One team is reportedly out of the Ndamukong Suh sweepstakes, but that team isn’t the Minnesota Vikings.
Per Cleveland Browns reporter Brad Stainbrook, the Browns have remained “out of the picture” to land the former five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, but both the Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders are still holding conversations in an effort to secure his services.
According to the report, the hope is that Suh will ultimately make a decision before the start of training camp.
“Browns remain out of the picture for DT Ndamukong Suh,” Stainbrook posted on Twitter. “The Raiders and Vikings have held conversations, and Suh will look to hopefully sign somewhere before camp opens up.”
Source: #Browns remain out of the picture for DT Ndamukong Suh. The Raiders and Vikings have held conversations, and Suh will look to hopefully sign somewhere before camp opens up.
— Brad Stainbrook (@StainbrookNFL) July 12, 2022
Landing another disruptive defensive playmaker this late in the game would be significant for the Vikings. Even at age 35, Suh has shown he still has the tendency of finding his way into the offensive backfield and blowing up plays.
He’s coming off his second straight six-sack season with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team he helped win Super Bowl LV with back in 2021. But his greatest asset is his elite run-stopping abilities.
The Vikings’ defensive front was a doormat for opponents last season with the unit allowing 130.7 rushing yards per game on average. It was just too easy to move the ball up and down the field against them.
But the addition of Suh, along with Harrison Phillips and Dalvin Tomlinson, could finally change things for the better. It could bring an end to the doormat reference by reinserting some respect—and perhaps even a little fear—back into the Vikings defense.