The Vikings parted ways with 2024 Pro Bowler Jonathan Greenard after finalizing a deal during the draft that sent the pass-rusher to the Philadelphia Eagles. That decision freed some cap space, but certainly opened a hole at outside linebacker. With only two established rushers on board, a clear opportunity for other players presents itself.

One of those could be interior defender Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who appears to play a versatile role in the upcoming season. He was seen working with the outside linebacker group early in OTAs. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about that last week and he confirmed the vision.

O’Connell said, “One of the things we really liked about him was his versatility. He did a lot of different things at Georgia, and he’s a really heavy presence on the edge. [When] we’re trying to run the ball out at that [Christian Darrisaw] gap out there, and then he’s out there setting the edge, that’s different.”

Then he went into detail: “And then his versatility to get kick inside, I don’t know if we’ll see him get much tighter than maybe a three [3T], but from the 3T all the way out to the edge, that’s a really versatile player. And then you pair that with what Caleb [Banks] can be from a versatile standpoint, really being kind of from that 4i/5T on down, it’s exciting. And he’s had a really good sprint, and that kind of year to jump, we’re hoping that it’s happening right now.”

In simple words, Ingram-Dawkins can play as a three-technique, the position between a nose tackle and an edge rusher, and as an edge rusher, with various slots in between. His size could be especially useful as an edge-setter on running downs, while his quickness might pay dividends on the inside.

The Vikings have a need on the edge. Starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are set, but the depth is cause for concern, led by special-teamers Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss and Tyler Batty, with undrafted rookies Cam’Ron Stewart and Arden Walker aiming to conquer last year’s status quo.

In college, Ingram-Dawkins also played just a rotational role on Georgia’s stacked defensive line. He accumulated only 39 tackles in 37 games.

The defender arrived in the Twin Cities in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. In a crowded defensive line room, the rookie had a quiet debut season, playing in 14 games with one start. Along the way, he secured 12 tackles and one sack, playing 250 defensive snaps and another 95 on special teams. Though he had a slow rookie season, he occasionally flashed his high-end potential. A more versatile role than last year could lead to more playing time in Year 2.

His calling card is the athletic profile he brings to the table. In his pre-draft process, he posted a 4.86 40-yard dash, a 10-foot broad jump, and a 36-inch vertical jump at 276 pounds. His Relative Athletic Score ranked him 29th of 1812 defensive tackles.

When he addressed the media after the draft, then-GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah already teased his versatility last year:

“Versatility is something that we crave for our defense, and he stuck out as somebody who’s able to do that label, to kind of set the edge working outside in, and then in the rush game, has some ability to win over the guard with a unique skill set. It’s not refined yet, but there’s some stuff in there that’s pretty unique. We think that he’s an incredibly intelligent player, and his best football is in front of him, and we think he’s going to achieve that best football in this building.”

The Vikings drafted Ingram-Dawkins as a developmental prospect with rare physical tools rather than a finished product. One year later, the coaching staff appears ready to test just how much he can handle.

Whether he ultimately settles in as an interior defender, an edge rusher, or a hybrid of both, the opportunity is clearly there. With Greenard gone and snaps available across the defensive front, Ingram-Dawkins is one of the more intriguing candidates to emerge from Minnesota’s young defensive core in 2026.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.