As the Trade Tornado Swirls through the NFL, The Vikings Should Call about an Elite DT
Myles Garrett and/or wide receiver Cooper Kupp? Nah. What about a move for an elite defensive tackle instead?
Leonard Williams is a tremendous player for the Seattle Seahawks. Should the Vikings be calling about his availability? After all, Minnesota has a glaring need for a pass-rushing DT and the veteran Williams is one of the best in the business. Would Seattle consider moving on from the veteran?
The Vikings & Leonard Williams
Recently, an article on PFF made note of the cap conundrum that’s in front of the Seattle Seahawks.
The collective cap hits for QB Geno Smith, WRs Tyler Lockett & D.K. Metcalf, alongside DT Leonard Williams puts them in a tough spot: “these four players account for more than $135 million against the cap — roughly 50% of the total.”
“It’s challenging to construct a competitive roster,” PFF’s Timo Riske goes on to write, “with such a large percentage of cap space tied to just four players.” Indeed. Part of the solution could rest in a cut(s) and/or restructure(s), but a trade is another way of clearing cap room.
Keep in mind that Over the Cap currently has the Seahawks at negative $27.5 million in cap space, so some tricky decisions are going to need to be made.
The Vikings are being led at defensive tackle by Harrison Phillips, a rugged run defender who doesn’t generate a ton against the pass. He’s a great leader and excellent teammate, but he only fills a certain role. Horrible Harry is joined by Jalen Redmond (who has upside), Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez as the current defensive tackle group. Inserting Williams into the mix would obviously make things considerably more dangerous.
 celebrates with the fans after the win against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/USATSI_24730161.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=786,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/USATSI_24730161.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/USATSI_24730161.jpg” alt><figcaption> Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images<span></span></figcaption></figure>
</div>
<p>The 6’5″, 300-pound Williams is coming off of a tremendous season. In sixteen games, Williams had 64 tackles, 11 sacks, 28 QB hits, 16 tackles for loss, 1 interception (he scored a touchdown), and 3 passes defended.</p>
<p>He has been in the NFL since 2015 — he’s 30 — so a deal that brings Williams aboard isn’t about finding a DT solution for the next decade. Instead, it’s about supercharging an area of weakness for the next season or two as Minnesota looks to compete within the timeframe of J.J. McCarthy’s rookie deal.</p>
<p>Williams is playing on a three-year deal that he agreed to in 2024. In other words, the contract persists through 2025 and 2026. The simple fact that some of Williams’ compensation would remain on Seattle’s budget would make the DT easier to afford in the Twin Cities. </p>
<p>The Vikings have $58 million in open cap space, so they could afford a pricey defensive tackle. </p>
<div>
<figure><img loading=)
Notably, he was asked to lineup in different spots, an ability that appeals to the Vikings. Williams was out wide for 130 snaps, over the offensive tackle for 241 snaps, in the B-gap area for 349 snaps, and in the A-gap area for 27 snaps. Just imagine what Brian Flores could accomplish with a player like Williams.
Good luck trying to block all of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Williams in third and long. Chaos.
Actually landing the stud defensive tackle is a long shot. The possibility, though, is worth a phone call given the tough spot Seattle is in financially alongside the roster need for a Vikings team that’s trying to compete for it all as early as 2025.
To facilitate a deal, the Vikings would very likely need to dip into their 2026 draft picks.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
