A Minnesota Vikings fan raises an indication inside U.S. Financial institution Stadium throughout the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s regular-season matchup in opposition to the Chicago Bears on Dec. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings closed the afternoon with home-field vitality and postseason buzz across the constructing as followers saluted a division-winning group getting into January. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Most sections of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster seem to be they’re in higher form than final 12 months — besides the surface linebacker spot. The franchise traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April, and accordingly, another EDGE defender from free company or commerce may come in useful.
Per The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis, there’s a good likelihood of that end result in summer time free company.
Jadeveon Clowney, Leonard Floyd Emerge as Smart Vikings EDGE Fixes
New Minnesota Vikings basic supervisor Nolan Teasley speaks with reporters, outlining his imaginative and prescient for the franchise and emphasizing organizational alignment. June 3, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, Teasley mentioned collaboration between possession, coaches, and soccer operations as he started directing the membership by a pivotal offseason. Obligatory Credit score: YouTube.
Lewis: Vikings Will In all probability Signal an OLB
The Athletic analyzed one major query for every NFL group heading into coaching camp in 4 weeks, and for Minnesota, that was EDGE.
Lewis wrote, “Who will they add for depth at edge rusher? Because quarterback continues to dominate the conversation in Minnesota, other parts of the roster remain overlooked. Edge rusher is one of them.”
“The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles. His departure opens the door for 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner to take the next step. Minnesota also still has the cyborg, Andrew Van Ginkel. Depth behind them warrants a potential addition.”
Minnesota hasn’t suffered from skinny OLB depth in years.
“If Turner or Van Ginkel miss time with an injury, the Vikings need reliable pass rushers, especially with how much they’re betting on youth on the interior. The team has about $13.1 million in cap space for 2026. Using a chunk of change on edge help is a realistic expectation,” Lewis concluded.
Simply in Case of Damage
The principle grievance for EDGE is that this: what occurs if Van Ginkel or Turner get harm? The Vikings would flip to Turner and Bo Richter, for instance, and that may not enthuse followers — except Richter has taken a noticeable step ahead from final season.
It’s the identical mentality that made the Jauan Jennings signing so improbable at extensive receiver. If Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison miss video games — that occurs within the NFL — panic gained’t ensue as a result of Jennings can seamlessly slide in because the WR2 till the opposite man returns.
Minnesota Vikings linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel (43), Dallas Turner (15), and Jonathan Greenard (58) collect throughout coaching camp drills. July 29, 2025, on the Vikings Coaching Facility in Eagan, Minnesota, the achieved edge-rushing trio continued getting ready for the common season whereas serving to anchor Brian Flores’ defensive entrance. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Minnesota wants an additional linebacker to hedge the wager in opposition to damage. The choice(s) can be inserting rookie Jake Golday into the lineup as an outdoor linebacker or hoping second-year defensive sort out Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has the chops for EDGE responsibility.
The Candidates
So, who’re the choices? The listing is lengthy and intriguing:
Derek Barnett
Joey Bosa
Jadeveon Clowney
Marcus Davenport
Leonard Floyd
Jerry Hughes
Yannick Ngakoue
Emmanuel Ogbah
Josh Paschal
Haason Reddick
Preston Smith
Kyle Van Noy
Von Miller
Credible reporting final week instructed that Bosa could retire; he is likely to be off the listing. Aside from Bosa, there’s loads of beef on the free-agent wire for one more EDGE. The encouraging half? All these gamers might be signed for lower than $10 million; that’s the secret almost 4 months into free company.
And it simply so occurs that Minnesota has about $13 million to spend in cap area.
Clowney or Floyd Make the Most Sense
Clowney nonetheless has juice, and don’t you overlook it. In 2025, regardless of taking part in solely 373 defensive snaps for the Dallas Cowboys, he recorded a formidable 8.5 sacks. Projecting that manufacturing over a full season suggests he may obtain round 15 sacks as a full-time starter.
Dallas Cowboys defensive finish Jadeveon Clowney (42) runs onto the sector earlier than a Christmas Day matchup in opposition to the Washington Commanders. Dec. 25, 2025, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, Clowney ready for one more NFC East rivalry sport throughout the last stretch of the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Amber Searls-Imagn Photographs.
Nevertheless, the Vikings wouldn’t want Clowney as a main starter, as Turner and Van Ginkel at the moment fill these roles. Clowney would as a substitute function the third outdoors linebacker, making his contributions priceless relatively than important.
His value shouldn’t be unreasonable both. Having earned roughly $5.5 million final season, Clowney’s subsequent contract is prone to fall between $5 million and $8 million. This worth level would enable Minnesota to accumulate a confirmed move rusher as insurance coverage.
Zone Protection‘s Trevor Ripley wrote final week, “Clowney makes a lot of sense for the Vikings. So does Reddick, who has over 1,000 career coverage snaps – something Minnesota values in their edges. It’s fairly easy to fall in love with any of the big names still available, despite age or recent production concerns.”
“It’s likely Minnesota’s ideal approach for 2026. Still, whether or not any of the free agents want to play ball is another story. It could be that Clowney or Bosa is holding out for a starting job. The Vikings aren’t really able to offer that, barring an injury. Therefore, the team may have to settle for a middling veteran looking for any deal he can get.”
Leonard Floyd, too, is sensible as a result of he gained a Tremendous Bowl with Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles 5 years in the past. Usually, coaches will upon former gamers in free company, even when O’Connell coached offense for the Rams whereas Floyd performed protection.
Clowney, although, would most likely excite the fan base essentially the most.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
