Giants Sign Former Vikings EDGE Rusher

Dustin Baker |

Jul 25, 2023

The Minnesota Vikings added a few players Monday, including TE Colin Thompson, OG Jack Snyder, and OT Bobby Evans.

NFL general managers are tweaking rosters before the start of minicamps, and movement around the sport is plentiful.

Giants Sign Former Vikings EDGE Rusher

And one former Viking reportedly signed on the New York Giants dotted line Tuesday — EDGE rusher Tashawn Bower.

Giants reporter Art Stapleton tweeted Tuesday, “The Giants are signing OLB/DE Tashawn Bower, source confirms. Was with Vikings in 2021 with DL coach Andre Patterson. Bower, 28, is a Jersey guy. Went to Immaculata. Born in Livingston. Worked out for the Giants yesterday.”

Bower now joins his fourth team in six seasons as a pro.

He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Vikings on May 1, 2017, spending 2017, 2018, 2019, and some of the 2021 season in Minnesota. A product of LSU, Bower never really caught on inside the Vikings mainstream defense.

Bower did start a few games in New England during 2020 and 2021, though, and will try on the Giants training camp and preseason for size. Per Stapleton above, former Vikings defensive coordinator Andre Patterson has the one-year connection with Bower.

Vikings Pro Bowl EDGE rusher Danielle Hunter was lost for the season on Halloween night in 2021 to a torn pectoral muscle. Soon after, Bower signed in Minnesota, finishing the season with Mike Zimmer and friends. All together, Bower played 34 defensive snaps in 2021 and saw 5 special teams plays.

Bower, 28, was a key contributor on the 2016 LSU team that won the Citrus Bowl, alongside other future NFLers Jamal Adams, D.J. Chark, Leonard Fournette, Kristian Fulton, Russell Gage, Derrius Guice, and Tre’Davious White.

Here’s the Giants EDGE room before the Bower addition:

Kayvon Thibodeaux
Azeez Ojulari
Jihad Ward
Oshane Ximines
Tomon Fox
Elerson Smith

Bower should be considered a longshot to make the Giants regular season roster, but stranger things have happened that him potentially slipping by Ximines, Fox, or Smith. New York ranked 22nd in points allowed, 25th in yards allowed, and 29th leaguewide in 2022 per defensive DVOA.

The Giants employ former Vikings guard Wyatt Davis, who is also battling for a 53-man roster spot.

Meanwhile, New York signed running back Saquon Barkley to a one-year deal Tuesday for up to $11 million after much controversy about his franchise-tag situation.

Also Read:
Former Viking Rejoins Falcons

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.