The Vikings signed Jordan Hicks to a two-year, $10 million deal in March 2022, planning to pair the veteran linebacker with Eric Kendricks in the middle of a defense that would transition from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 base defense under Kevin O'Connell. After a season of teams picking on the middle of that defense ended with the Vikings ranked 28th in points allowed and 31st against the pass, O'Connell fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and hired Brian Flores to replace him.
The team cut Kendricks in March, as the first of several moves to save cap space by parting with pricey veterans.