Tom

Johnson

Johnson will turn 36 in August. He was out of the NFL in 2019, but decided to officially retire on Friday. Johnson spent the finest years of his career with the Vikings, appearing in 75 games and racking up 20.5 sacks while wearing purple from 2014-2018.

Johnson can earn another $500,000 through incentives. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the Vikes are eyeing Johnson as their “top reserve” on the interior after he started 15 games a season ago. Johnson was released by the Seahawks over the weekend.

Johnson started and played 52 percent of snaps in the season opener, but Seattle has a roster crunch with so many players injured. The Seahawks may try to re-sign Johnson next week.

He’ll enter free agency on March 11. A CFL find by GM Mickey Loomis, 6-foot-3, 288-pound Johnson has been a rotational tackle in New Orleans the past three years. It’s perhaps notable he played for new Rams DC Gregg Williams in 2011.

Johnson went down in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Colts. His roster spot will be filled by DT Toby Johnson, who was waived Saturday to make room for Adrian Peterson.

He intends to file a retaliatory suit against the Minneapolis Police Department. Johnson, 30, re-upped with the Vikings this offseason at $7 million across three years. He is coming off a 6.5-sack season as a rotational rusher.

He can earn an additional $600,000 in incentives. Johnson recorded two sacks and 13 tackles as a rotational tackle in New Orleans last season. Johnson’s signing might spell the end for free agent DT Kevin Williams in Minnesota.

“Tom knows what he is and the value he brings to the table,” Johnson’s player rep said. “We want to find him a home for the rest of his career, a three- or four-year deal in the right situation and right system.” Going on 31, a 3-4 year commitment is unlikely to be in Johnson’s future, but a two-year pact is realistic. Of course, it’s unlikely to include any guaranteed money for 2016. Johnson is wisely trying to cash in after notching 6.5 sacks in just 444 snaps last season.

The deal includes $3 million guaranteed -- most of which is likely up front as Johnson is entering his age-31 season. Still, it’s a nice payday for a former CFLer and rotational tackle who came out of nowhere for 6.5 sacks and 30 pressures on 301 pass-rush opportunities in 2014.

The Seahawks are looking at Johnson as a possible replacement for Sheldon Richardson, who is currently visiting Johnson’s former team, the Vikings. The 33-year-old was a solid run-stopper for the Vikes last year, logging 32 tackles and two sacks over 673 defensive snaps.