Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores patrols the sideline throughout a world matchup towards the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Flores remained engaged all through the competition, overseeing defensive changes and communication from the teaching space. On Oct. 6, 2024, Minnesota continued its robust early-season run whereas showcasing its aggressive defensive id overseas. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
After buying and selling Jonathan Greenard in late April to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings arguably want one other exterior linebacker for extra depth — and that man could already be in-house. A rookie from final 12 months, defensive sort out Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, is flirting with a swap to OLB, or not less than some type of hybrid obligation.
If the experiment clicks, Minnesota gained’t want any extra free-agent energy from the open market.
Vikings Defensive Depth Chart Will get a New Summer season Experiment
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins works by way of on-field testing on the NFL Mix, showcasing his athletic traits in entrance of league evaluators. On Feb. 27, 2025, Ingram-Dawkins participated in drills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as groups gathered info forward of the NFL Draft. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
Ingram-Dawkins on the Change
Ingram-Dawnkins stuffed an EDGE function at organized crew actions, and KSTP’s Darren Wolfson requested him about it.
“I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line,” he replied.
“The main focus was to just clean up my body. You know, I feel like that could only help me with how versatile I’m using, I’m being used across the line with all positions. You know, I just feel like I can play all around the line and wherever they wanna plug me and play me. That’s, I’m gonna just put my all into that.”
One of many perks of drafting Ingram-Dawkins was this very chance — tweener capabilities between DT and OLB.
Kevin O’Connell Breaks It Down
The Vikings skipper additionally commented on Ingram-Dawkins’ OLB snaps: “One of the things we really liked about him was his versatility. He did a lot of different things at Georgia, and he’s a really heavy presence on the edge. When we’re trying to run the ball out at that Christian Darrisaw gap out there, and then he’s out there setting the edge, that’s different.”
“And then his versatility to get kick inside, I don’t know if we’ll see him get much tighter than maybe a three, but from the 3T all the way out to the edge, that’s a really versatile player. And then you pair that with what Caleb Banks can be from a versatile standpoint, really being kind of from that 4i/5T on down; it’s exciting. And he’s had a really good sprint, and that kind of year to jump; we’re hoping that it’s happening right now.”
No less than from a summer season perspective, the plan is in movement.
What the EDGEs May Look Like
Inspecting Minnesota’s OLBs was once the enjoyable a part of roster evaluation — till Greenard was traded. Now, the group appears to be lacking a hyperlink except Turner erupts right into a full-blown star.
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins finishes a collection of exercises and testing workout routines throughout a pivotal pre-draft showcase. On Feb. 27, 2025, Ingram-Dawkins took half in mix actions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, assembly with scouts and demonstrating his bodily instruments earlier than the NFL Draft course of intensified. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
However fake momentarily that the Vikings convert Ingram-Dawkins. The EDGE room would appear like this:
OLB1: Andrew Van GinkelOLB2: Dallas TurnerOLB3: Tyrion Ingram-DawkinsOLB4: Bo RichterOLB5: Tyler BattyOLB6: Chaz ChamblissOLB7: Cam’Ron StewartOLB8: Arden Walker
It’s unclear if Ingram-Dawkins can morph right into a stud OLB3, however his versatility alleviates the depth issues, if solely slightly bit.
Richter, Batty, or a Free Agent? Jake Golday?
Now — fake Ingram-Dawkings doesn’t play a lot at OLB in 2026, and in hindsight, that was only a summer season principle that didn’t go far. Richter and Batty could also be prepared for expanded roles, and Jake Golday may emerge as an intriguing inside-outside linebacker.
However the hypothesis kinds a shaky OLB basis for a crew aiming to win playoff video games.
Whereas Golday may impress at coaching camp, Richter may evolve past a particular groups ace, Batty may rapidly show his capabilities, and Flores may deploy Ingram-Dawkins in a stress package deal, a lot of this stays hypothetical. The Vikings shouldn’t equate such conjecture with real roster depth.
Minnesota’s roster is in any other case strong, making the third exterior linebacker spot arguably their largest remaining query mark earlier than the season. The beginning positions are safe; the actual concern is potential accidents or whether or not youthful gamers want extra improvement time.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter tracks the soccer whereas dropping into protection throughout preseason motion towards Philadelphia. On Aug. 24, 2024, Richter tried to return away with an interception within the third quarter at Lincoln Monetary Discipline, displaying versatility as Minnesota evaluated younger defenders earlier than roster choices. Necessary Credit score: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports activities.
If Richter, Batty, Ingram-Dawkins, and Golday are usually not the OLB3 reply, right here’s the exterior checklist of choices from free company:
Cameron Jordan
Derek Barnett
Haason Reddick
Jadeveon Clowney
Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Leonard Floyd
Marcus Davenport
Von Miller
Yannick Ngakoue
The Vikings have about $13-14 million in cap house in the event that they want an additional exterior linebacker.
Ingram-Dawkins’s function will turn out to be clearer at coaching camp, which is seven weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
