Vikings Urged to Revisit Interest in $98 Million All-Pro for Playoff Push
The absence of Minnesota Vikings inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was clear when faced with the dual threat of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Without an ideal spy linebacker covering Murray, the Cardinals quarterback extended several plays with his feet behind and ahead of the line of scrimmage in Week 13. Murray took seven carries for 48 yards and also bought himself more time to throw by using his feet to escape pressure.
Placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in Week 13, Pace will miss at least three more games. The earliest he can return is the penultimate game of the season against the Green Bay Packers.
But with the Vikings (10-2) hoping to keep pace with the Detroit Lions (11-2) in the division title chase, Minnesota should look to acquire a linebacker who can fill the Pace role.
Bleacher Report’s scouting department urged the Vikings to sign former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who the Vikings showed interest in when the Indianapolis Colts released him in 2023.
Leonard would be an upgrade over Kamu Grugier-Hill, who played the lions’ share of snaps alongside starter Blake Cashman, and newcomer Jamin Davis. The two linebackers posted the lowest defensive grades on the team by Pro Football Focus (PFF), logging grades of 38.3 and 26.1, respectively.
The two linebackers combined to play just 17 of 82 defensive snaps as it was clear Brian Flores pivoted to different personnel groupings with Pace out of the lineup. Leonard could be more suited for Pace’s role with a pivotal stretch of the season ahead.
“The 29-year-old has a better track record than Davis and was solid against the run last year, racking up 88 total tackles in 14 games for two different teams,” Bleacher Report’s scouting report reads.
