Vikings Top Fit for Ex-Lions Edge, 2-Time Champ as Greenard Replacement

The Minnesota Vikings could use some pass-rush depth after trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL draft for two third-round picks, and a recent Pro Bowler is among the best logical candidates.

Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, a second-round pick of the Detroit Lions back in 2014, has spent the past three years as a key member of the Baltimore Ravens defense. He earned the first Pro Bowl honors of his career in 2024 after posting career highs of 14 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

Van Noy’s numbers came back to earth during his age-34 campaign in 2025, when he tallied just four tackles for loss and two sacks but added four pass breakups and an interception. He also earned a run-defense grade of 76.7 last season from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 13th out of 115 edge defenders who saw enough snaps to qualify.

Van Noy can also offer Super Bowl experience to a Vikings defense striving to get there, as a two-time champion with the New England Patriots following the 2016 and 2018 campaigns.

Spotrac projects Van Noy’s market value at $3.5 million in 2026 coming off a two-year deal worth $9 million in Baltimore. Minnesota has just shy of $16 million in available salary cap space as of Monday, May 4.


Vikings Need to Acquire More Help Off Edge for Dallas Turner

Minnesota Vikings edge rusher and 2024 first round pick, Dallas Turner, chasing Detroit Lions running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, in the first quarter on January 5, 2025.

GettyMinnesota Vikings edge-rusher Dallas Turner.

Minnesota is all but certain to elevate former first-round pick Dallas Turner (No. 17 overall in 2024) into the starting lineup to fill in for Greenard alongside Andrew Van Ginkel.

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Turner led the team last season with eight sacks, followed by Van Ginkel with seven. The next four-highest sack producers either played the traditional linebacker spot and picked up scheme sacks via blitz packages or lined up on the interior of the front and generated pass rush from the defensive tackle spot.

The Vikings need to generate more rush off the edge next season, though can’t spend an inordinate amount to do. Van Ginkel, a Pro Bowler in 2024 along with Greenard during each of their first campaigns in Minnesota, has one year remaining on his contract, after which the Vikings could refocus more of their financial assets on adding star-level talent to the position group.

In the interim, a player like Van Noy can bring experience and moderate production to the edge-rushers room on a short-term, value contract.


Vikings Added Potentially Elite Pass-Rusher at DT Position by Drafting Caleb Banks

Caleb Banks

GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive tackle Caleb Banks.

Should the Vikings decide to spend a bit more, they could look at options like Jadeveon Clowney or Cameron Jordan, who tallied 8.5 sacks and 10.5 sacks last season, respectively, and should cost between $6-$7 million on one-year deals in 2026.

Minnesota also took something of a swing in Round 1 of the draft by selecting DT Caleb Banks out of Florida with the No. 18 overall pick. Lance Zierlein of NFL Network said on an episode of “The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny” last week that, if healthy, Banks is far and away the best pass-rushing tackle in this rookie class.

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The concern is whether the 6-foot, 6-inch and 327-pound lineman can remain healthy after playing just three games in his final collegiate season due to a foot injury.

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