NFL Minnesota Vikings

Re-Signing Tom Johnson Should Be Minnesota Vikings’ Top Priority

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Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

First-year head coach Mike Zimmer helped improve the Minnesota Vikings‘ defense from the No. 31 ranked unit in 2013 to No. 14 in 2014, but the addition of rotational player Tom Johnson also played an important role in the overall improvement of the defense. A solid front line is the base to a strong defense, and with 447 snaps played in 2014, Johnson made more of a positive impact than any other Vikings player with a similar amount of snaps, excluding Sharrif Floyd, who was limited by a knee injury while excelling in his new role.

Johnson played less than half as many snaps as fellow lineman Everson Griffen, yet he still finished with 18 quarterback hurries and six sacks while playing alongside an under-performing Brian Robison. While Johnson played alongside Griffen and Robison, he split time with both Linval Joseph and Floyd and got the majority of his playing time because of the knee injury that plagued Floyd.

But Zimmer employs a defensive scheme that calls for fresh legs and plenty of substitutions, making Johnson an important piece for 2015 even with a healthy Floyd. The Vikings are also slated to lose defensive end Corey Wootton to free agency this offseason, and considering the minimal impact he made in his 276 snaps, it would be a surprise to see any effort made to bring back the former Chicago Bear.

Johnson made less than $1 million last season, and at 30 years old it’s safe to say he’ll remain affordable for a Vikings squad looking to make numerous upgrades. Most of these upgrades will be coming on the offensive side of the ball, making it more important to re-sign Johnson and get another year out of the pass-rushing specialist.

Johnson graded out slightly below average when it came to stopping the run, according to Pro Football Focus, but where he really excelled was in the pass rush playing on third down or obvious passing situations. While being a one-dimensional player limited Johnson in 2014, both Floyd and Griffen graded out highly against the run. And with the NFL being a pass-first league, it’s essential to have players who can get after the quarterback.

Johnson excelled in his limited role this season, and despite finishing with 300 less snaps he outplayed Joseph on the defensive line this season and did so on a much cheaper contract. He may simply be a good fit for the Vikings’ defensive scheme or finally figuring out how to succeed at the NFL level, but Johnson was a crucial member of the Vikings defense this season and should be re-signed as soon as the offseason officially kicks off.

Nick Baker is a contributing writer for Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and add him to your network on Google.

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