Report: Vikings Were 'In On' Teair Tart, Who Signed With Dolphins

Tart would've been a useful pickup for the Vikings' defensive line.

Oct 29, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Teair Tart (93) leaves / Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings were one of several teams who were "in on" free agent defensive tackle Teair Tart, who is signing with the Dolphins, according to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz. Tart would've been an impactful pickup for Minnesota's defensive line, which remains in need of upgrades.

Tart, 27, was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played in 45 games for them over the past four years. He was released last December and claimed by the Texans, playing two games with Houston towards the end of the season. In 2022, Tart saw over 500 defensive snaps and earned a 73.1 PFF grade with 26 pressures, 1.5 sacks, and six pass breakups. He's a big-bodied nose tackle who provides more pass rush juice than most players with his build (6'2", 304).

Tart played his final two years of college football at FIU in Miami, so it makes sense that he chose to head back there and join the Dolphins.

At this juncture, Tart might've been the last defensive tackle on the market who could've made a real difference for the Vikings in 2024. He would've likely started alongside Harrison Phillips in the middle of Brian Flores' defensive line. The Vikings could still go bargain-bin shopping for someone like Hassan Ridgeway or Marlon Davidson, but it's more likely that any potential additions at DT will come in the draft.

Defensive tackle stands out as a huge need for Flores and the Vikings. At the moment, Phillips is joined by Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery in the top three at that position, with Jonah Williams and Jaquelin Roy as depth options. If it's not the worst DT room in the NFL, it's certainly in the bottom five.

---

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long.

Follow Will Ragatz on X/Twitter