Minnesota Vikings: 5 Free agents to sign before training camp

4. Everson Griffen

Earlier this offseason, the Vikings and veteran defensive end Everson Griffen appeared to have parted ways for good when Griffen opted out of his current contract with the organization to hit the free-agent market for the first time in his NFL career.

Griffen took to his Instagram account to thank Minnesota for his time with the organization, hinting at the fact that the two sides will head in different directions this offseason.

Although it is still likely that Griffen will still play elsewhere for the first time as a professional in 2020, the defensive end still hasn’t signed with a team in the league as a free agent.

With that fact, would it still be an option for the Vikings and Griffen to ultimately reunite this offseason while bringing back the veteran player to further help the defense? The Vikings appear to have not closed that door just yet.

In April, Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman declined to directly answer a question from reporters surrounding if Griffen could still end up signing back with the purple and gold this year. The longer Griffen stays on the open market without an agreement with another team, the more and more this could be a possibility.

Griffen has spent the entirety of his 10-year NFL career in Minnesota with the Vikings and is fourth in franchise history in sacks (74.5) while he is set to turn 33 years old in December.

Although he is getting up in age and might not carry the talent he used to earlier on in his Vikings career, Griffen still has the potential to help a team on the defensive line for at least the next season or two. Now, whether that could ultimately end up coming in Minnesota or elsewhere is the next question.