It took the Vikings roughly 45 minutes to make a splash on Monday with the legal tampering period in full swing. They agreed to terms with edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, then soon after agreed to terms with another edge rusher, Andrew Van Ginkel.
A source confirmed both agreements to the Pioneer Press.
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According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Greenard will sign a four-year, $76-million deal with $42 million guaranteed, while Van Ginkel is on a two-year, $20-million deal with $14 million guaranteed. The signings can become official on Wednesday when NFL free agency opens up.
Notably, the commitments to Greenard and Van Ginkel likely means that star edge rusher Danielle Hunter will be headed elsewhere.
If this is indeed the end of Hunter鈥檚 time with the Vikings, he finished his tenure with 87 1/2 sacks, 108 tackles for a loss and 134 quarterback hits since being selected in the third round of the 2015 draft. He learned the ropes from former star defensive end Everson Griffen, then teamed up with him to create a dynamic duo that made life miserable on opposing quarterbacks.
Whichever team ends up signing Hunter will be getting a force to be reckoned with who is still very much in his prime. He posted a career-high 16 1/2 sacks for the Vikings last season, proving he鈥檚 still among the best in the NFL at what he does. It wouldn鈥檛 be a surprise to see Hunter get a deal that pays him upwards of $25 million annually.
As much as the Vikings would love to keep Hunter around long term, they should be in pretty good hands with Greenard and Van Ginkel as the primary pass rushers.
Though he might not be a known name quite yet, Greenard, 26, is in the process of becoming just that after producing 12 1/2 sacks with the Houston Texans last season. Originally selected in the third round of the 2020 draft, Greenard worked his way from a rotational player into an unquestioned starter. In a total of 48 games for his career, Greenard has 23 sacks, 32 tackles for a loss and 41 quarterback hits.
Van Ginkel, 28, has been productive in a situation role with the Miami Dolphins throughout his career. In 73 career games, Van Ginkel has 17 sacks, 31 tackles for a loss and 57 quarterback hits. He hails from Rock Valley, Iowa, and played a couple of seasons at Wisconsin before being selected in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.
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The fact that the Vikings prioritized Greenard and Van Ginkel so early in the legal tampering period suggests that they are fully invested in giving defensive coordinator Brian Flores more to work with next season.
Source: Vikings prepared to sign former Gophers linebacker Blake Cashman
After growing up in Minnesota, linebacker Blake Cashman agreed to a deal on Monday that will give him a chance to play for the hometown Vikings.
A source confirmed the agreement to the Pioneer Press.
A native of Eden Prairie, Cashman, 27, starred for the hometown Gophers in college before being selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the Houston Texans, putting forth his best performance last season with 106 tackles across 14 games.
It will be a 3-year, $25.5 million deal for Cashman, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Cashman鈥檚 instincts at the point of attack should be a perfect fit with the Vikings as he joins a group led by Flores.
The decision to negotiate with Cashman during the legal tampering period likely means the Vikings will be moving on from veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks. Presumably, the Vikings will move forward with Cashman and breakout linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. as their starters.
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Vikings make minor moves
In a pair of smaller moves, the Vikings re-signed offensive guard Blake Brandel and offensive tackle David Quessenberry. That ensures that trenches will continue to have depth beyond the starting offensive line.
The type of continuity up front is not something that should be taken for granted as the Vikings transition to life without franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Though neither player will likely ever garner much attention, Brandel and Quessenberry have proven themselves capable of contributing in a pinch. They both saw some action last season due to injuries.
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