Cross One Pass Rusher Off the Board for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings will not be signing veteran EDGE rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to fill their vacant OLB3 role anytime soon; he’s now a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
The free-agent EDGE market remains crowded — in a good way — even after Fowler’s decision.
For the first time in years, the Vikings need more help at the outside linebacker position, but it won’t be Fowler Jr.
Seattle Grabs One Name from Vikings’ EDGE List
Thankfully, the list of available OLBs remains huge.
Fowler Jr. to SEA
Fowler Jr. will join the Super Bowl champion’s roster. ESPN’s Brady Henderson wrote Tuesday, “The Seattle Seahawks are signing veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, a source told the NFL Network on Tuesday. Fowler, 31, addresses the Super Bowl champions’ last remaining need. They lost Boye Mafe in free agency and had yet to sign anyone to replace him, nor did they take an edge rusher with any of their eight selections in last month’s NFL draft.”
“Fowler made a free agent visit with Seattle before the draft. As of the Monday after the draft, free agent signings no longer count against their new team’s formula for compensatory picks in 2027; OverTheCap.com projects the Seahawks to receive four.”
For the Vikings’ sake, knowing Fowler Jr.’s value — up to $5 million for one year — lets fans know that a quality pass rusher can still be signed for cheap.
The Career Production
The Seahawks will onboard a fantastic depth EDGE, who can start when called upon. Here’s his career production:
2025: 77.6 Grade | 3 Sacks | 30 Pressures
2024: 60.5 Grade | 11 Sacks | 50 Pressures
2023: 63.8 Grade | 5 Sacks | 36 Pressures
2022: 61.3 Grade | 6 Sacks | 40 Pressures
2021: 55.9 Grade | 5 Sacks | 30 Pressures
2020: 49.9 Grade | 4 Sacks | 30 Pressures
2019: 72.0 Grade | 15 Sacks | 67 Pressures
2018: 66.3 Grade | 6 Sacks | 46 Pressures
2017: 56.5 Grade | 11 Sacks | 46 Pressures
2016: 59.5 Grade | 4 Sacks | 39 Pressures
And Fowler Jr.’s team resume since 2016:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2015–2018)
- Los Angeles Rams (2018–2019)
- Atlanta Falcons (2020–2021)
- Dallas Cowboys (2022–2023)
- Washington Commanders (2024)
- Dallas Cowboys (2025)
- Seattle Seahawks (2026–now)
Like many pass rushers before him, Fowler Jr. has forged a journeyman’s path as of late.
Seahawks’ EDGEs
With Fowler Jr. in the mix, here’s a peek at the Seahawks’ outside linebackers for 2026:
- Demarcus Lawrence
- Uchenna Nwosu
- Dante Fowler Jr.
- Derick Hall
- Jared Ivey
- Connor O’Toole
- Jarnie Sheriff
- Jalan Gaines
That isn’t the most elite group in the NFL, but the unit wasn’t star-studded in 2025 either, and the Seahawks won the Super Bowl anyway. No matter how you look at it, Seattle’s EDGE group will be just fine. The proof is in the pudding.
CBS Sports‘ Zachary Pereles noted on Fowler Jr. to his new team, “Seattle overwhelmed opponents not just with top-end defensive front talent, but with depth in that area, too. Ten different players registered at least 70 pass-rush snaps, led by defensive line stalwarts Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II.”
“On the outside, Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Mafe could all wreak havoc. With Mafe gone, the Seahawks had an open spot to fill out pass-rush rotation, and Fowler is, for now, the likely answer. He only had three sacks last year, but his 13% pressure rate wasn’t half bad — above average among the defensive ends/outside linebackers who had at least 200 pass rush snaps last year, and actually just above Mafe’s rate.”
The Seahawks’ defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL per EPA/Play a year ago.
Perelese added, “Plus, Fowler had a 14.1% pressure rate in 2024 and a 19.3% pressure rate in 2023. Given Mike Macdonald’s talent designing and calling defensive plays and the immense talent around him, Fowler should fit in as yet another productive depth pass rusher.”
The Remaining Free Agents
The Vikings arguably need a third pass rusher behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner after Jonathan Greenard left the franchise via trade last month. For now, the in-house options are Bo Richter and Tyler Batty.
Even with Fowler Jr. wiped off the free agency board, Minnesota has solid EDGE alternatives in free agency:
- A.J. Epenesa
- Cameron Jordan
- Denico Autry
- Derek Barnett
- Haason Reddick
- Jadeveon Clowney
- Joey Bosa
- Kyle Van Noy
- Leonard Floyd
- Marcus Davenport
- Michael Danna
- Von Miller
Notably, Floyd played for the 2021 Los Angeles Rams, which won a Super Bowl with Kevin O’Connell as the offensive coordinator. Clowney is probably the most productive of the bunch.
Minnesota has about $16 million to spend on a non-Fowler Jr. EDGE rusher, though the team still has to sign its rookie draft class.
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