Inside The Vikings

Vikings Signing Former Rams DL Jonah Williams

Williams adds some depth to the interior of the Vikings' defensive line.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Signing Former Rams DL Jonah Williams
Vikings Signing Former Rams DL Jonah Williams

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are signing former Rams defensive lineman Jonah Williams (not to be confused with the Cardinals offensive tackle of the same name), per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Williams visited Minnesota on Monday. He was scheduled to visit Arizona on Tuesday, but that won't be happening. It's a one-year deal worth up to $1.5 million, according to KSTP's Darren Wolfson.

In November 2021, the Vikings' previous regime claimed Williams off waivers from the Rams, but he failed his physical and was waived the next day. He wound up returning to the Rams' practice squad less than a week later. There should be no issues with Williams joining the Vikings this time around.

Williams, who turns 29 this summer, signed with LA as an undrafted free agent out of FCS Weber State in 2020 (the Idaho native was 25 as an NFL rookie because he served a two-year LDS mission in Brazil before starting college). He made his NFL debut in 2021 and earned increased playing time in each of the last two seasons. After jumping from 97 defensive snaps in '21 to 342 in '22, Williams started 17 games for the Rams last season (including playoffs) and saw 636 snaps. 

A 6'5", 275-pound defensive lineman, Williams is a 3-4 DE who can also line up at DT. He had 49 tackles, four TFL, two sacks, 17 pressures, and a 53.7 PFF grade last year. He gives the Vikings another solid rotational player for Brian Flores' defensive line. Williams played under new Vikings DL coach Marcus Dixon in 2021.

Vikings' current DL depth:

  • Harrison Phillips
  • Jonathan Bullard
  • Jerry Tillery
  • Jonah Williams
  • Jaquelin Roy

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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