Stephen

Weatherly

Denver needed the edge help after Von Miller was injured in Thursday night’s Week 7 loss to the Browns. Weatherly, 27, has six career sacks but none this season across 20% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps.

The deal could be worth as much as $3 million with incentives. Weatherly actually began his career in Minnesota, departing just last year after the Panthers gifted him a two-year, $12.5 million contract in free agency. He made 17 tackles in nine starts for Carolina in 2020 before hurting his finger and landing on season-ending injured reserve. He’ll turn 27 in March.

Carolina also released starting safety Tre Boston today. Weatherly, a former Vikings, signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with Carolina last year. The team will save nearly $6 million with Weatherly’s release. He made 17 tackles in nine starts for the Panthers in 2020, failing to register a sack. Weatherly could be a decent depth signing this offseason.

A key reserve behind every-down starters Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter in Minnesota, Weatherly notched six sacks over the last two seasons and will get a chance at far more playing time in Carolina alongside Brian Burns with Mario Addison hitting the open market.

Weatherly made the first six starts of his career last year, playing 50 percent of snaps and receiving above average grades at PFF. The Vikings have one of the worst cap situations in the league but could clear some space if they move on from Kyle Rudolph. Weatherly is locked in as No. 3 defensive end behind Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter.

He gets an $81,288 signing bonus. Weatherly has the makings of a potential seventh-round contributor after doing well in pre-draft workouts, even if he wasn’t all that productive at Vanderbilt. He’ll need to carve out a role on special teams first before having thoughts of sacking the quarterback.

Weatherly (6'4/267) turned pro following his redshirt junior season after tallying 27 career tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles as a two-year starter. Measuring in with lengthy 34 1/2-inch arms, Weatherly helped himself at the Combine by running 4.61 with a 9-foot-9 broad jump before turning in strong agility scores at Vanderbilt’s Pro Day. Although Weatherly’s plus measurables suggest he should’ve been a more productive collegiate, he possesses NFL-level edge-player traits and is a sleeper who could surprise.