Breaking: Vikings Strike Quickly To Sign $45 Million LB….
In the leadup to the 2024 NFL Draft, Vikings.com is taking a look at prospects who have garnered a range of attention from national outlets. The series will include rankings by those national outlets, stats and background information for multiple prospects.
Vikings status at defensive line
Six different defensive linemen started at least one game for the Vikings during the 2023 campaign, and just three of those have returned for the 2024 season.
In a season where “next man up” became the mantra, Minnesota’s most durable contributor on the line’s interior was Harrison Phillips, who returned for his second campaign in purple. Phillips started all 17 games for the Vikings and helped anchor a front in its first season under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.
Phillips is returning for a third season in Purple, having played 1,533 defensive snaps over the past two seasons.
The Vikings re-signed Jonathan Bullard, a lineman who’s been somewhat of a journeyman over the past four seasons but is looking forward to his third straight with Minnesota. Bullard started a career-high 14 of 17 games in 2023.
The only other returning defensive lineman from last season’s roster is 2023 draft pick Jaquelin Roy, who appeared in 12 games and made one start.
The Vikings added veteran linemen Jerry Tillery, Jonah Williams and Jihad Ward as free agents last month. Tillery originally was a first-round draft pick in 2019 by the Chargers and has played 79 career games, including 39 starts.
Williams got his NFL start in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Rams, whom he’s played with the past three seasons – including in 2021 when he overlapped in Los Angeles with Kevin O’Connell.
Ward has started 35 of the 102 NFL games he’s played for the Raiders, Colts, Ravens, Jaguars and Giants.
The Vikings could add to the defensive line through the draft.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah currently has four interior defensive linemen in his Top 50: 19. Byron Murphy II, 32. Jer’Zhan Newton, 37. Braden Fiske, 50. Maason Smith.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., has just one interior defensive lineman in his overall Top 25: 24. Murphy II.
Rankings for interior defensive linemen by Jeremiah, his NFL Media counterpart Bucky Brooks, Kiper, analytics site Pro Football Focus and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler are listed below.
Got in the end zone: During his junior season at Texas, his first as a full-time starter, Murphy became the first Longhorns offensive or defensive lineman with multiple offensive touchdowns. He scored a 1-yard receiving TD against Wyoming and a 1-yard rushing touchdown against Washington in the Sugar Bowl.
School: Texas | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-4 ½ | Wt: 366 pounds
Experts’ Position Rankings
Daniel Jeremiah: Not Ranked (in Top 50 overall prospects)
Bucky Brooks: DT5
Mel Kiper, Jr.: DT3
Pro Football Focus: DI7
Dane Brugler: DT10
2023 stats: 14 games; 45 tackles (18 solo), 2.0 sacks, 8 TFL, 4 PBU, 1 blocked kick
Super senior standout: Sweat played five seasons for the Longhorns, racking up the accolades during his final campaign. He was named the 2023 Outland Trophy winner, as well as earning unanimous First-Team All-America honors and being named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and conference coaches. He also caught a 2-yard touchdown pass against Oklahoma State.
