Vikings Sign Two Additional Experienced Defensive Free Agents

On Wednesday, the Vikings signed outside linebacker Jihad Ward and inside linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, two more experienced defensive free agents. In May, both players will turn 30 and join their sixth NFL franchise. They were both drafted in 2016.

The Eagles originally selected Grugier-Hill in the sixth round out of Eastern Illinois. After playing for the Philadelphia Eagles for his first four years of his career, he played the latter four with the Dolphins, Texans, Cardinals, and Panthers. Grugier-Hill has started 42 games throughout the regular season, including five with Carolina last year and a career-high 14 with Houston in 2021. He has 28 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions in his career.

Grugier-Hill, who has almost 1,800 career special teams snaps, can be viewed as Troy Dye’s replacement by the Vikings, as Dye recently inked a contract with the Chargers. In addition, he will be a backup inside linebacker behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr.

In 2016, the Raiders selected Ward in the second round out of Illinois. After making 13 starts in his first season, he spent the following five years of his career primarily as a rotational player with Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Jacksonville. Ward has appeared in over 650 snaps and started 20 games for the Giants in the last two seasons. Since joining the Giants two years ago, he has recorded eight of his 18 career sacks, 12 of his 24 total TFL, and all three of his forced fumbles.

On Wednesday, the Vikings signed outside linebacker Jihad Ward and inside linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, two more experienced defensive free agents. In May, both players will turn 30 and join their sixth NFL franchise. They were both drafted in 2016.

The Eagles originally selected Grugier-Hill in the sixth round out of Eastern Illinois. After playing for the Philadelphia Eagles for his first four years of his career, he played the latter four with the Dolphins, Texans, Cardinals, and Panthers. Grugier-Hill has started 42 games throughout the regular season, including five with Carolina last year and a career-high 14 with Houston in 2021. He has 28 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions in his career.

Grugier-Hill, who has almost 1,800 career special teams snaps, can be viewed as Troy Dye’s replacement by the Vikings, as Dye recently inked a contract with the Chargers. In addition, he will be a backup inside linebacker behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr.

In 2016, the Raiders selected Ward in the second round out of Illinois. After making 13 starts in his first season, he spent the following five years of his career primarily as a rotational player with Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Jacksonville. Ward has appeared in over 650 snaps and started 20 games for the Giants in the last two seasons. Since joining the Giants two years ago, he has recorded eight of his 18 career sacks, 12 of his 24 total TFL, and all three of his forced fumbles.