After Trading Za'Darius Smith, Should the Vikings Add a Free Agent Edge Rusher?

The Vikings trading three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Za'Darius Smith to the Browns freed up some cap space, but it won't make their defense better in 2023. Smith has proven to be one of the NFL's premier pass rushers when healthy, a relentless player who can rush the quarterback from any alignment within the defensive front.

So, as the Vikings look ahead to the upcoming season, should they consider signing a veteran free agent to help replace Smith? The short answer is that it's a potentially enticing option that could raise the floor for Minnesota's edge rusher group, but it might not be totally necessary or logical.

Losing Smith is a possibility the Vikings had been accounting for since he first voiced his displeasure with his contract in March. The team signed former Saints first-round pick Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal in free agency, so they already have a replacement ready to go. Davenport's sack totals have fluctuated during his five-year career, but his pressure numbers and PFF grades have been consistently strong. He'll be motivated to prove himself in a new environment and earn a big contract next spring at age 27.

The Vikings still have a star, too. Danielle Hunter, returning from missing all of 2020 and the second half of 2021 due to different injuries, looked like himself last season. He played in every game and was highly productive after a slow start, finishing with 10.5 sacks and 70 pressures to make his third career Pro Bowl. The Vikings still need to address his contract situation this offseason, which seems like something they'll prioritize with Smith gone. Hunter turns 29 in October, meaning he should have several years left on the back end of his prime.

Whether or not the Vikings should target a veteran edge rusher may depend on how they feel about their depth behind Hunter and Davenport. The top backups are D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones II, who are former middle-round picks from 2020 and 2021, respectively. Wonnum has 15 sacks in three seasons, but the advanced metrics paint him as a replacement-level edge rusher at best. Few of his sacks have been of the high-quality variety. Still, Wonnum has some NFL experience and should be motivated in the final season of his rookie contract. Jones has a bit more promise because he's a year younger and is coming off a decent second season.

Deeper down the roster, the Vikings have Kenny Willekes, Luiji Vilain, Curtis Weaver, Benton Whitley, and standout undrafted free agent Andre Carter II. Carter got significant guaranteed money for a UDFA and had a massive 2021 season at Army, but he may need a year to bulk up and develop before seeing NFL regular season snaps.

The argument in favor of the Vikings signing a veteran edge rusher is that it would raise the floor and bolster the depth at one of the sport's most important positions. In theory, it would help protect against Hunter's injury history, Davenport's inconsistency, and the lack of proven production behind that duo. The Vikings have a chance to defend their NFC North title in what looks like a wide open division race, so any boost to their biggest 2022 weakness — the defense — could make an important difference.

If the Vikings end up trading or releasing Dalvin Cook, as expected, they'll have the cap space to add someone. Here are ten notable edge rushers who are currently free agents:

Leonard Floyd
Jadeveon Clowney
Frank Clark
Robert Quinn
Justin Houston
Yannick Ngakoue
Markus Golden
Melvin Ingram
Trey Flowers
Carlos Dunlap

The argument against the Vikings signing one of those players is two-fold. For one, the cabinet is not empty without Smith; the trade only dropped the Vikings from first to 12th in Mike Clay's edge rusher unit rankings. Hunter, Davenport, Jones and Wonnum is a strong top four that could be one of the best units in the league if Hunter stays healthy and Davenport thrives after a change of scenery.

Then there's the timeline argument. Signing an older veteran to a one-year deal might help in 2023, but the Vikings aren't necessarily all-in on this season. Any snaps that would go to that player would be taken away from younger players who might be part of Minnesota's future plans, so you could make the case for focusing on the evaluation of players like Davenport, Wonnum, Jones, and perhaps even Carter instead of adding someone in their 30s.

It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might do with the cap space created by moving on from Smith and (presumably) Cook.

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