Minnesota Vikings defenders (Domonique Orange) take part in drills throughout the opening day of obligatory minicamp on the TCO Efficiency Middle. The session provided an early take a look at Brian Flores’ protection as veterans and newcomers labored by way of assignments and approach growth. Captured on June 9, 2026, the follow highlighted Minnesota’s preparation for the upcoming season. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
The second the Minnesota Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles for 2 Third-Spherical picks, they created a semi-urgent want on the exterior linebacker place — in the event that they don’t belief their in-house commodities.
The membership has simply over $13 million to spend in summer season free company, and all indicators level to a different EDGE defender if Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, or Chaz Chambliss don’t win the OLB3 job.
Vikings’ Move Rush Depth Makes EDGE the Apparent Goal
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline throughout NFC Wild Card playoff motion at State Farm Stadium. On Jan. 13, 2025, Flores managed defensive changes, personnel groupings, and situational technique as Minnesota competed in a high-stakes postseason surroundings towards one of many league’s high offensive groups. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.
Vikings May Use FA Money at OLB
Minnesota could not signal an OLB this week, however it needs to be on the thoughts of recent common supervisor Nolan Teasley, in keeping with The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis.
He wrote Tuesday, “Trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles places major responsibility on third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner. It also emphasizes the depth behind Turner and Van Ginkel. The scheme can only go so far.”
“When one-on-one pass-rush opportunities present themselves, the Vikings need edge rushers who can win. Minnesota’s staff thinks highly of former undrafted edge rushers Chaz Chambliss, Bo Richter and Tyler Batty, though none of them have produced at the NFL level.”
Primarily based on final yr’s snap counts, Richter or Batty would seemingly get the OLB3 nod on the depth chart if Tealsey indicators no newcomers.
Lewis continued, “The Vikings have around $13 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and some enticing free-agent edge rushers remain. The Vikings could wait until training camp to make a move.”
“But from a competitiveness standpoint, supplementing this position group seems paramount.”
The Choices
If one assumes the Vikings don’t fireplace up a flowery commerce for an EDGE defender — they in all probability gained’t as a result of they’d’ve stored Greenard in any other case — free company really has a barrage of promising choices. Assuming Minnesota doesn’t wait till the final minute, right here’s the EDGE market proper now:
Cameron Jordan
Derek Barnett
Haason Reddick
Jadeveon Clowney
Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Leonard Floyd
Marcus Davenport
Von Miller
Yannick Ngakoue
The listing is thick, and outdoors of Davenport — a former Viking who disappeared after a excessive ankle sprain in 2023 — followers wouldn’t be disappointedwith any man from this listing.
A straightforward means to think about it? It’s an excellent time to want a veteran exterior linebacker. Lots to go round.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney participates in pregame warm-ups earlier than an exhibition matchup towards the New York Jets. On Aug. 17, 2024, the veteran move rusher ready for preseason motion at Financial institution of America Stadium, persevering with his function as one of many Panthers’ most skilled defensive contributors. Necessary Credit score: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports activities.
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad noted on Clowney in particular this week, “Clowney, who is 33, has 66.5 sacks in 153 games over 12 seasons with seven teams. Last season, he had 8.5 sacks in 13 games with Dallas. Teasley is familiar with Clowney, who spent the 2019 season in Seattle when Teasley was the Seahawks’ director of professional personnel.”
Rolling the Cube with a UDFA?
If it’s not a family title like Jordan, Clowney, Bosa, Floyd, or Miller, Minnesota would promote from inside. 4 in-house choices can be found after Van Ginkel and Turner, all of the aforementioned undrafted free brokers: Richter, Batty, Chambliss, and Cam’Ron Stewart.
As Lewis famous, there’s no technique to know in June if these males have the juice for a full-time OLB3 function, however behind the scenes, defensive coordinator Brian Flores ought to know if any of the 4 is prepared.
In the meantime, the longer the Vikings wait with out signing a free-agent EDGE, the nearer they get to using with Richter, Batty, Chambliss, and Stewart. There’s additionally an opportunity that Minnesota waits till the post-cutdown market, when roughly 1,200 NFLers hit free company or bide their time for a follow squad task.
Different Positions of Want?
Lastly, the opposite spots on the roster that might use some love from Teasley. This listing shouldn’t be that lengthy, imagine it or not.
Minnesota has loads of safeties, and if Harrison Smith returns, no extra are wanted. If Smith doesn’t return for Yr No. 15, a free-agent security can’t be dominated out if rookie Jakobe Thomas isn’t prepared for the common season.
Minnesota Vikings proprietor Mark Wilf joins newly employed common supervisor Nolan Teasley throughout an introductory press convention at staff headquarters. On June 3, 2026, Teasley outlined his imaginative and prescient for the franchise, discussing roster building, organizational objectives, and collaboration with possession as he formally started his tenure in Minnesota. Necessary Credit score: YouTube.
With the protection caveat, the positions of want are down two spots in June, July, and August: cornerback and guard. Flores has Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, rookie Charles Demmings, and Dwight McGlothern locked and loaded at CB. If the Vikings wished to be ultra-deep, free brokers like Trevon Diggs and Mike Hilton are in search of work.
At guard, the state of affairs is much like OLB. Ought to Joe Huber and Henry Byrd do the trick as depth, no extra guards are required. The saving grace is that about 10 first rate depth guards are on the free-agent wire.
Vikings coaching camp is about seven weeks away. A high quality, big-name EDGE like Clowney or Bosa would seemingly value round $10 million.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
