Linebacker Rey Maualuga is now a free agent after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Signing Maualuga to a one-year deal may or may not be a wise investment for Minnesota. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of picking him up.
CON – Maualuga is 30 years old.
PRO – He’s 6′ 2, 258 lbs.
CON – He hasn’t played a full season in 4 years.
PRO – His best years have come under Mike Zimmer.
CON – He suffered a fibula injury last season.
PRO – Quality inside linebackers are hard to find in the NFL.
PRO – Zimmer could have a linebacker rotation utilizing Maualuga as a run stopper.
CON – Playing Maualuga would take away snaps for Kentrell Brothers and Edmond Robinson and Emmanuel Lamur.
PRO – Maualuga could start until Brothers or Robinson (or a draft pick) is ready to be starter.
PRO/CON – Signing Maualuga would potentially give the Vikings the following starters:
- SLB – Anthony Barr
- MLB – Rey Maualuga
- WLB – Eric Kendricks
In my opinion it wouldn’t hurt to sign Maualuga. Bringing in a veteran who knows Zimmer’s system after the loss of Chad Greenway would make sense. Plus, when is the last time the Vikings have had a surplus of starter-able linebackers? However, I think he may be out of Minnesota’s price range and I don’t know if the Vikings would add an older player due to the team’s recent youth movement.
If I Were GM 