Now More than Ever, A Vikings Pass Rusher Demands an Extension
Moving on from Jonathan Greenard creates reasonably widespread side effects in the Twin Cities. Most notably, Dallas Turner is being promoted. The soon-to-be third-year edge rusher is being regarded as a breakout candidate by many prophets and prognosticators.
A different Vikings pass rusher, Mr. Andrew Van Ginkel, is of similar significance. Many thought of Greenard as the EDGE1 but Van Ginkel was the better of the pair, as his All Pro honor in 2024 and superior 2025 season demonstrated. Continuing to rally around the EDGE1 through an extension feels downright mandatory.
Vikings Pass Rusher Andrew Van Ginkel Needs an Extension
Seeing Van Ginkel walk in March of 2027 means getting on the board for a compensatory pick (very likely). Another benefit is opening a spot in the lineup for a younger player to emerge.
Working against the team is the dead money that would be left on the books.
The real issue, though, is that the Vikings would lose the player who is second only to Justin Jefferson in significance to the team. His ability to chase down the passer will be more important than even since Turner needs to continue proving himself. Other edge rushers — Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, Chaz Chambliss, Ty Ingram-Dawkins, and so on — do have upside, but they have even more to prove than Turner.
So, keeping the remarkably versatile player feels important.
Over on Vikings Territory, former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond discussed the current lack of depth beyond Van Ginkel and Turner, writing, “As O’Connell, Flores, and GM Teasley and his staff look at the edge rusher group, they have to be concerned about who will be in the rotation to give Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner a break since rushing the passer is one of the most physically demanding jobs in football. And I’ve always believed pass rushers are the second most important position in the NFL after quarterback (I go back to something Bud Grant often said—’give me a great quarterback and a fourth-quarter pass rush’).”
Some great points tucked into Diamond’s analysis, but that final line from Coach Grant is worth highlighting. Pass rushing is obviously important, but it becomes doubly so when the 4th quarter of a game arrives. Part of what’s going to allow the pass rush to shine is adequate depth.
Andrew Van Ginkel originally became a Viking in the free agency haul of 2024. He did so for a contract kicking over a mere $20 million across a pair of seasons, meaning he was wildly underpaid by edge rusher standards. Keeping him for another season — the 2026 cluster of games that has yet to arrive — involved tacking on another year for $23 million (as OTC clarifies).
The edge rusher, in other words, was so sensational that he more than doubled his compensation while only agreeing to one more season.
The defender is yet again working in the final year of his contract. He is still underpaid. New GM Nolan Teasley could rectify both issues by extending Andrew Van Ginkel. Doing so would involve giving him a well-earned pay bump alongside more job security over the coming years.
Boasting a yearly average pay sitting at $23 million means sitting within the top-twenty for his position. Giving Van Ginkel a new contract would likely mean seeing the per-year compensation getting raised. Think somewhere within the $25-$30 million range (but I would guess closer to the $25M range).
Van Ginkel is going to turn 31 on July 1st (Canada Day!).
