The Minnesota Vikings are sacking linebacker Eric Kendricks, the team announced Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The 31-year-old started all 17 games for the Vikings last season and scored 137 tackles overall.
- The Vikings had to scoop $23 million off their 2023 salary to get under the cap.
- The release of Kendricks saves the team about $9.5 million from the cap, according to Spotrac.com.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why did the Vikings decide to release Kendricks?
It’s a combination of what the team had to do from a salary cap and defense perspective. When general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired last year, he presented a two-year plan. This included calling up younger players to replace aging ones. One of them was Eric Kendricks. The Vikings went into this offseason with about $23 million in raking to eliminate their cap deficit.
Kendricks, which has a $9.5 million cap for 2023, was an obvious option. He is 31 years old. His game in 2022 raised questions about his long-term athleticism in an era of the game that has shifted heavily towards midfield. Ultimately, this move seemed inevitable as the team considered their options. – Lewis
Who will replace Kendricks?
For now, Brian Asamoah, who the team drafted in the third round last year, appears to be a good fit for the role. Asamoah, a product of Oklahoma, is an athletic wrecking ball. He runs straight to the ball and throws himself loose with full force. Asamoah also possesses a level of ability that should fit into the mold of newly hired defense coordinator Brian Flores.
There’s also the potential, and perhaps even a high likelihood, that the Vikings could design — or attempt to acquire — another suitable linebacker for depth. – Lewis
What steps will the Vikings take next?
There will definitely be more. The Vikings still remain in the red when it comes to the salary cap. Kendricks is a franchise game, but others like Adam Thielen could become cap victims. Thielen, for example, is 32 years old and has a $19 million cap. Even he has expressed that he and the team would try to negotiate a deal.
Whether or not that’s possible could play a role in what the team does with the safety of Harrison Smith, who also has a $19 million cap, and Za’Darius Smith, whose release will give the team $13 million could save, will do. – Lewis
What you say
“Starting 100+ games in this league is extremely difficult, but Eric has been a fixture in the locker room since joining the NFL,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “During my freshman year as a head coach, Eric played a critical role in creating the culture we want in Minnesota as captain and as a member of the leadership council. He was a consistent mentor to his younger teammates and his tireless work ethic set a standard for others to emulate. I’m grateful that I had the chance to coach Eric as a player and to get to know him as a person.”
backstory
The Vikings selected Kendricks in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has spent all eight seasons of his career with Minnesota and was named a First Team All-Pro in 2019.
required reading
(Photo: Eric Hartline / USA Today)