March 18, 2026, 9:04 p.m. CT
Most mock drafts this offseason have had the Minnesota Vikings taking a defensive player. This is usually someone in the secondary, but there have been some mocks where the Vikings have taken a defensive tackle. The lack of depth is glaring across all these areas.
One position the Vikings haven’t been linked to much is EDGE rusher. Currently, Minnesota has Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner atop the depth chart at EDGE. On paper, it looks like a position with no immediate need in the first round.
But recent speculation that Jonathan Greenard could be traded has Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports believing the Vikings could seek Greenard’s replacement in the first round.
Parker feels like a good fit for a Brian Flores front. He’s long with heavy hands but not excessively stiff. He can rush from a two-point or three-point stance. And he can play the run. If Greenard moves, this is the pick for me.
The move could make sense even if Greenard sticks around. Van Ginkel turns 31 in July, and although he is one of the team’s most valuable players when healthy, he did miss five games in 2026.
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Greenard, too, is coming off an injury-riddled season where he had season-ending shoulder surgery. That could have the Vikings looking at an eventual replacement for a long-term duo of Turner and Parker at EDGE.
This selection still feels like a long shot given Minnesota’s other holes, but it’s an interesting thought process that shouldn’t be ignored. If Greenard gets traded, the Vikings are one injury away from a disaster at EDGE. That shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if they decide to go elsewhere at pick 18.