Vikings sign safety Iloka

The Vikings are familiar with Iloka, who played for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer for two seasons with the Bengals when Zimmer was defensive coordinator.

Safety George Iloka signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.

"I'm in a good situation here. I'm where I'm wanted and where I want to be," Iloka said.

Terms of the deal weren't immediately available, but Iloka said he signed a one-year deal. ESPN later reported it is a veteran's minimum deal for $790,000, plus a $90,000 signing bonus.

Iloka, 28, was released in a cost-cutting move by the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend, trimming $5.3 million in salary and roster bonuses for 2018. The Bengals took a $900,000 dead-money hit in 2018 and a $1.2 million hit in 2019 after Iloka was set to count $6.2 million against the cap this year.

The Vikings are familiar with Iloka, who played for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer for two seasons with the Bengals when Zimmer was defensive coordinator.

Andrew Sendejo is the starter at strong safety alongside Pro Bowler Harrison Smith. Iloka could unseat Sendejo with the first team and improve one of the NFL's best defenses. Both could play in a "big nickel" package, as Zimmer already said he's concerned with the team's depth at linebacker.

During free agency in 2016, Iloka visited with Zimmer and considered the Vikings, but Minnesota backed away when the Bengals made a $30 million offer.

Originally a fifth-round pick from Boise State in 2012, Iloka has been a starter in all 76 games he has been active over the past five seasons, missing four games in 2015 because of ankle and groin injuries. He is coming off a year in which he had a career-best 80 tackles for the Bengals along with one interception.

In 83 career games, Iloka has totaled 343 tackles and nine interceptions.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)