Andrew Buller-Russ
After entering the offseason with an inflated payroll, fans saw the Minnesota Vikings make several tough decisions, moving on from multiple impact defenders. Last year’s Pro Bowl defensive tackle free agent splashes were cut from the team. While the Vikings were remaking their defensive front with Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, they also parted with one of their best players by trading Jonathan Greenard.
Nevertheless, the Vikings feel like they’re well equipped to move forward without skipping a beat as 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner steps into a bigger role opposite Pro Bowl edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel. Yet, while the Vikings may be somewhat prepared for the 2026 season (depth behind Turner and Van Ginkel remains a question mark), Van Ginkel is set to turn 31 in July, and he’s headed into the final year of his contract.
While Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is clearly a big fan of Van Ginkel, who he also coached in Miami, Flores isn’t the one who cuts the checks. He’s also not the one who represents Van Ginkel to help determine what the versatile defender is worth to Minnesota’s defense.
Meanwhile, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune recently admitted on KFAN that the 2026 season could be Van Ginkel’s last in Minnesota.
“It could be. It’s one of those things, he’s in a contract year, he’s in his early 30’s, so that will be a discussion about what that looks like for him.”
Ben Goessling on Andrew Van Ginkel
It’s hard to imagine the Vikings’ defense without Van Ginkel making plays all over the field. Yet, perhaps the Vikings’ selection of linebacker Jake Golday foreshadowed Van Ginkel’s potential departure. Or perhaps the Vikings are just trying to stay one step ahead in their roster-building process and realize that Golday could likely learn a lot from his elder teammate in the season(s) to come.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Position Group Ranks 1st in NFL
