One More OLB Addition Makes Sense for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings swung a trade involving talented edge rusher Dallas Greenard during the NFL Draft. They used the 98th overall pick acquired from Philadelphia on safety Jakobe Thomas. The money they saved in trading Greenard was essentially allocated to sign Jauan Jennings.

It’s a nice little come-up for a team backed against the salary cap. The reality, though, is that the removal of Greenard leaves a little bit of a gap on the edge rushing front. Dallas Turner plays a specific role in Brian Flores’ defense. He will take over for Greenard, but is not a fit to play the Andrew Van Ginkel spot.

Depth Questions Still Hover over the Vikings EDGE Rushers

Minnesota utilized a strategy in which pass rushers got to the quarterback, mitigating their cornerback depth a year ago. They are a bit deeper in the secondary this time around, but additional depth on the line makes a good deal of sense.

Andrew Van Ginkel before Vikings-Falcons game at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024. Vikings pass rush — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) surveys the field before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. The home contest on Dec 8, 2024, offered a moment to capture his steady presence as a veteran defensive contributor. Van Ginkel’s preparation and focus were evident as Minnesota readied for another NFC matchup with playoff implications on the line. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Van Ginkel missed five games last year. Hopefully, the neck injury is behind him, but he will be 31 years old this season. Turner looks ready to rock, but he hasn’t been fully given the reins at any point in his career. Bringing in one more veteran to rotate through the group up front makes a good deal of sense.

It remains to be seen what the leftover free agents are looking for. Joey Bosa is a big name still on the open market, and maybe his price has diminished with the dropoff in production. Yetur Gross-Matos is a couple of years younger, but may command a premium. There are also a plethora of other options further on down the line.

Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa (97) against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Right now, the depth chart looks to have Tyler Batty and Bo Richter as the next men up behind the starters. Both have flashed at times during preseason action, but it would seem like a stretch to ask either for consistent production if they were thrust into a starting role. The more internal depth the Vikings can muster, the better off they should feel about contingency plans.

With Turner ready to step into a starting role, he could truly be the next in a long line of heralded Vikings pass rushers. We have already seen the impact that Van Ginkel can make when he’s right. There’s a lot to like about the starting duo, but there are some serious questions about the talent behind them.