Sports
Risky Business Gets Baked into Vikings Decision on ‘Backer with Pass Rush Upside
Soon enough, a Vikings decision needs to arrive on Eric Wilson.
The off-ball ‘backer soaked up plenty of snaps at edge rusher, filling in for the injured Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel at various points. He did so despite being in his early 30s, not having a ton of experience at the position, and being undersized for the task at 6’1″ and 231 pounds. Wilson responded by dropping down a career-high 6.5 sacks alongside 17 tackles for loss. Not too shabby.
The Vikings Decision on Eric Wilson Looks Risky
Bringing Brian Flores back makes keeping Wilson more likely.
Coach Flores, affectionately called “The Mad Scientist” in Minnesota, figured out how to unlock Wilson’s various skills. Not just someone who could run down running backs and tight ends, Wilson could pin his ears back to create havoc as a pass rusher. Essentially every linebacker prefers to run forward rather than backward, so one has to assume to Wilson enjoyed playing for Flores.
Originally, Eric Wilson got added to Minnesota’s roster as an undrafted talent who turned pro after getting completely overlooked in the 2017 NFL Draft.
At the time, Mike Zimmer’s Vikings were on the cusp of one of the franchise’s all-time great seasons. The linebacker spot was being led by Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, both of whom were very good players in Minnesota.
Wilson came to town as a speedy, athletic linebacker who looked like he could stick around as a special teams menace and depth defender. For most of his career, Wilson lived up to that description, though he did earn a solid amount of playing time on defense over the years.
What’s notable is that he has had staying power. He’s impressive on the field in a physical sense, often demonstrating good speed and physicality. So, too, have coaches uplifted his acumen, an intelligence that allows him to stay a step ahead while also helping his teammates. Add it all together and there’s a veteran defender who possesses nice athleticism (though undersized) as well as someone who thinks and communicates the game at a high level.
In February of 2026, Eric Wilson is coming off a career-best season just as he jaunts into free agency. Soon, he’s going to get paid.
Wilson’s NFL journey has involved working for the Vikings, the Texans, the Eagles, the Saints, the Packers, and now for the Vikings again. At the high-end of his past paydays has been a yearly amount coming in at $3,259,000, which was when he worked for Minnesota in 2020.
Wilson is going to smash that number in March, blowing it to smithereens.
Spotrac offers an estimate that puts Eric Wilson at roughly $4.3 million per season. If that’s indeed what he’ll play for, then Minnesota would be wise to keep him around. Goodness, pay Wilson more than that. A two-year deal for $5 million per season would be a great deal for the Vikings.
Given the success Wilson had in 2025, then the ask on the open market may be much higher. Journeying over to the linebacker section of Over the Cap clarifies that there are a lot of linebackers who make $5 million per season or more. Wilson, very likely, is going to find himself among them. How high is too high?
In the NFL, the contracts that get handed out should be all about the future. Looking to the past is helpful only insofar as past play offers hints about future play.
Eric Wilson is coming off a sizzling season and he legitimately has earned a hearty payday. Whether that comes in Minnesota remains to be seen; the budget is snug and the roster needs to get younger. Is it too risky to pay for a breakout season for Wilson?
Eric Wilson will turn 32 in September of 2026.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.