Andrew Van Ginkel Could Quickly Create a Marcus Davenport Taste
Do you remember when the Minnesota Vikings signed Marcus Davenport? If the answer is no (and lucky you), the franchise wishes they were in the same position. They certainly don’t want to see that storyline play out with Andrew Van Ginkel.
Andrew Van Ginkel Could Quickly Create a Marcus Davenport Taste
When the Vikings watched Marcus Davenport pack his bags following the end of last season, they likely locked the door and immediately turned off his access. Having failed to stay on the field or show a desire to return to it, he wasn’t going to be a missed asset. Danielle Hunter took his talents home to Texas, and while he will be missed, his payday was sizable.
Replacing a pair of edge rushers meant that Minnesota would turn to the open market. They settled on Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. The former looks like a breakout candidate, while the latter is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Van Ginkel is an exciting option on the edge for the Vikings, but he has yet to step on the field.
Recovering from a Lisfranc injury, Van Ginkel needs to get healthy and get going. It would be unfortunate to see him signed over the offseason only to win up on the PUP list out of the gate. If that is the ultimate plan of attack, then returning when first eligible and remaining active the rest of the way is a must.
Sure, the Minnesota Vikings may have some added insurance if first-round rookie Dallas Turner explodes out of the gate. He was seen as the best defensive player in the draft, and finding an immediate superstar would be a nice come-up. That doesn’t mean Minnesota wants to throw money on Van Ginkel away, or they would be fine with getting no contributions.
Of course, the Van Ginkels have made a much more immediate and positive impact than Davenport ever did. Andrew’s wife, Sam, has shown excitement about their return to the Midwest, and they are currently doing great things for people impacted by widespread flooding. The family and player seem like an easy pair to cheer for.
Here’s to hoping we see Van Ginkel healthy and chasing down opposing quarterbacks soon. The Vikings’ defense will be predicated on pressure once again, and Van Ginkel knows how fun it can be to pin his ears back for Flores.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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