Vikings’ New Pass Rusher Has a Tiny Cap Hit in 2024
Last week, the Minnesota Vikings began rebuilding their defense for 2024, and one of their more high-profile additions involved signing OLB Andrew Van Ginkel.
The outside linebacker signed a two-year, $20 million deal with Minnesota, reuniting with Brian Flores who was about to begin his first season as head coach of the Miami Dolphins when they selected in him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The full contract details of Van Ginkel’s deal with the Vikings have been revealed, and they uncover a very small cap hit for the newest Vikings pass rusher this upcoming season.
Andrew Van Ginkel’s Contract Details
According to Over the Cap, Van Ginkel will carry a cap hit of just $3.4 million in 2024, which is absolutely miniscule considering that OTC valued Van Ginkel’s play in 2023 as worthy of $20.2 million. Last season, the outside linebacker put together 69 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks, eight passes defended, and an interception which resulted in a 33-yard pick-six.
Van Ginkel has emerged as a do-it-all defender in Miami’s defense over the past few years. Since 2020, he has appeared in 67 games, including 41 starts, and in those games the pass rusher piled up 235 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 21 passes defended, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
This makes him a prime candidate to succeed in Flores’ defensive scheme as a player who can fill multiple needs in Minnesota’s defense.
The best part of this contract is what happens after 2024, though. Van Ginkel’s cap hit in 2025 is $12.4 million, but if the experiment does not work out, the Vikings can save $5.8 million of that money by releasing him before March 15th when $3 million of his contract becomes guaranteed.
Additionally, the Vikings tacked four void years onto the end of Van Ginkel’s contract from 2026-2029, offering the potential for a contract extension if he performs well. It should be noted, though, that Van Ginkel will be 34 years old in 2029.
If the Vikings were to offer Van Ginkel a new contract extension, they would have to do so before his deal voids on February 20th, 2026.
Overall, once again, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has found a way to put plenty of flexibility into the contract of another free agent acquisition.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.