NFL Rumors: Denver Broncos interest in Everson Griffen caused Vikings to pay more

Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) runs onto the field to play the Philadelphia Eagles at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

The Minnesota Vikings raised a lot of eyebrows when they handed defensive end Everson Griffen a fat contract with a lot of dollars. We are now finding out why the Vikings gave Griffen such a big contract as the Denver Broncos apparently had interest in him as well.

According to Alex Marvez from FOXSports, the Broncos were offering Griffen nearly $9 million a year which prompted the Vikings to sweeten their deal.

.@Broncos were dangling deal averaging $9M a year. That forced @Vikings to sweeten offer to keep Griffen & caused DEN to look elsewhere
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) March 12, 2014

The Broncos need for a defensive end was filled when they signed DaMarcus Ware on Wednesday, but an interesting footnote to that story is they drove the price up on a guy that hasn’t been a full season starter in his career yet.

Minnesota has a head coach who likes his defensive lineman, so they may end up getting value for Griffen but if they don’t, they know who to thank.

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