Vikings Completely Snubbed from EDGE and Defensive Tackle Rankings
The Minnesota Vikings are projected to once again field a formidable defense in 2026, but they’ll do so without big-name firepower, according to ESPN, which recently surveyed coaches, executives, and scouts for the league’s best individual DT and EDGEs.
The polling suggests that Minnesota has no defensive lineman or outside linebacker who even remotely ranks in the Top 15 of individual rankings.
Vikings’ Recent Production Makes Both Omissions Difficult to Explain
The Survey Results
Jeremy Fowler revealed 19 defensive tackles and 19 EDGE defenders who earned recognition from his voting process — no Vikings.
Seattle Seahawks DT Leonard Williams was named the top DT, with Fowler writing, “Williams had never previously cracked the top five since this project’s inception in 2020. But he has always been a major talent, and he has maximized his contributions over the past two years in Seattle coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.”
“These days, he’s an absolute nightmare to block. Several offensive coaches did not hesitate to say Williams was the toughest player to guard last season.”
And of course, Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams took home the main prize at EDGE: “It’s a clean sweep for Garrett, who was No. 1 on every ballot. That’s rare for this exercise, which usually features at least one detractor.”
“But Garrett is undeniable after a season for the ages that included an NFL-record 23 sacks — and perhaps an even more impressive 33 tackles for loss. Garrett had a stronghold on the voting last year too, well before his banner season.”
No Vikings defenders pulled down Honorable Mentions; the article featured the word ‘Vikings’ zero times.
No Andrew Van Ginkel
Van Ginkel had a breakout year in 2024, starting all 17 games and accumulating 11.5 sacks. He recorded 79 tackles, including 18 for loss, and added 19 quarterback hits. Notably, he also secured two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns.
The exceptional performance earned him a Pro Bowl invitation and second-team All-Pro honors. Pro Football Focus assigned him a 71.4 overall grade, with an 81.0 coverage mark highlighting his versatility as an EDGE rusher.
Van Ginkel’s 2025 season was quieter due to playing only 12 games. Despite playing time reduced by a neck injury, he still managed 7 sacks, 54 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits. His coverage remained strong, with PFF increasing his grade to 81.5. He also notched a 63.8 passer rating when quarterbacks targeted his coverage area.
The primary area of concern in 2025 was his tackling, where PFF gave him a 36.5 grade, citing a 21.7% missed tackle rate. But his two-year performance remains impressive. Van Ginkel has accumulated 18.5 sacks for Minnesota and remains one of Brian Flores‘s most adaptable defenders.
It just wasn’t quite enough for ESPN’s voting standards.
No Jalen Redmond
Redmond’s 2024 season offered a glimpse of his potential, as he played 236 defensive snaps and made two starts. Even with a limited role, his performance garnered attention. He recorded a sack, 18 tackles (including six for a loss), and earned a 75.6 overall grade from PFF, with a 73.4 run-defense grade.
In 2025, Redmond then transitioned into a full-time starter, accumulating 793 snaps across 15 starts. His production increased significantly, with 6 sacks, 62 tackles (12 for a loss), and 8 quarterback hits. PFF credited him with 35 pressures, including 26 hurries.
His overall PFF grade slightly decreased to 72.7, but that was understandable given his more-than-tripled workload. His run-defense grade remained solid at 72.7.
Redmond evolved from a rotational player to a dependable interior starter in a single season. His pass-rush abilities are evident. He’s now a long-term asset for Minnesota.
A Sum of All Parts?
Despite not having individual defenders pulling down summer kudos from ESPN, the Vikings must be doing something right. They ranked third in the NFL last season per defensive DVOA and EPA/Play. The unit also dragged the club through the last section of the 2025 regular season with a 5-0 record. Even when the quarterback play faltered, the defense did its part.
Minnesota won’t have outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard this season — it traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles — but the apparently anonymous group of Van Ginkel, Redmond, Dallas Turner, Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, and Tyrion-Ingram Dawkins, among others, should be able to maintain Flores’s standard of living.
Maybe Turner will even be included on the fancy list next summer. One can hope.
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