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Vikings’ Failed Signing Lands New Deal with Hated Rival
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- Vikings’ Failed Signing Lands New Deal with Hated Rival
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It's been a busier day in Minnesota Vikings land. Aaron Jones took a paycut to return , and Kyler Murray is reportedly boarding a plane bound for Minneapolis tonight.
The Vikings also officially released last offseason's failed expenditures on the interior defensive line, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen — moves that saved them a combined $22 million against the cap in 2026.
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MN Vikings let Javon Hargrave walk to Green Bay Packers
And it didn't take long for one of those two Minnesota Vikings cap casualties to find a new home. Just moments after he was released, news broke that 33-year-old Javon Hargrave was signing a two-year deal with hated NFC North rival Green Bay .
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Javon Hargrave ➡️ Packers
The crew gives their quick reactions to the deal 👀 pic.twitter.com/4ax7zJ9LHn— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 11, 2026
Related: Former Vikings QB Rental Lands New Contract
Javon Hargrave came to Minnesota after playing just three games in 2025 with the San Francisco 49ers . He responded with 16 games played, where he racked up 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 QB Hits. He also forced one fumble, and recovered another.
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Compared to the production we had gotten used to on the Vikings defensive line, prior to last season, those numbers aren't terrible. Still, Hargrave sure wasn't the guy who pounded out 25.5 sacks, 167 tackles, 27 TFL and 48 QB hits between 2021-2023, with the Eagles and Niners.
And given how much the MN Vikings were paying him, that's probably more of what DC Brian Flores and his defensive coaches were hoping for.
Jalen Redmond helps but the Vikings need more talent in defensive trenches
Thankfully, former UDFA signing and cut list survivor, Jalen Redmond, came mostly out of nowhere and solidified himself as a major asset for the Vikings, both now and in the future. That's why Minnesota placed the exclusive rights tender on him last week, opening the two sides up for extension talks this offseason.
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Still, there is a ton of work to do on the interior, yet again. Expect the Minnesota Vikings to target the defensive trenches, not just during free agency, but also via trade and especially the NFL Draft.
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