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Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 97 Harrison Phillips — Epitome of Solid at DT

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Vikings
By Will Ragatz | Last updated 7/10/23

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 training camp beginning in late July, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 97: Harrison Phillips, DT

Age: 27 | Size: 6'3", 307

The Vikings signed Harrison Phillips to a three-year, $19.5 million contract last offseason, and they got exactly what they expected and hoped for during his first year in purple. The 2018 Bills third-round pick started all 18 games (including playoffs), played a career-high 693 regular season snaps, and was the definition of a solid run-stuffing defensive tackle.

Out of 62 DTs who played at least 500 snaps in 2022, Phillips was 22nd with a 72.1 PFF grade. He finished tenth in run defense grade and sixth in tackling grade, plugging gaps against the run while frequently holding his ground against multiple blockers. As anticipated, Phillips didn't provide much as a pass rusher, ranking 45th out of 66 in both pressures and pass rush grade.

In addition to his on-field contributions, Phillips came as advertised off the field: He's a great teammate and locker-room presence whose charitable efforts in the community are incredible. Phillips, who brought his Harrison's Playmakers foundation from Buffalo to Minnesota, was the Bills' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in each of his final two seasons there.

Best-case scenario: Phillips takes a slight step forward in his age-27 season, staying healthy all season again and adding a bit more impact as a pass rusher in addition to his excellent play against the run. The Vikings sign him to a multi-year extension next offseason.

Worst-case scenario: Phillips, who dealt with some injuries in Buffalo, sees regression in that area and misses some time in 2023. When he's on the field, he takes a minor step back as a poor fit in Brian Flores' scheme. The Vikings move on next offseason to create cap space and clear a larger role for 2022 fourth-round pick Jaquelin Roy.

Outlook for 2023: If he's healthy, you know what you're going to get from Phillips. He'll be among the more underrated run-defending defensive tackles in the league while offering little in the way of pressure on passing downs. As the clear No. 1 DT on the Vikings' depth chart, Phillips is a very important player in Flores' front.

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UDFAs