Andrew Van Ginkel, Vikings Agree to $23M Contract Extension After Pro Bowl Season
Julia Stumbaugh
Apr 29, 2025
Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel earned a raise after last season's Pro Bowl campaign for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings and Ginkel have agreed to a one-year, $23 million extension with $22.4 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
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
Van Ginkel joined the Vikings last spring after five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He recorded 11.5 sacks and 63 tackles while returning two interceptions for touchdowns in his breakout 2024 campaign.
He signed a two-year, $20 million contract to join the Vikings ahead of the 2024 season and was set to cost $12.4 million against the cap next season, according to Spotrac.
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According to Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star-Tribune, Van Ginkel's agent spent "quite a bit of time" with Vikings ownership during the NFL owners meetings in March.
Goessling also predicts that the extension will lower Van Ginkel's cap hit for the 2025 season.
The Vikings now have two key pieces of their defense signed past this season with linebacker Jonathan Greenard inked through 2027, although he has a potential out in his contract after the 2025 campaign.
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Acquiring Van Ginkel and Greenard last offseason was a key part of the reason the Vikings defense limited teams to just 93 rushing yards per game during a 14-3 campaign.
The linebackers played 81 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps through 17 regular-season games, according to Vikings.com's Rob Kleifield. Both Van Ginkel and Greenard were ranked among the top 20 edge-rushers in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate rankings.
With their linebackers locked up, the Vikings may now consider extensions for other players currently set to play next season on expiring contracts, including safety Josh Metellus and tight end Josh Oliver.
J.J. McCarthy Says He's Ready to Be Vikings' QB1 for 2025 NFL Season Amid Injury Rehab
Adam Wells
Apr 29, 2025
One month after J.J. McCarthy said he hasn't been told where he stands on the Minnesota Vikings' depth chart, the second-year quarterback definitely seems ready to take control of the offense.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, McCarthy told reporters "I know I'm ready to start" when asked if he thinks he's ready to be QB1.
McCarthy told Kay Adams on the March 25 episode of the Up & Adams Show that the Vikings hadn't told him if he was going to be their starter in 2025 and he was "happy they didn't" because it allows him the chance to earn it.
That comment came around the time Minnesota was being rumored as a potential landing spot for Aaron Rodgers after Sam Darnold left in free agency.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell said on March 31 that the interest in Rodgers was not about them wavering on McCarthy's ability, but rather a unique opportunity to at least discuss bringing in another quarterback that everyone in the Vikings organization has "so much respect for" when they competed against him.
That statement came after Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said they were no longer actively looking to add to their quarterback room.
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The Vikings did add to their quarterback depth over the weekend by acquiring Sam Howell from the Seattle Seahawks. This move would seem to suggest McCarthy is being plugged in as the starter since Howell hasn't started a game since the 2023 season.
McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was battling with Darnold to be the starter in Minnesota summer before a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders ended his rookie year prematurely.
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A two-year starter at the University of Michigan, McCarthy led the Wolverines to a national title in his final season. He threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and a 72.3 completion percentage in 15 games.
Minnesota won 14 games with Darnold starting at quarterback last season, but the team had to settle for a wild card spot after finishing behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
The Vikings' season came to an end in the wild-card round with a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Montigo Moss, Son of NFL HOF'er Randy, Accepts Vikings Rookie Minicamp Invite
Paul Kasabian
Apr 29, 2025
Former University of Maine wide receiver Montigo Moss, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss, has accepted an invite to Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp, per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz.
Maine WR Montigo Moss, the son of Hall of Famer Randy Moss, has accepted an invite to the #Vikings’ rookie minicamp.
Moss had a terrific senior season, recording 61 catches for 722 yards and 7 TDs on his way to earning All-CAA honors. pic.twitter.com/w6DwmaoZ7w
Moss played five seasons for Maine, and he finished his career on a high note by catching 61 passes for 722 yards and seven touchdowns. Moss saved his best work for the final three games of the year with 17 receptions for 261 yards and four scores.
