The Vikings have now landed premier free agents on both sides of the ball. Sheldon Richardson has agreed to a one-year deal with Minnesota, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Richardson’s deal includes an $8MM base salary and $3MM more in available incentives.
The Vikings were the only team known to have met with Richardson and it didn’t take long for a deal to come together. The Vikings wined and dined Richardson a bit on Friday and pitched him with new quarterback Kirk Cousins in tow.
The Vikings used much of their cap space on Cousins, but they still had enough left to sign one of the most talented defensive linemen in this year’s free agent crop, thanks in part to the restructuring of Latavius Murray‘s deal. The 27-year-old (28 in November) had just one sack last season, but the advanced metrics showed that he was still starting caliber, even in a down year.
Richardson did his best work with the Jets, particularly in 2014 when he racked up eight sacks. His production was a bit up-and-down as he was moved at times from defensive tackle to the outside and even to linebacker, but he was a consistent threat.
Richardson, presumably, was after a multi-year deal, but the one-year pact with Minnesota will give him a chance to rebuild his value and potentially cash in next March. He joins an already stacked Vikings D and will pair with Linval Joseph in the middle. Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen will serve as the starting bookends with Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, and Ben Gedeon filling out the front seven.
The Seahawks have now lost two high-profile defensive linemen in Richardson and Michael Bennett (via trade with the Eagles), but Richardson’s departure should at least net them some return in compensatory picks.
[RELATED: Vikings Depth Chart]
Does anyone know if the compensatory picks for losing Richardson are for this years draft or 2019 draft?
Next years draft
I believe the Vikings signing two of the top unrestricted free agents that were not released other remaining years on their contracts in he and cousins will negate anything they would receive as compensation losing for Keenum and the jet.
2019, it’s always the year after you lose someone. Like the Vikes got one this year for losing AP last year.
2019…based on 2018 free agents signed/lost
Yeah Zach – it’s not accurate to say Sheldon will “net some return in compensatory picks”.
Instead “his signing will figure in the compensatory pick calculations for next years draft”
Aren’t you guys being kind of “picky.”
Precise, not picky, and that matters when the compensatory picks formula has never even been made public, but there are certain had and fast rules along with the mushy ones.
Now the draft is got to be an o lineman. Hopefully the QB’s dominate the first and they can swap back early into the second and still get one of the guards. Tricky Ricky is always looking to make moves.
Anybody know what the money looks like?
One HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!
Yes. It consists of a tough paper that is a sort of green color. Something about “Federal Reserve Note” on the headline and a number that indicates the denomination of each individual bill. There is an image of Benjamin Franklin of most of them.
SO PISSED RIGHT NOW. SEATTLE DRAFT WELL. What a waste of Kearse.
Kearse, meh. I’m more pissed about the 2nd round pick were gave up. Suh, is now a necessity.