The Minnesota Vikings got Kyle Van Noy on a bargain, and seven weeks into the season, that deal looks even better than anyone could have expected.
Van Noy came to Minnesota this offseason to help ease the load on Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Instead, he has carved out a bigger role for himself in Brian Flores’ defense and emerged as one of the most productive defenders on the roster.
At 35 and in his 13th season as a pro, he is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with inside linebacker Blake Cashman at 7.5. He has shown no sign of letting up.
That production has come in a fairly limited workload, too. Van Noy is averaging 19.2 defensive snaps per game, which works out to about 32 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps this season. Even so, he has piled up 12 tackles, two quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks.
The value is hard to miss when you look back at the contract. Minnesota signed the two-time Super Bowl champion and former Pro Bowl edge rusher to a one-year, $2.75 million deal for the 2026 NFL season. For that price, the Vikings are getting far more than just depth.
Pro Football Focus has taken notice, too. Van Noy is graded as the ninth-best edge rusher in the league among 112 qualifying players, with an 85.1 overall grade. His biggest impact has come against the run, where his 86.3 run defense grade ranks fourth among all edge rushers this season.
Given the way he’s playing, Minnesota has a clear next move once general manager Nolan Teasley is able to act: keep him around. An extension for one more season would preserve a strong edge-rush group at a low cost and reward a veteran who has delivered far more than expected.
Van Noy, Van Ginkel, and Turner have formed a dangerous trio, and the Vikings should want that group back for the 2027 season. If there’s a way to keep Van Noy in purple and gold, the team ought to make it a priority.
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Brian Flores Just Tested How Far The Vikings Defense Can Go
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What makes it more interesting for Minnesota is the tradeoff that comes with that aggression. The blitz-heavy plan can smother a passing game, but it also asks a lot of the back end and leaves room for an opponent to survive on the ground. The Colts found some of that room, and whether Flores keeps pushing that envelope as the season goes on is the real question hanging over a defense that just showed how disruptive it can be when it gets the formula right. [Read more 🡒]