The Minnesota Vikings quarterback battle will bleed into training camp or beyond. So, too, it seems, will their decision to address their edge needs after trading Jonathan Greenard.
The Vikings reluctantly moved on from Greenard, who quickly priced himself out of Minnesota, and they have yet to make a corresponding move to replace his production. Despite selecting several defensive players in April’s draft, the Vikings didn’t add a true edge. They signed Kyler Murray and Jauan Jennings in free agency, but Minnesota has turned a blind eye thus far to the critical edge position.
Despite losing Greenard, the Vikings still have a strong room with Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. However, depth and future concerns remain. So, with a high possibility that Minnesota isn’t done adding, should they sign a one-year rental, or look to trade for a younger piece to pair with Turner for years to come?
Beyond Turner and Van Ginkel, the depth is virtually non-existent besides a few UDFAs and an apparent attempt at sliding Ty Ingram-Dawkins out. If either starter misses significant time due to injury, it’s fair to question where the Vikings might turn for help. Minnesota has the cap space and draft capital to bring in reinforcements, but it all depends on the long-term view.
Let’s start with the veteran free agent route. The list of options remains long, including Haason Reddick, Jadeveon Clowney, or Joey Bosa. Going down this path looks to be the sensible option at first glance. It would be prudent to add a proven veteran who could easily provide solid third-down pass rush at a reasonable price.
Clowney makes a lot of sense for the Vikings. So does Reddick, who has over 1,000 career coverage snaps – something Minnesota values in their edges. It’s fairly easy to fall in love with any of the big names still available, despite age or recent production concerns.
It’s likely Minnesota’s ideal approach for 2026. Still, whether or not any of the free agents want to play ball is another story. It could be that Clowney or Bosa is holding out for a starting job. The Vikings aren’t really able to offer that, barring an injury. Therefore, the team may have to settle for a middling veteran looking for any deal he can get.
That doesn’t exactly scream problem fixed for a team whose entire scheme revolves around getting to the quarterback. Turner and Van Ginkel are both highly capable. However, the collective group of defensive linemen and edge rushers besides them has fewer than a dozen career sacks combined. Still, overpaying for a higher-tier edge rusher or dropping draft capital on a trade could also backfire.
If the Vikings decide that they want to act now and provide some stability to the position beyond just 2026, there are a few trade candidates. Old friend Patrick Jones II is only 27 and racked up seven sacks in his last year with the Carolina Panthers. After bringing in Jaelan Phillips on a monster deal, Carolina may look to move on from Jones, who has never found a footing since moving east.
The Seattle Seahawks’ Uchenna Nwosu is another intriguing option, who has obvious ties to Minnesota through general manager Nolan Teasley. Brutal injuries in 2023 and 2024 lowered his value just enough that the Vikings might be able to land him for a relative bargain. At 29, and with just over 100 games of tread on his tires, he could be that second or third edge option for the next couple of seasons.
Kayvon Thibodeaux is the last and most expensive player the Vikings could pursue. The former top-five draft pick has been rumored to be on his way out of New York for some time, but his price may prove too high for Minnesota. Thibodeaux has yet to reach double-digit sacks again since his breakout season in 2023. Still, pairing him with Turner and, maybe more importantly, Brian Flores, could be too tempting to ignore.
Obviously, these options require both draft capital and financial investments, making them potentially less appealing. But Van Ginkel will be 32 next season. With no guarantee he’ll be back, Minnesota may look to bolster its room for 2026, while ensuring security for 2027 and beyond.
Ultimately, it feels like the Vikings will cross their fingers and hope that their starting duo stays healthy, and that some combination of their youngsters and maybe an uninspiring veteran signing will be enough to get the job done.
Still, few believed Jennings would agree to a one-year deal to essentially be a WR3. So maybe the Vikings can continue their skillful negotiations with an agreement for one of the top names still available. In turn, they can collectively lower the blood pressure of Vikings fans everywhere.
