Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) reacts against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 14-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly locked up impending free agent defensive end Everson Griffen to a five-year deal, and their top-notch starting DE duo of Griffen and Brian Robison is locked up long-term after coming into the 2013 regular season as impending free agents in 2014 (Robison was extended in the regular season).
Veteran Jared Allen is on his way out, and CBS Sports’s Jason La Canfora reports that Allen didn’t really want to re-sign with them anyway. Per La Canfora, he has created a shortlist of “less than 5” teams, and the Vikings aren’t on that list. He unsurprisingly wants to play for a contender, and it makes me wonder if the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks are on that list. The Patriots and Broncos could use a guy like Allen, while the Seahawks showed interest in him during the trade deadline and could lose Michael Bennett this offseason.
Allen would have been on his way out anyway with the deal given to Griffen, as the 26-year-old USC product could be on the verge of a breakout now that he will be a starter on a long-term pact. He never received enough playing time behind Allen and Robison, and it will be interesting to see what he can do now that he’s starting opposite of Robison.
It will be sad for Vikings fans to see him go, but it’s all for the best. And hopefully he can end up signing with a contender and winning a ring to cap off his Hall of Fame career.