Raising Zona
FanSided

5 cut candidates the Arizona Cardinals should monitor

By Avery Duncan

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 13: Sean Lee #50 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 13: Sean Lee #50 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Everson Griffen #97 and Linval Joseph #98 of the Minnesota Vikings run out of the tunnel during pregame introductions before playing the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Everson Griffen #97 and Linval Joseph #98 of the Minnesota Vikings run out of the tunnel during pregame introductions before playing the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Everson Griffen, DE, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are cap-strapped. The team will be paying the core Kirk Cousins, Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, Riley Reiff, Harrison Smith, and Xavier Rhodes significant money over the next few years.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, and fortunately for every NFL team, their big spending could lead to cutting some notable players, including star defensive end Everson Griffen.

Griffen, who dealt with serious mental health issues during the 2018 season, didn’t have the season he expected. The 31-year-old tallied just 5.5 sacks in 11 games, after posting 13, and 8 in the two years prior. The Vikings will be paying the defensive end a shade of $55M over the next four years, which will run into his age 35 season. But, none of it is guaranteed, meaning the Vikings could save a hair over $10M on the cap in 2019, per Over The Cap.

If the Vikings do intend to release Griffen, the Cardinals would likely be enamored with the idea of adding him. Hypothetically, he has the size (6-3, 273-lbs) and power to convert to an attacking 3-4 defensive end, and despite his age, he has the game to age gracefully in the desert.

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