over the last two seasons, Ward has started 20 games for the Giants and seen over 650 snaps in both years. Eight of his 18 career sacks, 12 of his 24 total TFL, and all three of his forced fumbles have come since he joined the Giants two years ago.
Ward joins Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Pat Jones II, and Andre Carter II in the Vikings' outside linebacker room.
Neither Grugier-Hill nor Ward project as difference-makers; they have unimpressive career PFF grades and were available at this point of free agency for a reason. But for low costs, both veterans will add some important depth to a Vikings team that doesn't have any second or third-round picks this year.
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