Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings dominated last year’s free agency, landing various key contributors of the surprisingly competitive 2024 team. Those standouts were headlined by passer Sam Darnold, who successfully revived his career in purple. On defense, Brian Flores welcomed multiple playmakers, including Blake Cashman.
2 Vikings Pro Bowlers Comically Snubbed
Also part of that group, of course, were pass rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, who met at the Pro Bowl. They undoubtedly were among the very best edge defenders in the league last year.
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43), linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) talk during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
But not everyone is sold. ESPN has started to drop its annual top ten position rankings, and neither Van Ginkel nor Greenard made an appearance in the top ten of edge defenders.
“ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between,” Jeremy Fowler explained. “A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their 10 best players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions.”
The list starts with Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, and Micah Parsons, and there’s little room for complaints. However, the two Vikings played at such a high level that they deserve some love.
At least Greenard landed in the honorable mention tier. An unnamed NFC executive said, “Elite motor with a really good rush. One of the most productive guys the last two years.”
ESPN added a note, “Greenard has recorded 24.5 sacks over the past two seasons.”
Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) reacts during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
In the regular season, Greenard ranked third among edge defenders in QB pressures with 80 and first in QB hurries with 59. He finished the year with 12 sacks and 59 tackles and earned a trip to his first Pro Bowl. Furthermore, he provided value as a run defender.
The Vikings hired him to replace Danielle Hunter (he’s 9th on ESPN’s list) as the team’s primary pass rusher. Greenard signed a four-year contract for a reasonable salary of $19 million per season. The defender mostly had only one very productive season in his four campaigns in Houston, but the Vikes made the bet that his 2023 season would translate into the future, and they definitely won the bet through year one.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell praised Greenard shortly after announcing he had won the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for his play in November. “As I like to call him, he’s The Closer,” O’Connell said in December. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays, and he’s done it time and time again.”
His partner in crime, Van Ginkel, couldn’t even get an honorable mention, and that came just one day after earning his first NFL top 100 nomination, coming in 88th.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Van Ginkel, like Greenard, was signed last year, but he signed only a two-year deal worth $20 million. He showed flashes in his time in Miami, but exploded last year in his reunion with former head coach Brian Flores.
Earlier in the offseason, the Vikings handed him a one-year extension for $23 million after his breakout season. In five years in Miami, he produced 17 sacks. In year one in Minnesota, he recorded 11.5 sacks alone, paired with 79 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and a pair of pick-sixes that put him on the map early in his purple stint.
Gink’s top 100 video featured former Dolphins teammate Terron Armstead, who said, “He’s like one of the most versatile players that we have in this league: You don’t understand how fast he is. He might be a 4.4, 4.5 guy. He’s another relentless player. He plays with his hair on fire, and he has a lot of it. Gink is a special, special player. His football IQ is really what separates him. His ability to read plays before the snap. He looks at formations. That’s why he’s able to jump screen passes, because he knows it’s coming.”
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) celebrates his interception return for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
There are a lot of great pass rushers in the NFL, and not being included in the ten best is not the end of the world. In Van Ginkel’s case, however, ESPN listed ten guys plus four honorable mentions and then had seven others as “also receiving votes.”
According to that, second-team All-Pro Van Ginkel is not one of the top 21 edge defenders in football, and those “executives, coaches, and scouts” might want to review the tape.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
