The Vikings have cap space to spend, a new general manager in Nolan Teasley, and a clear need on the edge. That combination points straight to Kyle Van Noy.
Minnesota has $13 million available after June 1, and Teasley still hasn’t made his first roster move. With Jonathan Greenard dealt on Day 2 of the draft, the Vikings are left thin behind Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel. Rookie Jake Golday could eventually grow into an edge role, but he’s still expected to need time before becoming a real impact piece.
Teasley’s background makes the fit even easier to see. He came over from the Seattle Seahawks organization, where a dominant pass rush helped define a Super Bowl-winning team. That kind of blueprint tends to make depth on the edge feel less like a luxury and more like a requirement.
Van Noy checks a lot of boxes for what Minnesota appears to need. He already knows Brian Flores’ defense from their time together with the New England Patriots, and later with the Miami Dolphins when Flores was head coach there.
Just as important, Van Noy brings the kind of flexibility this Vikings defense values. He has lined up at both outside and inside linebacker over the course of his career, and he can rush the passer, hold up against the run, and contribute in coverage.
He’s also still producing. At 35, Van Noy is on the older side, but two years ago he put up 12.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens.
His numbers dipped last season, though the source of that decline was tied in large part to Baltimore’s defensive problems. Even with that context, his 63 PFF score and 27 pressures still stood out.
Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber is on board with the idea, too. On his YouTube channel, he said, “I mean, all this guy ever does is wreck games. I mean, if there’s a big moment in a big-time game late, Kyle Van Noy just somehow makes the play or is a big factor in the play.”
For a team that needs edge depth and values players who can wear multiple hats, Van Noy looks like a natural target. And because he likely wouldn’t eat up all of Minnesota’s newly available cap room, the Vikings could still keep shopping after bringing him in.
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