The purple may be eying a former Brown to bolster their linebacking corps.
CBS Sports reports Minnesota is interested in the recently-released D’Qwell Jackson. The site says Jackson, 30, was let go by Cleveland on Wednesday, before the team owed him a $4.8 million roster bonus. CBS Sports says seven teams contacted Jackson upon his release. The former second-round pick already has visits scheduled with the Titans and Broncos; the site says he could have a visit to Minnesota set for next week.
Jackson, a nine-year veteran from Maryland, played in all 16 games for the Browns last year. He led Cleveland with 141 tackles, and added 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 7 passes defended. He played inside linebacker in what was generally a 3-4 scheme. The two seasons prior to that however, the team ran a 4-3 scheme.
The Vikings’ leading tackler last year was Chad Greenway with 134. And combined, all the Vikings’ linebackers totaled 9 passes defended – just two more than Jackson alone.
Jackson and the Browns finished ninth overall in total defense last year – 15th against the run, and ninth against the pass.
If you’d like a reminder of the Vikings’ defense: 26th overall, 13th against the run, 29th against the pass.
Minnesota has four linebackers signed through the upcoming season that appeared in games last year: Greenway, Gerald Hodges, Michael Mauti, and Audie Cole.
Desmond Bishop, Larry Dean and Marvin Mitchell are all set to be free agents.
The Vikings recently released Erin Henderson, who played in 14 games last season, racking up a career-high 112 tackles, plus four sacks and three picks. Henderson yesterday was charged with DWI and possession in connection with a late-November arrest.
