More Pass Rusher Dominoes Fall as Vikings Keep Resisting Broad Expectation

As it relates to the NFL’s veteran pass rushers, the Vikings could fast be approaching a speak now or forever hold your peace moment.

Consider the update that arrives courtesy of national NFL insider Jordan Schultz: “Sources: 2x Pro Bowl OLB Haason Reddick has become the latest veteran pass-rusher drawing interest from teams after recent signings, including Von Miller to Dallas, Za’Darius Smith to Atlanta, and Derek Barnett to Cleveland. The 31-year-old Reddick has 61.5 career sacks and spent last season in Tampa Bay.”

Veteran Pass Rushers are Flying Off the Shelves

Teams can survive with a pair of imposing pass rushers. The Vikings are sitting in this position due to the ongoing employment of Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, both of whom are ready for major workloads in 2026. Dropping down to a single option is when things get dicey.

In an ideal world, the Minnesota Vikings will boast at least three imposing edge rushers. Think back to those prime Mike Zimmer days when all of Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, and Danielle Hunter were creating a ruckus at the line of scrimmage.

Conversely, think to the 2023 season when Hunter was the last man standing for imposing pass rushers since Marcus Davenport succumbed to injury. Hunter feasted and D.J. Wonnum did his best, but the Vikings were at least a single pass rusher short.

Consider just recent NFL moves involving veteran pass rushers (credit to OTC for money info):

• Jadeveon Clowney <—> Houston Texans ($5.5M)
• Emmanuel Ogbah <—> Kansas City Chiefs ($1.3M)
• Marcus Davenport <—> Chicago Bears ($1.3M)
• Von Miller <—> Dallas Cowboys ($5.5M)
• Za’Darius Smith <—> Atlanta Falcons ($6M)
• Derek Barnett <—> Cleveland Browns (?)

In a general sense, the assassins for hire can be scooped up for roughly $5 or $6 million. In the NFL marketplace, the $5M range is middle class territory. Going for a lower-end option means paying a lower-end price, but Haason Reddick wouldn’t be among those players. He’d likely find himself above the Ogbah/Davenport range but below the Miller/Clowney/Smith range.

At his best, Haason Reddick was a second-team All Pro and a fourth-place finisher in the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year voting. He earned those distinctions in 2022 when he played for the Eagles by piling up 16 sacks, 26 quarterback hits, and 11 tackles for loss onto the stat sheet. Oh, and then there were his 5 forced fumbles, an elite total.

Since then, Reddick hasn’t been so formidable. In Tampa Bay in 2025, Mr. Reddick had just 2.5 sacks within his thirteen games. He also had 6 quarterback hits and 6 tackles for loss. Minnesota’s great task involves assessing whether he’s cooked or whether there’s still some gas left in the tank.

Last season, Reddick commanded close to $13.5 million, a number he won’t be seeing in 2026.

As things stand, the Vikings appear happy to lean on off-ball linebacker Eric Wilson to be the EDGE3. At training camp last week, Wilson told me that his experience playing along the edge goes back to high school. The veteran feels confident in his ability to keep doing so for the Vikings’ defense again in 2026.

Otherwise, the names to know are Ty Ingram-Dawkins, Jake Golday, and then the cluster of UDFA depth guys (Bo Richer, Tyler Batty, Chaz Chambliss, Cam’Ron Stewart).

Reddick stands at 6’1″ and weighs 240 pounds, meaning he’s pretty small for the position. The pass rusher was chosen at No. 13 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and has since played for the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Before long, a team is going to bite, signing Reddick with the hope of seeing him drink from the fountain of youth as he sends passers into orbit.

Haason Reddick will turn 32 in September.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.