The Minnesota Vikings have already spent plenty of time reshaping their roster for the 2026 NFL season, and one of the biggest changes came on the edge. Jonathan Greenard was shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles along with the No. 255 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for third-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a move that sent a proven pass rusher out of Minnesota and brought back future draft capital.
Greenard’s departure matters, especially after he landed a four-year, $100 million deal in Philadelphia. But even with that kind of production leaving the building, the Vikings’ edge situation is not as dire as some outside chatter suggests. That hasn’t stopped the speculation machine from spinning, though, with Minnesota getting tied to edge rushers in free agency and on the trade market.
One familiar name floating around is Jadeveon Clowney. Earlier this week, Vikings OnSI’s Devon Platana wrote that Minnesota should pursue the veteran so he could be in place for training camp.
Clowney’s résumé is easy to recognize: he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2014 and has made three Pro Bowls. But those Pro Bowl seasons came from 2016-2018, and the bigger issue is that he has never had a double-digit sack season in his NFL career.
At 33, Clowney is also well into the back half of a 12-year career that has taken him to seven teams. That matters for a Vikings defense that already has some answers in place. Andrew Van Ginkel is set to return as one of the starting edge rushers, and the other spot is expected to go to Dallas Turner, the 2014 first-round pick who has flashed in limited work under Brian Flores.
That’s why the fit with Clowney feels unnecessary. Even after losing Greenard, Minnesota should still have a pass rush that can get the job done without making a costly addition. More importantly, bringing in an older edge rusher to push Turner back into a rotational role would cut against what the Vikings should be trying to do with their young talent.
Turner is still on his rookie deal and needs snaps to show what he can become. Clowney’s price last season with the Dallas Cowboys was $3.45 million, but even that kind of money could be better spent elsewhere, whether that means addressing another need or helping set up an extension for a player like Jordan Addison.
Clowney is a name that will always draw attention, and he remains a steady player. But based on need, the Vikings do not have to chase him into training camp. Unless something changes with Van Ginkel or Turner, Minnesota would be better off passing.
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