Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Haason Reddick (5) speaks with reporters after coaching camp at AdventHealth Coaching Middle on Aug 1, 2025. Reddick addressed media members in Tampa following a summer time apply, providing one other snapshot of the veteran go rusher as he settled into camp with the Buccaneers earlier than the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs.
Not way back, ESPN formally really helpful Haason Reddick as a summer time free agent signing for the Minnesota Vikings, and about two weeks later, CBS Sports activities has adopted swimsuit. Minnesota might have a depth want at exterior linebacker, with a participant like Reddick being tailored for the task.
Bryan DeArdo performed “free agent matchmaker” for the NFL final week, situating the Vikings with the veteran defender.
Brian Flores May Use One Extra Summer season Choice
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick labored off a block throughout a matchup with the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Monetary Area whereas Philadelphia managed a tense house task. On October 1, 2023, Reddick battled Washington guard Andrew Wylie because the Eagles’ protection tried to stress the pocket in an NFC East sport. Obligatory Credit score: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Free Agent Matchmaker: Reddick to Vikings
On an inventory that included Tyreek Hill to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Stefon Diggs to the Washington Commanders, Reddick was related to Kevin O’Connell’s workforce.
DeArdo wrote, “One of the league’s premier pass rushers from 2020-23 (he averaged nearly 13 sacks per season over that span), Reddick had just 3.5 combined sacks over the past two seasons. But while he had just 2.5 sacks in 2025, he amassed 34 pressures despite playing through several injuries.”
“In Minnesota, Reddick’s versatility would be put to use by veteran defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The fact that the Vikings employ a 3-4 defense — which Reddick has a history of playing in — makes this pairing even more logical.”
The Vikings have simply over $13 million to spend in cap area on summer time free brokers.
The Vikings’ Present OLB Setup
Questioning why the Vikings might have one other go rusher within the first place? That reply is straightforward: in April, the franchise traded Professional Bowler Jonathan Greenard and a Seventh-Spherical choose to the Philadelphia Eagles for 2 Third-Spherical picks, one which has already became rookie security Jakobe Thomas. The commerce created a void within the EDGE room — except the Vikings have an unknown contingency plan, like changing defensive deal with Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to exterior linebacker or debuting rookie off-ball linebacker Jake Golday on the EDGE instantly.
Right here’s the OLB roster in July:
Andrew Van Ginkel
Dallas Turner
Bo Richter
Tyler Batty
Chaz Chambliss
Cam’Ron Stewart
Arden Walker
If Reddick had been signed, he’d leap in proper beneath Turner as Minnesota’s OLB3.
Reddick’s Bio
Minnesota wouldn’t want Reddick to revert to his 2022 kind magically. That model of Reddick is probably going gone, maybe for good, and that’s completely acceptable as a result of the Vikings could be looking for one thing completely different. That is a couple of short-term gamble on a go rusher — the transfer a contending workforce makes to accumulate one other fiery veteran prepared for the common season.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick walked off the sphere after one other playoff win at Lincoln Monetary Area, the place Philadelphia stored rolling by means of January behind one other loud defensive exhibiting. On January 21, 2023, Reddick and the Eagles defeated the New York Giants within the NFC divisional spherical because the protection powered a postseason push. Obligatory Credit score: Invoice Streicher-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Reddick’s latest sport movie, nonetheless, necessitates warning. His 2024 tenure with the Jets barely materialized, and Tampa Bay didn’t unleash him in 2025, leading to solely 2.5 sacks in 13 video games. Whereas Professional Soccer Focus nonetheless famous worth in his go rush, his run protection was a special story, and his tackling grade didn’t assist his case.
Due to this fact, this isn’t a easy “go get him” situation however slightly a “what’s the price tag?” dialogue.
Reddick’s prime was reputable. From 2020 to 2023, he was one of many NFL’s most disruptive edge rushers, recording 12.5, 11.0, 16.0, and 11.0 sacks in consecutive seasons. The efficiency earned him two Professional Bowl alternatives and 2nd-Group All-Professional honors in 2022. That Eagles season was notably dominant: 16 sacks, 26 quarterback hits, and 5 compelled fumbles.
Reddick’s profession statistics nonetheless carry vital weight: 137 video games, 61.5 sacks, 108 quarterback hits, and 18 compelled fumbles.
The straightforward query now could be: Does he have one other season left as an OLB3 who doesn’t need to play each down? For Minnesota, which may simply be sufficient.
What about Jadeveon Clowney?
If the Vikings signal an OLB this summer time, but it surely isn’t Reddick, quite a few alternate options can be found. Joey Bosa, a free agent, might retire, however the market nonetheless options Von Miller, Jadeveon Clowney, and Leonard Floyd, amongst others. At any given second, the NFL normally has seasoned EDGE defenders accessible at an inexpensive worth.
Minnesota might additionally wait till the post-roster-cutdown timeframe, as over 1,100 NFLers will lose their summer time roster spots on the finish of August. In idea, the Vikings might signal a youthful exterior linebacker who was simply dropped by his employer.
Seattle Seahawks exterior linebacker Jadeveon Clowney sprinted into the open discipline after intercepting a go towards the Arizona Cardinals, flipping momentum early in a divisional matchup. On September 29, 2019, at State Farm Stadium, Clowney returned the turnover for a landing through the first half of Seattle’s highway matchup in Glendale. Obligatory Credit score: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports activities.
On Clowney particularly, DeArdo made the case for the Inexperienced Bay Packers as a match: “Clowney would be a good fit on any of the NFC North’s four teams. The Packers, however, might make the most sense given what they already have on defense and the fact that Micah Parsons’s knee injury will likely sideline him at the start of the season.”
“While he isn’t Parsons, the 33-year-old Clowney is an accomplished pass rusher who has continued to produce after turning 30. Last season, he tallied 8.5 sacks for the Cowboys despite appearing in only 13 games and starting in just six.”
Clowney is arguably probably the most prized EDGE possession on the free-agent market in July.
Reddick will flip 32 in September. He’s actually not that previous.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
