With Position Switch, Vikings Appear Ready to Shift Larger Snap Load to Young Fella
Ty Ingram-Dawkins became a Viking courtesy of the 2025 NFL Draft, the last cluster of incoming talent for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Recent standards mean seeing the Ingram-Dawkins selection as a huge success since he offered average play across 250 snaps as a rookie.
Recent developments, though, may suggest he’s careening toward a beefier job.
The Vikings appear pleased to continue rallying around Ingram-Dawkins as an edge rusher. Doing so allows him to use his length, explosiveness, and size to clog up the trenches on early downs before shuffling inside to offer some pass-rush juice when it’s time to pass the ball.
Vikings Appear Ready to Lean on Ty Ingram-Dawkins
In fairness, mandatory minicamp in June is a long way off from Week 1 against the Packers. A ton can (and will) change between now and then.
Still, there’s some insight to be gleaned.
Ingram-Dawkins is noticeably slimmer. The suggestion is that he has been preparing to play along the outside for a little while, getting his body into a different spot ahead of the 2026 season. Even better, the team has been giving him reps along the edge to allow him to get a long on-ramp ahead of the highway that is the regular season.
Note that Ingram-Dawkins has already demonstrated some ability to be a jumbo edge rusher.
Last year, the defensive lineman got flexed out more than some realize. Getting more specific means noting that 97 of his 250 defensive snaps were as an edge rusher (PFF). Small sample size and yet some experience to draw on for that specific spot.
Learning from Ryan Nielsen seems likely to help. The newcomer within the coaching staff is on the details, getting super specific with players on their technique. Especially for a young lad — he’s still only 22 — the Nielsen approach should be beneficial.
Last year, Ty Ingram-Dawkins tossed 12 tackles onto the stat sheet. He had 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 pass defended. He’ll need to increase his production as his job grows and evolves.
Almost quietly, the Vikings are sorting through a front seven overhaul.
Standing out above all of the decisions is the move to trade away Jonathan Greenard. Injuries have been a concern in his career, but he brings a lot of hustle and ruggedness as a pass rusher who also shuts down the run. Replacing him won’t be easy.
Likewise, the defensive tackle spot has seen veterans skedaddle, the byproduct of cost-cutting moves involving Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Much of the in-house confidence among the coaches flows from the growth and development from Jalen Redmond. He alone can’t fulfill all the work that’s needed at the position, though.
Flores is going to need young fellas like Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange to shine early. So, too, will Levi Drake Rodriguez need to step up as he enters his third season. Maybe Elijah Williams can continue on his upward trajectory.
Behind the scenes, perhaps, has been Ty Ingram-Dawkins. The d-lineman is adjusting a touch, kicking out to edge rusher to help fill the void being left behind by Greenard’s departure to Philadelphia. The Vikings appear happy to let the young fella acclimate to the position.
Ty Ingram-Dawkins, 22, is listed at 6’5″ and 290 pounds. Obviously, the height and length is still there, but he looks leaner. Minnesota wants him to earn a larger portion of the pie as he gets onto the field with greater regularity as a sophomore.
