Vikings sign Guion to three-year deal

The Vikings got a deal done with one of their own free agents just before the market opened Tuesday afternoon, signing defensive tackle Letroy Guion to a healthy three-year deal.

The Vikings got a deal done with defensive tackle Letroy Guion shortly before the free-agent bell opened the market at 3 p.m. Central Tuesday.

Guion signed a three-year deal with the Vikings, according to a league source. The deal is expected to be in the range of the contract that the Vikings inked with Remi Ayodele in free agency last year, which was a three-year, $9 million deal with a $3.565 million signing bonus.

That means Guion should have an opportunity to compete with Ayodele for the starting job opposite Kevin Williams if the Vikings don’t sign a surefire starting nose tackle.

Guion started three games last year, the first two at under tackle while Williams was serving a suspension and in Week 16 for Ayodele. While Ayodele was listed as the starter last year, he played in only 23.57 percent of the defensive snaps while Guion played in 45.35 percent of the snaps. Guion was credited with 35 tackles while Ayodele had 22.

After the season, Guion talked about where he made improvements.

“I feel like I got stronger. I feel like I got better as a defensive tackle. I didn’t accomplish my sack goal, but I feel like I played hard this year and I played technique-sound. I feel I can still get better. I haven’t reached my highest potential yet. It’s still yet to come,” he said.

“I got stronger (in 2011), there’s no doubt about it. I feel like I got a lot stronger. I finally hit my man strength. I’m finally getting that up under my belt and I’m finally learning how to be a pro.”

While Guion didn’t have any sacks in 2011, he had 13 quarterback pressures, fourth among Vikings defenders.

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