The Vikings and Giants could be close to a free agent defensive tackle swap.
Kevin Williams, the 11-year veteran of the Minnesota Vikings, is reportedly visiting with the New York Giants, Mark Craig of the Star Tribune reports. This visit comes about a month after the Vikings signed former Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
The 33-year-old Williams has started at defensive tackle for the Vikings in all 11 of his seasons with the team. He made six Pro Bowls and was named first-team all-pro five times.
He tells the Star Tribune his dinner Monday with a bevy of the team’s defensive coaches went well; he’ll meet with head coach Tom Coughlin Tuesday.
Former #Vikings DT Kevin Williams in NY meeting with Giants. Had dinner with D-line coach, will continue visit on Tue http://t.co/wQrHX8QiOM
— Mark Craig (@markcraignfl) April 15, 2014
Many outsiders anticipated Williams would not be a part of Minnesota’s future plans, what with the purple’s youth movement along the defensive line. After Jared Allen signed with Da Bears, and Letroy Guion decided to don the green and gold, the 31-year-old Brian Robison is the only full-time starter remaining from last season. His projected starting linemates, and their age: Joseph (25), Sharrif Floyd (22) and Everson Griffen (26).
All four are signed through the 2016 season.
The Vikings also re-signed Fred Evans (30) and picked up free agent Tom Johnson (29).
The Vikings made another recent roster addition too, signing former Philadelphia Eagles safety Kurt Coleman.
Williams holds a special spot in Vikings draft history. He was selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, ninth overall – two spots later than the Vikings were slated to pick. The Vikings failed to make their selection on time, and the teams with the eighth (Jacksonville) and ninth (Carolina) picks quickly scampered to the podium and made their choices.
Afterward, the team said there was confusion about a potential trade with Baltimore, leading to the missed pick. It turned out OK though. While the Vikings got a decade-long anchor for their defensive line,, the Jaguars ended up with quarterback Byron Leftiwch, and the Panthers took offensive tackle Jordan Gross.
