One of the biggest questions left for new general manager Nolan Teasley to address is the depth in the edge-rusher room. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner should fill the starting roles, but Chaz Chambliss is the only other player who’s recorded a regular-season sack. Still, the Minnesota Vikings could turn to Cam Gill, who spent a short time with the organization in 2025.
Since then, Gill has been outstanding, winning Defensive Player of the Year in the United Football League (UFL) this past season. He could fill their pass-rushing depth needs.
If you didn’t follow the UFL this past season, you missed a heck of a run by the Louisville Kings in their first year as a franchise. The Kings finished their run with a championship, led by Gill on defense. Gill joined fellow ex-Vikings Cam Dantzler and Travis Bell, among others, in forming a unit that flipped the switch and pushed the Kings to the United Bowl.
Before landing in Louisville, Gill was an outstanding linebacker at Wagner University, an FCS program located in Staten Island, NY. Gill earned two NEC Defensive Player of the Year honors during his time there.
He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft but landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent 2020 through 2023 on their roster. He even got half of a sack on Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV during the Bucs 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, the Buccaneers let him enter free agency after the 2023 season. Gill made short stops with the Carolina Panthers (twice) and Detroit Lions before a brief stint with the Vikings in August 2025.
Last year, Gill signed on with the newly formed Louisville Kings in the UFL and had a record-setting season. There, he set the UFL single-season sack record with 10 sacks. He also made the All-UFL team and won UFL DPOY for his efforts. Surprisingly enough, all those accolades weren’t enough for him to join the 22 players who signed with NFL teams at the conclusion of the 2026 UFL season.
Still, this is a perfect opportunity for Minnesota to sign Gill. He’s available and has prior experience with the team. even if it was only two weeks. The Vikings once identified Gill as a fit for their defense. Given their need for edge rushers this offseason, it makes a ton of sense to bring in a player you are already familiar with. Still only 28 years old and with NFL game experience, Minnesota should feel comfortable bringing Gill back into the mix.
Gill would bring impactful talent to Minnesota’s edge room, and he can be a veteran presence for younger players like Bo Richter and Tyler Batty. The Vikings have also had some success scouting the alternative football league scene, with Jalen Redmond and Jacob Roberts on the roster.
The Vikings aren’t the only NFC North team taking notice of talent from alternative football leagues. The Lions signed four wide receivers with UFL ties this offseason, including one-time Viking Lucky Jackson.
Looking at Minnesota’s needs still this offseason, it’s hard to ignore the edge-rusher room. There is still plenty of veteran talent left in free agency, including Jihad Ward, who previously played a depth role for them.
Perhaps the Vikings should look to the UFL to fill the need, and there is no better fit for that role than Cam Gill. Signing talent from the UFL is becoming a mainstay for NFL teams, and the Vikings should continue to look there to fill out their roster.
