Vikings Defender is Overlooked, Says 3-Time Defensive Player of the Year
It has been a fun turnaround for Minnesota’s defense. Brian Fores‘ unit is unrecognizable compared to the 2022 version that Ed Donatell coordinated. The Vikings rank near the top of most defensive metrics and statistics, and three defenders have been nominated to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl.
Vikings Defender is Underrated, Says 3-Time Defensive Player of the Year
In the offseason, the Vikings recalibrated the defense. Flores went back to the drawing board and made some adjustments since the defense seemed to be figured out by great offensive coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur late in the 2023 campaign. In addition to that, he inserted some free-agent defenders, which made the group look completely different.
Acquiring unsigned players Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman within one day was perhaps Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s magnum opus as the club’s general manager. All three have been standouts.
The two pass rushers have replaced departed longtime Viking Danielle Hunter, who opted to sign with the Houston Texans. While Hunter was snubbed from the Pro Bowl squad, both Greenard and Van Ginkel will be there (barring a Super Bowl appearance).
Van Ginkel has caught the eye of fellow Wisconsin Badgers alumnus J.J. Watt. The man has three Defensive Player of the Year trophies on his resume and, therefore, was the right guy to ask about who should win it this year.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he listed a couple of names and mentioned Minnesota’s veteran.
I think it’s about as open as it has been in a while. Generally, pass rushers get that first look, so you look at Trey Hendrickson, I think he certainly had a phenomenal year. He certainly deserves to be in that discussion. A guy that I think is extremely overlooked in all this, Andrew Van Ginkel up in Minnesota.
Two pick-sixes on the year, He has six PBUs (pass breakups), he has over 75 tackles on the year, possibly 80, he’s got over 11 sacks, he’s doing everything in the run, in the pass, dropping back, rushing the passer, picking it, doing a little bit of everything. I think he’s overlooked, partially playing in Minnesota. I think Jonathan Greenard, on the other side, is also a great player. That duo doesn’t get talked about enough.
To set the record straight on his numbers, in his first year with the Vikings, Van Ginkel recorded 79 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, forced one fumble, and caught two passes, returning both for touchdowns.
The defender has been a true game-changer for the Vikings and is the perfect fit in Flores’ system. His versatility allows him to rush from the outside and the inside, stop the run, and drop into coverage, making him the line-of-scrimmage version of Swiss Army Knife defender Josh Metellus.
Van Ginkel signed a two-year contract with the Vikings worth $20 million. After one season, it is fair to say that he is worth about that much for one year. It remains to be seen whether the Vikings want to extend his contract to keep him in the Twin Cities beyond the 2025 season. In exchange, he would surely get the deserved raise.
The champagne problem in that conversation is that Greenard signed a four-year deal while talented rookie Dallas Turner is waiting for increased snaps.
When it comes to Defensive Player of the Year odds, the favorites are Pat Surtain, Trey Hendrickson, and T.J. Watt. Depending on the betting site, Van Ginkel ranks around the 5th spot with odds of about +3000.
The 29-year-old has played one game in his postseason career. On Monday, he will get another taste of playoff football, hopefully with a better ending.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over The Cap helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt