Sports
Packers Twist the Knife in Vikings
Usually, former Green Bay Packers players join the Minnesota Vikings’ roster; Aaron Jones, Za’Darius Smith, Ryan Longwell, Brett Favre, Dean Lowry, Greg Jennings, Chandon Sullivan, Bashaud Breeland, and Robert Tonyan can attest. This time, the reverse occurred, as Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave signed with the Packers on Wednesday.
Green Bay grabbed a former Viking and kept the rivalry heat climbing.
Minnesota dropped him as a cap casualty this week, and although many consider him washed, Green Bay will hope to rekindle his Pro Bowl ways.
Green Bay Added a Familiar Name to Its Defensive Front
The turncoat saga takes a new turn.
Hargrave to GB
Hargrave worked with new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon a few years back in Philadelphia, the apparent luring factor.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Wednesday, “The Packers found some much-needed help up front for new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon on Wednesday when they agreed to terms with former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Hargrave agreed to a two-year, $23 million contract which includes $13 million in the first year. Hargrave was officially released by the Vikings on Wednesday.”
“The Packers already were thin on the defensive line even before they traded defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for linebacker Zaire Franklin earlier this week. In Hargrave, Gannon gets a player he’s familiar with. Gannon, the former Arizona Cardinals head coach, was the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator for two of Hargrave’s three seasons with the Eagles.”
Hargrave earned $19 million in guaranteed funds from the Vikings and $13 million from Green Bay. The man is stacking dough, even with mediocre performance.
The Packers’ DTs at the Moment
Green Bay lost Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons trade with Dallas, and Hargrave is evidently a part of the replacement plan.
Heading into the next wave of free agency, and with the draft six weeks away, here’s a look at the Packers’ interior defensive linemen after the Hargrave signing:
- Devonte Wyatt
- Javon Hargrave
- Karl Brooks
- Warren Brinson
- Nazir Stackhouse
- Jordon Riley
- Jonathan Ford
- Anthony Campbell
- Dante Barnett
- James Ester
That group certainly doesn’t lack quantity, but the quality is suspect. Wyatt suffered a down year by his standards in 2025 and hopes to rebound next season. The Packers could also draft a defensive tackle, though they have no 1st-Round picks due to the aforementioned Parsons trade.
Hargave’s 2025 Output
Hargrave’s Pro Football Focus grades indicate he is a slightly above-average interior defender. In 2025, he earned a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-defense mark, resulting in an overall grade of 68.0, which ranked him 35th among interior linemen. While his pass rush shows promise, his run defense has been inconsistent.
His volume statistics support this assessment. Across 16 games and 537 defensive snaps (53%), Hargrave recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures, a total that ranked him 34th among defensive tackles.
Green Bay is acquiring a dependable veteran who brings experience and pass-rushing ability. Although Hargrave earned a Pro Bowl selection earlier in his career, recent film and data suggest he now performs as a mid-tier defensive tackle.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s defensive tackle unit already appears somewhat strong without Hargrave. Jalen Redmond emerged as one of the defense’s top performers last season and appears poised to become a long-term starter, assuming the Vikings extend his contract.
Levi Drake Rodriguez is developing as a run defender and could compete for starting snaps next season. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins saw significant playing time as a rookie, and undrafted defensive tackle Elijah Williams impressed during training camp and the preseason.
Like Green Bay, Minnesota may be in the market for a rookie DT in April.
All the Packers’ Free Agency Moves
Similar to the Vikings, the Packers have been quiet this week compared to NFL teams. In addition to sending Rashan Gary to the Cowboys for a 4th-Round pick, here’s a peek at their free-agent transactions:
- Brenton Cox Jr. (ED) GB → GB
- Javon Hargrave (DL) MIN → GB
- Darian Kinnard (RT) GB → GB
- Skyy Moore (WR) SF → GB
- Benjamin St-Juste (CB) LAC → GB
Green Bay has lost these players to the open market:
- Zayne Anderson (S, MIA)
- Romeo Doubs (WR, NE)
- Kingsley Enagbare (ED, NYJ)
- Elgton Jenkins (C, CLE)
- Quay Walker (LB, LV)
- Malik Willis (QB, MIA)
The Packers also added veteran off-ball linebacker Zaire Alexander via trade with the Colts, as mentioned by Demovsky.
Hargrave turned 33 last month. He’ll be remembered for his one-year, underwhelming pit stop in Minnesota.
