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Lucrative Andrew Van Ginkel extension could put this player on Vikings' back-burner
The Vikings locked linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel in for the next two seasons on Tuesday by agreeing with the six-year veteran on a one-year extension.
The transaction could make it harder for 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner to get receive playing time.
Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Vikings agreed to a one-year, $23M extension ($22.4M guaranteed) with Van Ginkel, who entered Tuesday with no guaranteed money remaining on his contract past 2025.
A raise in Minnesota: Vikings reached agreement today on a one-year $23 million extension that includes $22.4 million guaranteed for LB Andrew Van Ginkel, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/CHvbOo9sBN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025
Retaining Van Ginkel, 29, at that price is a bargain for Minnesota. Last season, Van Ginkel had a career-best year, receiving his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro (second-team) honors and finishing seventh in Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The 2019 fifth-round pick posted career-highs in sacks (11.5) and tackles (79), and had two interceptions (he returned both for touchdowns), six passes defended and one forced fumble.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett established the market defensive ends when he signed a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value (AAV) of $40M earlier this offseason.
Per Spotrac, Van Ginkel's $23.5M AAV extension would rank eighth among defensive ends in 2025. With Bengals edge Trey Hendrickson and Jaguars edge Travon Walker among the players who could also sign extensions this offseason, Van Ginkel might soon drop out of the top 10.
While it's a good deal for the Vikings, it's still the sort of money team's give to players they expect to play a significant number of snaps.
In 2024, Van Ginkel played 81.2% Minnesota's defensive snaps, followed closely by fellow outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (80.8%), who signed a four-year, $76M contract as a 2024 free-agent.
With both under contract through at least 2026, Turner, who only played in 26.4% of his available defensive snaps as a rookie, could have difficulty jumping Minnesota's higher-priced veterans on the depth chart.
Last year, Turner had 20 tackles (12 solo), three sacks and an interception, respectable numbers for a rookie role player.
Turner was one of two Vikings first-round picks in last year's draft, joining No. 10 pick quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
During the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings forked over a 2024 first they had previously acquired from the Texans (No. 23 overall), which turned into wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., a 2025 third (cornerback Caleb Ransaw) and 2025 fourth round pick (running back Dylan Sampson) to the Jaguars to move up six spots and select Turner at No. 17.
Teams can never have enough pass-rushers. Depth at the position is a must. But the Vikings probably didn't give up what it did for Turner just to have him to sit on the bench for the majority of his first two, possibly three, seasons. If Van Ginkel lives up to his contract extension, he might.
More must-reads:
- Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy sends strong message about whether he's ready to start in 2025
- Could Vikings eventually give Kirk Cousins an escape from Falcons?
- The '2024-25 NFL interceptions leaders' quiz
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