Edge rusher
Trading Jonathan Greenard brought attention to this position months ago. The move added urgency to 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner’s development and made Andrew Van Ginkel staying healthy much more vital.
Turner’s training camp performance has inspired internal optimism. Van Ginkel’s availability has, too. But depth continues to be an important question, and Sunday’s news tossed gasoline on the fire.
Tyler Batty, an undrafted, second-year player from BYU, tore his ACL in the team’s final preseason game against the Denver Broncos. The season-ending injury left the team with just four edge rushers on its initial 53-man roster. Former undrafted players Chaz Chambliss and Bo Richter offer versatility and special teams value, but neither has the edge-setting presence to fill in for Turner or Van Ginkel.
There are only so many options available for the Vikings. They passed on plucking a player from the waiver wire, although rosters will still be in flux in the ensuing days. Free agency is another potential avenue. However, some of the best candidates in that pool — such as veteran Jadeveon Clowney — signed elsewhere.
There are still some productive players out there. Kyle Van Noy played for defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2020 and is still unsigned. Free agents Haason Reddick and Leonard Floyd posted higher pressure rates than Van Noy last season, and both remain on the market.
The flexibility of current Vikings defenders Eric Wilson, Jake Golday and Ty Ingram-Dawkins provides short-term cover. But Minnesota would raise its defensive floor by adding another accomplished player at the position.
