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David Levine -> RE: 2024 Free Agency (3/11/2024 5:49:43 PM)
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Seifert:
Jonathan Greenard, LB
Minnesota agreed to terms on a four-year, $72 million deal with Greenard, the former Houston Texans linebacker.
What it means: Greenard almost certainly is the Vikings' replacement for longtime edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who is a pending free agent and negotiated a deal last summer to prevent the Vikings from using the franchise tag to keep him. He is a worthy successor. Greenard is three years younger than Hunter and an ascending player, having recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks last season. In 2023, in fact, his 22.4% pass rush win rate ranked notably higher than Hunter's (13.5%). He also has the size at 265 pounds to fit well in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' multi-positional scheme.
What's the risk: Durability is a concern. Greenard has never played a full NFL season, and he missed nearly half of 2022 because of a calf injury. Last season, an ankle injury cost him two games. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not been afraid to take on players who have had injury histories, but those decisions have not always paid off. Last season, for example, he signed oft-injured pass-rusher Marcus Davenport and then watched as the Vikings got only four games out of him because of two separate ankle injuries.
Andrew Van Ginkel, LB
The Vikings and Van Ginkel agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal.
What it means: It's hardly a coincidence that Van Ginkel ended up in Minnesota. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was the Miami Dolphins' head coach in 2019 when Van Ginkel was drafted there, and the Vikings have given Flores a strong influence on their plan to upgrade defensive personnel. Van Ginkel has put up huge sack numbers as an edge rusher -- he set a career high with six in 2023 -- but he ranked No. 20 in the NFL in pass rush win rate (17.9%) last season. Flores will have a plan to maximize his skills opposite fellow newcomer Jonathan Greenard.
What's the risk: Van Ginkel suffered a foot injury in the 2023 regular-season finale and was placed on injured reserve prior to the Dolphins' wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. All free agent acquisitions are contingent on passing a physical, of course, and the Vikings can protect themselves contractually if they need to at that point. But the Vikings' history with acquiring players who have injury histories are mixed at best, and Van Ginkel's health will be worth watching.
Blake Cashman, LB
Minnesota and Cashman came to terms on a three-year contract.
What it means: Cashman became a full-time starter last season in his fifth year in the league, quickly becoming a tackling machine for the Texans while also excelling in coverage. That means he could likely pair with rising star Ivan Pace Jr. as an inside linebacker in the Vikings' 3-4 scheme, and it could well mean that veteran Jordan Hicks, who turns 32 this summer and is a pending free agent himself, is moving on. Cashman will also give the Vikings another local connection to their fan base, as he attended high school in suburban Minneapolis and played at the University of Minnesota.
What's the risk: There isn't a long record of Cashman holding up over a full season as a prominent defensive player, largely because of injuries. He appeared in only 14 games and played a total of 612 defensive snaps in his first three NFL seasons, all with the New York Jets. After joining the Texans, however, he played in 30 of a possible 34 games. Flores' game plans tend to vary from week to week, especially for inside linebackers, so it's possible that Cashman's playing time could vary based on the opponent.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39575242/vikings-2024-free-agency-tracker-offseason-moves-signings
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