MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings got a deal done on Sunday evening to keep the player who might have been their most important in-house free agent.
According to a league source, the team agreed with defensive tackle Tom Johnson on a three-year deal worth a total of $7 million. Johnson, who had 6½ sacks last season after signing a one-year deal with the Vikings, will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus, and get approximately $3 million in guaranteed money.
Johnson, who turns 31 in September, proved to be a solid fit as a pass rusher in the Vikings' defense, playing mostly as a three-technique tackle in the team's nickel package.
The Vikings had preliminary talks with Johnson's agent, Bardia Ghahremani, about a new contract late last season, and got a new deal done before Johnson could reach the open market after the best season of his career.
The Vikings initially signed the former New Orleans Saints tackle and CFL product to a one-year, $845,000 deal last March.