Linebacker Eric Wilson is set to continue his second stint with the Minnesota Vikings. Wilson is re-signing with the Vikings just before free agency. The agreement is a three-year, $22.5MM deal that includes $12.5MM fully guaranteed.
Wilson’s Resurgence in Minnesota
This contract represents a resurgence for Wilson. He had never previously played for anything more than $3.26MM in a season. That was via a second-round Vikings RFA tender in 2020. Wilson signed a host of one-year contracts in the time since, being cut by the Eagles and claimed by the Texans before enjoying a Packers stint. The Vikings brought him back in 2025 and turned to Wilson as a near-full-time starter.
Wilson’s 965 defensive snaps last season were by far his most since that 2020 RFA slate. Minnesota used Wilson alongside Blake Cashman as its primary linebacking duo last season. Wilson replaced an injured Cashman after Week 1 but kept the job when the regular starter returned, reducing Ivan Pace‘s role. Pro Football Focus slotted Wilson 44th among 88 qualified off-ball ‘backers.
Impactful 2025 Season
Wilson made 115 tackles in 2025. He also registered a career-best 6.5 sacks. Wilson had 17 tackles for loss. That led all off-ball LBs in 2025 and ranked sixth among all players last season.
Wilson’s NFL Career
The Zimmer-Rick Spielman duo added Wilson as a 2017 UDFA. He logged 10 starts during the Anthony Barr–Eric Kendricks years from 2017-19. Minnesota gave Wilson the aforementioned RFA tender in 2020 and used him as a full-timer. In 15 starts that year, Wilson racked up 122 tackles. The Eagles cut Wilson months after giving him a one-year deal worth less ($2.75MM) than his 2020 tender price.
Wilson’s three Packers contracts did not eclipse $1.5MM for a season, making this early-30s comeback all the more impressive. With Brian Flores returning, he appears set to count on Wilson once again.