Vikings agree to terms with ex-Packers defensive lineman Dean Lowry

The Vikings agreed to terms with another former Packers defender on Friday, the team announced.

Defensive lineman Dean Lowry, who started 80 games over seven seasons in Green Bay, crosses the border to Minnesota on a two-year contract with a maximum value of $8.5 million, according to a league source.

Lowry, the 28-year-old former fourth-round pick out of Northwestern, played for Vikings coaches Mike Pettine and Mike Smith in Green Bay. He also rejoins outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, who had $5.05 million guaranteed in his contract because he remained on the roster Friday. Lowry and Smith played for the Packers together from 2019 to '21.

Lowry is an experienced, likely cost-effective reinforcement for a Vikings defense that lost Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Defensive end Jonathan Bullard, who started seven games last year, is also a free agent.

Available for 111 of 114 regular season games in Green Bay, Lowry was called a "steady Eddie" by Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst. Lowry has been credited with 23 tackles for losses, 16 pass deflections, 15½ sacks and four forced fumbles in his seven-year NFL career.

The Vikings also have interior defenders Harrison Phillips, Khyiris Tonga, James Lynch, Ross Blacklock, Esezi Otomewo and Sheldon Day under contract.

Earlier on Friday, the Vikings finalized a one-year contract with outside linebacker Marcus Davenport, a league source said. His introductory news conference was scheduled for Thursday but delayed due to ongoing negotiations.

On the edges, Davenport becomes the third experienced starter — joining Smith and Danielle Hunter — for two starting spots. The logjam, and Smith's goodbye post on social media last week, cloud whether Smith and Lowry will play together again. Smith's recent guarantee helps prevent him from being cut, but the team can still trade him.

On Friday the NFL announced performance-based pay distributions — a supplemental pool to reward lower-salaried players who get a lot of snaps — and safety Camryn Bynum topped the Vikings roster with nearly $700,000 in additional pay.

Bynum, a 2021 fourth-round pick who had an $825,000 salary last season, was one of three NFL defenders to play every snap, joining Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs and then-Ravens safety Chuck Clark. Guards Ed Ingram and Ezra Cleveland, and receiver K.J. Osborn also topped $500,000 in performance-based pay for the Vikings, according to NFLPA data.

Running back Alexander Mattison's two-year contract, agreed to Wednesday, came with a $2.5 million signing bonus, according to NFLPA data, within $6.35 million guaranteed at signing. Mattison has two-year security through $2.75 million guaranteed in 2024 base salary.

Mattison's cap figures are $2.4 million for this season, and $4.6 million for 2024.

Star Tribune staff writer Ben Goessling contributed to this report.