Yeah, agree....especially about a vet iDL, the team needs it. Banks is going to be a slow entry into the rotation as he'll be starting to practice in late July, will need time to get into football shape. Time to learn. I don't see him being much of a factor until October. I think the team will have to use Eric Johnson II a little more and early in the rotation. Edge 3 for sure.

Batty and Richter are our only real depth, so that could be improved. They could also use Golday in that role, but I'm not sure it's a good idea to have him learn two positions his rookie season. We just need a Pat Jones type for OLB3. Clowney's interesting. Looks like he played in Dallas last year for $3.5M. That works.

My biggest concern at the position is Turner, can he step up and be an impact player. He has had some flashes, but he has also been dominated by bigger OL, because he just doesn't seem to have the strength and power to overpower lineman, he needs to depend on his speed.

I think Batter, Richter as well as Chambliss provide decent depth if your top 2 are solid, but I think we may need someone who is more starter material. I do think they see Golday as a Van Ginkel type player and expect to see him on the edge often.

I think Clowney is a great idea...

When USB first opened we played the Texans and I got a field pass for that game.

Clowney was a Texan back then and I got to be pretty close on the field to those guys. Ive never seen someone with the proportion of length of arms/legs vs width b4.

It's like someone built and Edge to order from scratch.

On second thought, I wonder if Edge is very different from the Overhang LB Wilson played so well last year? Which would also be Golday’s role.

purplefaithful wrote:

Circumstances may ultimately dictate what BFlo does, but it sure looks and feels like he'll be an understudy to AVG.

Circumstances may ultimately dictate what BFlo does, but it sure looks and feels like Golday will be an understudy to AVG.

They wound up not signing Scooby Williams so 2 open spots.

Vikings need depth.

Clowney would be a 1 year fix, he's 33 years old.

Fwiw part of why Jennings signing was solid he's only 28, so Vikings have options moving forward with him .

I suspect Vikings will wait until end of ota's for a surprise cut or trade opportunity.. it'll also be more clear where the roster is at.

Mattyman wrote:

Vikings need depth.
Clowney would be a 1 year fix, he's 33 years old.
Fwiw part of why Jennings signing was solid he's only 28, so Vikings have options moving forward with him .
I suspect Vikings will wait until end of ota's for a surprise cut or trade opportunity.. it'll also be more clear where the roster is at.

That's why he fits. All the 28 year old edges with long-term potential are on rosters. Clowney would be an experienced, effective, low-cost rental to boost our pass rush depth for this year only. That's what we should be looking for IMO. But I agree this is something that can wait until summer. Our OLB3 is not going to spell the difference between playoffs or no.

How about Cam Jordan? A genuine Viking’s legacy. Cam Jordan had a resurgent 2025 NFL season, recording 10.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints, marking his first double-digit sack season since 2021. He led the team in sacks and added 15 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

Jonathan Greenard Spills the Beans on Former Vikings Teammate

Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard no longer works for the Minnesota Vikings, traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last month, along with a 7th-Round draft pick, for a 3rd-Rounder in 2026 (safety Jakobe Thomas), and a 2027 3rd-Rounder. On his way out, Greenard was sure to spill the beans: his Vikings teammate, Dallas Turner, will cook as his replacement.

Minnesota needs Turner’s Year 3 leap to become real after trading Greenard.

Greenard spoke with Chris Long this week and didn’t hold back when speaking glowingly of Turner.

Greenard’s Comments Add Fuel to Turner’s Breakout Case

The 2026 campaign could indeed be Turner’s almighty breakout.

Greenard on Turner

Greenard knows a little something about EDGE rushers, so when he pounded the table for Turner, folks listened.

He told Long, “The next person up now is Dallas. I’m gonna say it now, Dallas Turner. When he’s on and he’s dialed in on the game plan, the kid is a bottle of explosion. The guy is literally a 4.4 guy (in the 40), and he’s only just breaking the surface of how he’s gonna be in this league.”

“That’s who I’m taking care of next. I’m watching him real close, I’m still gonna be talking to him the same way, like ‘Listen, XYZ has to happen’ or this is not gonna happen. Just the little small things you gotta have when you’re dealing with a young guy like that, because they don’t know.”

The Greenard trade to Philadelphia completely and utterly paved the way for Turner to emerge as the Vikings’ keynote pass rusher in 2026.

Greenard added, “As much as they are mature when you talk to them, they talk a good game, they still don’t know what they don’t know yet. He’s gonna take this big, big step. You saw him kind of do it a little bit towards the (end of) last season.”

“And now this point, shoot, I said ‘It’s time now. This is your time, this is your team, you need to go ahead and make that happen.’ So I’ll be looking real close for him and I know it’s gonna get done because that boy a dog, too.”

Turner’s Career to Date

As a rookie in 2024, Turner saw limited playing time, participating in only 28% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps. Despite the small workload, he offered glimpses of his 1st-Round potential, recording 3 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception.

His second year, however, marked a dramatic change. Turner’s playing time surged to 66% of defensive snaps, benefiting particularly from Greenard’s injury absence, and his production exploded. He became one of Minnesota’s most disruptive players, especially late in the season, recording 8 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and 4 forced fumbles.

By the final months of the season (November through January), Turner appeared completely comfortable within Brian Flores’ defense, consistently delivering big plays that silenced early criticism.

He concluded his second season with a 65.5 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 70.2 as a pass rusher.

Always Stashed at OLB3

Ironically, the Greenard trade was “good” news for Turner. It gets him playing time. Until Greenard vamoosed, fans wondered when Turner might become a full-timer, as his aforementioned performance late in 2025 merited an extended trial.

Had Greenard stayed put — a contract extension as many Vikings faithful wanted and expected — Turner would be in the same spot, waiting until Greenard or Andrew Van Ginkel got injured to showcase his skills.

On the whole, it was a nice problem to have — too many productive outside linebackers. Now, the Vikings arguably need an OLB3 with Greenard subtracted from the depth chart, perhaps a player like Jadeveon Clowney or Leonard Floyd.

Really gotta love hearing this from Greenard! 👍

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jonathan-greenard-spills-beans-former-190600564.html

Along with the Edge, I have to say I am still concerned about CB. Doesn't seem to be much depth behind Rodgers and Murphy, and honestly I am not totally sold on those two either. Plus in nickel it's going to be tough already, but then what? A 5th round rookie?

I think the top guy out there is Trevon Diggs, and I wouldn't believe he is much of a fit for Flores defense.