The Vikings could be a Super Bowl threat if not among the Super Bowl favorites during this upcoming season as they will be potentially elite on both sides of the ball. The defense is led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores who is one of the top if not the top defensive coordinator in the sport today. Flores is an exceptional defensive mind but the personnel that the Vikings have on the defensive side of things will also loom large as the season approaches. Here I will go into detail assessing the front seven personnel that the Vikings have as the 2026 season approaches.
Set to start at the first of the two edge defender spots is Levi Drake Rodriguez who is solid but not spectacular as of now. Rodriguez, a 2024 7th rounder, played only seven snaps as a rookie with 2025 being his de-facto rookie season where he played well. Rodriguez during the 2025 season graded in the slightly above average range among players at his position despite being a rookie which is no small feat. Rodriguez was a first team all FCS All-American in college so perhaps why he went so late in the draft was because he played in a small conference school. However, he dominated in college and had a rookie season that was better than that of many 1st and 2nd rounders during 2025, so perhaps Drake Rodriguez is an underrated player on the Vikings’ defensive front as the season approaches.
Set to start at nose tackle is 2026 1st rounder Caleb Banks who will be thrusted into the starting lineup despite being in just year one. Banks will likely see his rookie growing pains but could prove to be a high-level player as the season progresses for the Vikings. However, Banks as of now remains a prime option to move to a reserve role given his youth but Minnesota at this point does lack capable backups to replace Banks in the starting lineup.
Set to start at the other primary edge defender spot is 2023 undrafted free agent Jalen Redmond who has played at consistently a borderline elite level since entering the NFL. Redmond still needs to prove it more however as he has produced at such a high level in very limited action. Redmond is also capable of playing on the interior of the defensive line and could transition to that role especially if rookie Caleb Banks sees his struggles.
Starting at the first of the linebacker spots at will linebacker is former Dolphins’ standout Andrew Van Ginkel who has really come into his own over the past several seasons since having his ups and downs to start his career. Van Ginkel earned second team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection during the 2024 season and has graded in the well above average to elite range among players at his position for four straight seasons now according to Pro Football Focus.
Starting at the second linebacker spot is veteran Eric Wilson who is perhaps the weak link in the Vikings’ starting front seven as of now although having some upside. Wilson has graded in the middle of the pack among players at his position for three straight seasons now after grading below average in four of the previous five years which comprise the remainder of his career. However, in the one year in between Wilson graded in the top 25% among players at his position in almost 400 snaps. Wilson is likely better suited in a reserve role as of now and may transition to one as Minnesota does have some capable linebackers in their reserve unit who could take his place.
Starting at the third of the linebacker spots is veteran Blake Cashman who has also come into his own over the past three seasons after having a rocky start to his career. Cashman has graded in the above average to elite range for three straight seasons now, which included being graded as a top five player at his position during the 2023 season. However, Cashman graded in only the slightly above average range during the 2025 season, and it remains to be seen if he can rebound from it.
2024 1st rounder Dallas Turner rounds out the starting lineup for the Vikings’ front seven and has seen his struggles in the NFL thus far although showing some promise. Turner has graded in the middle of the pack in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, but the jury is still out on him being a star and living up to his potential. Turner has played a combined 1004 snaps in his career thus far, the equivalent of one season, and could now start to noticeably improve building off his essential rookie season as players typically do.
The Vikings have some noteworthy names from a reserve standpoint on their offensive line who could perhaps step into the starting lineup and/or be a high-level backup for the team. The Vikings drafted nose tackle Domonique Orange relatively high in the 3rd round of the 2026 draft along with drafting linebacker Jake Golday quite high in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft. 2025 5th rounder interior defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram Dawkins had a strong rookie season in 2025 and is in line to build off of it. Linebacker Bo Richter has consistently played at an above average level in very limited NFL action, while linebacker Tyler Batty has also looked consistently above average in very limited NFL action as well. While linebacker Ivan Pace Jr played at a borderline elite level as a rookie taking starter snaps although dropping off noticeably since.
The Vikings have a formidable front seven that is very good, but I question if it can be great. Young players who are set to start such as Dallas Turner, Caleb Banks, and Levi Drake Rodriguez, are all talented but very unproven. While starting linebacker Eric Wilson remains a liability as of now and is likely better suited as a backup. Minnesota as of now has several very good players in their front seven but they lack the presence of truly great ones. They will be banking on first rounders Caleb Banks and Dallas Turner to perhaps resolve that issue. A breakdown of the Vikings’ front seven heading into next season can be found below.
Projected 2026 Vikings’ Starting Front Seven
LDE – Levi Drake Rodriguez – C+ in essential rookie snaps, in line to improve and become solid starter if not more than that
NT – Caleb Banks – 2026 1st rounder
RDE – Jalen Redmond – B+ to A-
WLB – Andrew Van Ginkel – B+
LILB – Eric Wilson – C+
RILB – Blake Cashman – B+ to A-
SLB – Dallas Turner – C+ so far as 2024 1st rounder, still improving, has played essential rookie snaps thus far
Notable 2026 Vikings’ Reserve Front Seven Players
NT – Domonique Orange – 2026 3rd rounder
ED – Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins – C+ as rookie, 2025 5th rounder
LB – Bo Richter – C+ to B-, very limited snaps
LB – Jake Golday – 2026 2nd rounder
LB – Ivan Pace Jr – C+ to B-
LB – Tyler Batty – B, very limited snaps