Minnesota, of course, was Moss' first team and where he made a name for himself.
The four-time All-Pro burst onto the scene with one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history in 1998 with 69 catches for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was a three-time First Team All-Pro in Minnesota over his seven years with the Vikings en route to a phenomenal 14-season career.
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Now his son is trying to carve his place in the NFL. The younger Moss, who was listed at 6'1" and 220 pounds during his final collegiate season, steadily improved over his time in Maine, catching 143 career passes for 1,692 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He also got an endorsement from Maine men's basketball assistant coach Pete Gash upon the breaking news.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Georgia DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins with the No. 139 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has an intriguing combination of size, strength and athleticism, giving him some untapped potential. He has an impressive get-off to potentially be a good gap-shooter and would be a good fit as a 4i-technique in odd fronts.
However, Ingram-Dawkins wasn't productive at Georgia and is a major project. His technique needs a lot of work—most notably his use of hands—to unlock the potential he showed as a highly rated recruit coming out of high school.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
The former Bulldog is worth taking a flier on in the later rounds of the draft, but he might need to spend a year or two on the practice squad before he can be a significant contributor in an NFL defensive line rotation.
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MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 276
HAND: 9¾”
ARM: 33½”
WINGSPAN: 81⅜”
40-YARD DASH: 4.86
3-CONE: 7.28
SHUTTLE: 4.34
VERTICAL: 36"
BROAD: 10'4"
POSITIVES
— Solid size with good arm length for a 4i- to 5-technique defensive end.
— Good athlete overall who tested well at the NFL combine, earning a 9.58 RAS as a defensive lineman.
— Impressive quickness and acceleration off the line of scrimmage to get penetration with his get-off.
— Has the strength to set the edge or hold his ground against base blocks as a run defender if his pad level becomes more consistent.
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— Can get extension and shed blocks when he keeps his hands tight.
— Flashed a decent chop move as a pass-rusher to knock the offensive lineman's outside hand down.
NEGATIVES
— Minimal production overall with 39 total tackles in 37 career games, including 19 tackles in 14 games last season.
— Often very passive with his hands in both phases of the game, allowing offensive linemen to make the first contact and ending up chest-to-chest frequently.
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— Frequently plays with high pad level. Offensive linemen with good leverage will push him out of his gap, and he struggles to sink his hips to anchor against down blocks.
— Poor pass-rush plan and outside of the occasional chop move mentioned above. Doesn't have a go-to pass-rush move that he can win with in the NFL.
The Minnesota Vikings added Georgia EDGE Chaz Chambliss as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.
Chaz Chambliss projects as an undrafted free agent who has a chance to make an NFL roster as a backup edge defender and a special teams contributor.
He's a high-motor player who has good moments in both phases of the game, but he lacks the ideal size and traits to be a difference-maker in the NFL.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 245
HAND: 9½”
ARM: 31⅜”
WINGSPAN: 76¾”
3-CONE: 7.05
SHUTTLE: 4.39
VERTICAL: 32"
BROAD: 10'0"
POSITIVES
— Physical at the point of attack and has impressive upper-body strength (did 30 bench press reps at Georgia's pro day) to generate knockback power and hold ground against tight ends in the run game.
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— Stays tight to the line of scrimmage when unblocked on the back side of runs to give himself a chance to chase down running backs.
— Flashed decent quickness with a spin move.
— High-effort/motor player who will factor into gang tackles down the field and get coverage sacks.
NEGATIVES
— Has short arms, which makes it difficult for him to escape blocks in the run game and allows offensive tackles to make the first significant contact when rushing the passer.
— Lacks the lateral-movement skills to beat offensive tackles across their face as a pass-rusher.
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— Doesn't have a go-to pass-rush move that he can win with in the NFL.
— Struggles to set the edge against offensive tackles.
The Minnesota Vikings added BYU EDGE Tyler Batty as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.
Tyler Batty certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive end, as he has impressive size and a solid frame. He uses that to his advantage on the field, as his play style is predicated on power in both phases of the game. He shows the ability to set the edge and win with strength when rushing the passer.
