The Minnesota Vikings have gone out and improved the middle of their defense. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Vikings have signed 6-foot, 340-pound defensive tackle Michael Pierce on a three-year deal worth $27 million.

Pierce gets $18 million guaranteed for his contract.

The 27-year-old, who spent the past four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, started 14 games in 2019 and missed two games due to an ankle injury. In those games, the former Samford star recorded 35 tackles, two tackles for a loss and 0.5 sacks while being an integral part of the Baltimore run defense that ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game.

With defensive ends Everson Griffen possibly leaving Minnesota and Stephen Weatherly signing with the Carolina Panthers, the Vikings' signing of Pierce could be imperative as they rebuild part of their defensive line.

Longtime Viking defensive tackle Linval Joseph was also released last week and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

In 2018, Michael Pierce received a 91.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked as the fifth-best grade for all defensive tackles in the NFL. He now joins a defensive tackle group that also includes Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes and Hercules Mata'afa.

Last season, the Vikings defense ranked 13th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards allowed per game, but ranked third in the league in rushing touchdowns allowed with eight. Minnesota also ranked in the top five of defenses in points allowed per game, holding opponents to just 18.9 points per contest.

Overall, the Vikings finished the regular season at 10-6, falling to the San Fransisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.