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5 Minnesota Vikings Edge Rusher Targets After Trading Jonathan Greenard
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- 5 Minnesota Vikings Edge Rusher Targets After Trading Jonathan Greenard
After months of Minnesota Vikings trade rumors, the front office agreed to ship out Jonathan Greenard over draft weekend. While 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner is ready to replace Greenard's spot in the starting lineup, where he'll play opposite Andrew Van Ginkel , the Vikings' edge rusher depth is undoubtedly thinner.
Before, the Vikings had a strong three-man rotation. Behind Turner and Van Ginkel, they have a trio of former undrafted free agents in Bo Richter , Tyler Batty , and Chaz Chambliss , all unproven players with fewer than three years of experience. Thus, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is likely aiming to sign another pass-rusher before the season kicks off.
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Below, we look at five edge rushers the Vikings could still sign, much like they recently did with Jauan Jennings .
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Leonard Floyd
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Last year, Floyd recorded 19 pressures, which was actually the fewest of his eight-year career. He also had just 3.5 sacks, the second-fewest of his career. So, why would the Vikings want him? While the 33-year-old Floyd is coming off a down season, even those numbers would be respectable as a rotational edge rusher, especially if coach Flores thinks there's a chance Floyd can return to top form after recording 8.5 sacks in 2024. Plus, Kevin O'Connell and Floyd overlapped for two seasons on the Rams, so he already knows what the veteran would add to the locker room.
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A.J. Epenesa
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Still just 27 years old, there could still be some untapped potential lying in A.J. Epenesa's bones. He's never recorded more than 6.5 sacks in a season, but he's recorded at least 6 sacks in three of his six seasons of play. That's a respectable track record, considering he's only started more than two games in a season just once. The Vikings' coaching staff may feel like they can get the most out of the 6-foot-6, 260-pound defender.
Von Miller
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The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer is well past his prime, yet Von Miller has still been ultra productive. Last season, he still managed to record nine sacks despite starting just three games. Plus, he's already won a Super Bowl with coach O'Connell once; who's to say they don't want to pair up and aim for another Lombardi Trophy?
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Jadeveon Clowney
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The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft is somehow still just 33 years old, and he's become a bit of a journeyman, but still a productive one. Last year, he recorded 8.5 sacks as a member of the Cowboys, despite making just six starts and appearing in 13 games. After recording over 20 pressures in each of the past three seasons, Clowney has a fairly high floor and a high ceiling too.
Joey Bosa
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Last year, Dallas Turner and Jonathan Greenard tied for the Vikings' lead with 24 pressures. That's the same number of pressures that Joey Bosa generated. Bosa is a five-time Pro Bowler who won't turn 31 until July. Although he hasn't had a double-digit sack season since 2021, the Vikings don't need him to be a superstar; they just need someone who can generate pressure on demand, and Bosa certainly fits the bill.
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