With mandatory minicamp underway at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, the Minnesota Vikings still have a few question marks on their roster going into 2026. New general manager Nolan Teasley is most likely looking to address these needs, and one of the biggest is edge-rusher depth. He should consider former Vikings defensive end Jihad Ward.
Minnesota traded off star pass rusher Jonathan Greenard in April, and now the room needs some depth pieces behind projected starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Ward is still available in free agency and makes a ton of sense to bring back.
Looking at the current outside linebacker room, Chaz Chambliss is the only player with a regular-season sack. Bo Richter and Tyler Batty saw some time this past season in limited roles. Both had 10-plus tackles, respectively, and Batty added two tackles for loss.
The team also brought in undrafted free agents Cam’Ron Stewart and Arden Walker. Stewart was a Second-Team All-AAC honoree with Temple in 2025, and Walker started 11 games for Colorado. Needless to say, this position group could use a proven veteran like Ward to help round it out.
Ward was with the Vikings in 2024 in a similar role and flashed serious playmaking ability in his limited snaps.
Ward perfectly filled the Vikings’ needs in a rotational role and ended up starting two regular-season games and the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. In the 17 games he saw action in, Ward recorded 10 combined tackles and one sack.
After leaving Minnesota two years ago, Ward signed with the Tennessee Titans last season and started 12 games for them, producing five sacks and 47 pressures. Similar to his year with the Vikings, Ward was asked to fill in as a primary edge rusher due to injuries, and he thrived. Teams are never going to ask Ward to be a top-of-the-league pass rusher, but he plays his depth role nicely, and it is exactly what the Vikings need right now.
Another reason the Vikings should look at bringing Ward back is his versatility along the line. As Minnesota did two years ago, teams ask him to be a stand-up edge rusher and a 3-4 defensive end role. With his 6’5”, 285 lbs. frame, Ward can contribute in the outside linebacker room and be a versatile player for Brian Flores again on his defense. Also, having experience in such a unique defensive scheme like the one Flores runs for the Vikings is always a positive.
Ward’s contract value is the final point to make in support of bringing him back to Minnesota. Edge is one of the most important positions in football, and NFL teams routinely pay top dollar for elite talent at the position. Ward is projected to land a one-year, $4.1 million contract this offseason due to his surprising production with the Tennessee Titans in 2025.
However, Ward’s last four contracts have been one-year deals. He’s also still a current free agent, so that number will likely be smaller. Also, he will be 32 this season, which has to be a factor.
Jihad Ward could come in and fill an immediate need for the Vikings in 2026, and familiarity with the system and contract value should be enticing. Reuniting with him this offseason seems like a safe bet that Teasley could make for a quick improvement to the roster at a position in need of depth.
