Apart from securing victories, few things delight Minnesota Vikings fans more than witnessing the Green Bay Packers stumble. Often, these two outcomes are intertwined, as the Vikings directly influence the Packers’ ability to field their strongest lineup.
The tactic in question involves luring away some of Lambeau Field’s beloved players. This strategy has been employed multiple times in recent memory by the Vikings, such as acquiring Darren Sharper, Ryan Longwell, Greg Jennings, Za’Darius Smith, and most recently, Aaron Jones.
Acquiring key players from a division rival to bolster your own team? That’s considered one of the most effective maneuvers in roster building, and the Vikings appear poised to potentially repeat this tactic next offseason.
Even though the 2024 NFL season has yet to kick off, Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has notably left unaddressed a significant weakness on the roster: the absence of a standout impact player on the defensive line. While Harrison Phillips performs admirably, he lacks the explosive capability to disrupt plays instantaneously.
According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Phillips and Jonathan Bullard ranked near the bottom (176th and 185th respectively out of 187 interior defenders) in pass rush productivity among those who rushed the passer at least 200 times last season. Clearly, this is a deficiency that needs rectifying.
While new addition Jerry Tillery offers a promising interim solution (ranking 88th in similar metrics), the long-term outlook remains uncertain. Despite recent extensions, including Justin Jefferson’s record-breaking deal, the Vikings maintain a relatively manageable cap situation in the coming seasons.
Looking ahead, one viable option highlighted by Vikings insider Alec Lewis for the next offseason is pursuing three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Packers. Clark, aged 28, becomes a free agent after this season, and Green Bay’s priorities may shift towards other financial commitments, such as quarterback Jordan Love.
Lewis suggests that Clark, who is currently earning $15.5 million this season, is likely to command a similar rate in the upcoming free agency period, given his impressive performance last season—setting personal bests with 7.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits.
Although not in the elite tier of interior pass rushers like Aaron Donald or Dexter Lawrence, Clark’s consistent Pro Bowl presence underscores his reliability and durability, having started 109 out of 123 games without missing more than three games in any season.
Securing Clark’s services would constitute a major coup for the Vikings, addressing not only a critical team need but also inflicting a blow to their archrivals, the Packers. Otherwise, the Vikings may need to consider investing a first-round draft pick in bolstering their defensive trenches—a move fraught with uncertainty compared to the reliability Clark would offer.
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