The Minnesota Vikings entered free agency with one clear objective: improving their defense. They wanted to fortify their depth at edge rusher, improve their defensive line and add experienced and productive players at all three levels.
Minnesota took this priority and ran with it, signing former Houston Texans edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to a lengthy contract. The Vikings doubled down Monday afternoon, agreeing to terms with former Miami Dolphins edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
Van Ginkel, who played for defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami, signed a two-year contract worth $20 million with $14 million guaranteed.
Andrew Van Ginkel is signing with the Vikings.
Van Ginkel set career highs in pressures (55) and pressure rate (17.7%) in 2023, including a 19.1% pressure rate from Weeks 13-18, 4th-highest among edge defenders over that span (min. 100 pass rushes).pic.twitter.com/lqO0fNGJ6n
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 11, 2024
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How he fits
Perfectly. Van Ginkel, 28, is unlike the edge rushers Flores utilized in 2023. Whereas Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum are more traditional defensive ends, Van Ginkel is nearly 20 pounds lighter and more effective at dropping into space. If you watched the Vikings defense last season, you saw how frequently Flores was willing to use his edge rushers as occupiers in zones.
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Flores is also aware of how capable Van Ginkel is. Flores was responsible for drafting him in the fifth round when he was the head coach of the Dolphins. He observed Van Ginkel’s progression from college talent at Wisconsin to NFL starter. Van Ginkel became one of the most trusted players on the Dolphins defense, compiling 250 tackles and 17 sacks over the last five years.
2024 impact
If anything, the signing of Van Ginkel might signify what the Vikings plan to do in the NFL Draft. In recent months, many mock drafts suggested the Vikings could pursue an edge rusher like Jared Verse of Florida State or Alabama’s Dallas Turner.
Now that quarterback Kirk Cousins is headed to the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings will likely have to load up premium draft selections in an attempt to trade up for their QB of the future. That means they needed to fortify their edge rusher position, and they’ve done that with Greenard and Van Ginkel.
Minnesota is also likely to have a leadership void. Cousins’ departure, Hunter’s expected departure and Jordan Hicks’ likely move will create a need for experienced players who can shape what is likely to be a younger, less-experienced locker room.
History
Similar to Greenard, injuries have affected Van Ginkel throughout his career. In 2023, he sustained a foot injury that ended his season. A back injury affected Van Ginkel in 2021. He even broke his nose during a game early in the 2023 season.
When he’s healthy, though, he can be a force. Van Ginkel ranked 10th in the NFL in pressure rate among 187 defenders who rushed the passer at least 200 times in 2023, according to TruMedia. He also added 19 hits on quarterbacks, which ranked 33rd in the league.
Cap update
With Cousins headed to Atlanta, the Vikings had more money to spend on the defense. Greenard became the first domino, and Van Ginkel was the second. Off-ball linebacker Blake Cashman stands as the third. Minnesota might have more to spend, too, and it could continue to beef up on defense. The Vikings could still use improvement at cornerback and pass-rush help on the interior of the defensive line. Add talent at both of those spots, and the Vikings defense will look wholly different from a season ago.
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Outlook
The NFC North is going to be difficult. The Detroit Lions hung onto offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and most of their talent remains. The Packers are trending upward with developmental youth, and even though they released Aaron Jones, they replaced him quickly with Josh Jacobs. The Bears may still be a few seasons away, but they’ve improved their defense, and their offense should improve with Caleb Williams at quarterback and D’Andre Swift at running back.
Simply put, even with the defensive improvements, the Vikings have a ways to go to contend without a proven quarterback.
— The Athletic’s Jeff Howe contributed to this report.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)