However, Batty is stiff and lacks fluidity on film despite his solid testing numbers. That limits his pass-rush arsenal, as he struggles to win with finesse moves and shows up against outside zone runs, where he's susceptible to getting reached. Showing stiffness on tape and being an older rookie could make him undraftable for some teams.
Overall, Batty has a chance to make the back end of a roster as a base end for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. His experience and maturity could be good for a club that is looking for immediate depth in the later rounds and isn't as concerned about his ceiling.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'6"
WEIGHT: 271
HAND: 9⅜”
ARM: 33⅛"
WINGSPAN: 79⅜”
40-YARD DASH: 4.78
3-CONE: 7.21
SHUTTLE: 4.54
VERTICAL: 34"
BROAD: 10'0"
POSITIVES
— Good size for an NFL defensive end and put up decent testing numbers at the combine to earn an 8.76 RAS.
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— Physical and decent pop in his hands at the point of attack to help set the edge against the run.
— Solid swim move to escape blocks as a run defender.
— Decent power as a pass-rusher, showing a solid bull rush and push-pull move.
— Rushes with a plan, working countermoves if his initial move doesn't work.
— High-motor/effort player in both phases of the game.
NEGATIVES
— Looks stiff and has robotic movements on tape, especially laterally.
— Doesn't have a good get-off. Slow off the line.
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— Tight hips and a lack of quickness/twitch make it difficult for him to win with finesse moves as a pass-rusher.
— Often gets caught with his hands down and with late hands when rushing the passer, allowing offensive tackles to get to his chest.
— Plays high and struggles to sink his hips to fight back against pressure and avoid getting washed inside when taking on down blocks.
— Lack of agility and block recognition leads to him getting reached as a run defender.
— Injuries: 2021 (Undisclosed, missed 2 games), Had an ATV accident as a freshman in high school that resulted in a TBI and nearly ended football career
— 2023 Second-Team All-Big 12
— 2024 First-Team All-Big 12, Team captain
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— Served an LDS mission in Spain from 2017 to 2019
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Tyler Batty certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive end, as he has impressive size and a solid frame. He uses that to his advantage on the field, as his play style is predicated on power in both phases of the game. He shows the ability to set the edge and win with strength when rushing the passer.
However, Batty is stiff and lacks fluidity on film despite his solid testing numbers. That limits his pass-rush arsenal, as he struggles to win with finesse moves and shows up against outside zone runs, where he's susceptible to getting reached. Showing stiffness on tape and being an older rookie could make him undraftable for some teams.
Overall, Batty has a chance to make the back end of a roster as a base end for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. His experience and maturity could be good for a club that is looking for immediate depth in the later rounds and isn't as concerned about his ceiling.
Ben Yurosek NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Minnesota Vikings TE
Apr 21, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings added Georgia TE Ben Yurosek as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.
Yurosek is a tall, linear-framed Y-TE with length and a strong catch radius.
Yurosek is a solid athlete in a straight line to push upfield without defenders restricting his access to grass. He opens his stride to be a competitive seam runner.
Ben Yurosek Highlights
Yurosek plays the ball strongly in the air, attacking it at its highest point. He has strong hands to pluck the ball away from his frame. He understands how to stem his routes and attack the defender’s leverage.
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Yurosek has a solid catch radius with soft hands and body control. He finds the soft spots in zone coverage across the middle of the field.
On second-reaction throws, Yurosek works to open space within his QB's vision to present an available target. He is used as the slide option off of play action. He displays a decent stride in the open field, which creates easy access to open grass for potential yards after the catch.
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Questions regarding Yurosek's ability to defeat man coverage are valid. He is not a dynamic mover or route-runner. NFL coverage defenders will be in his hip pocket more than desired. He doesn’t offer much as a yards-after-the-catch threat unless space is already created by the play design.
Improving his power and technique as a run-blocker will help increase his value as more than a depth tight end. He does not have the body mass or power at the point of attack to drive defenders off the ball.
Yurosek projects as a backup/depth tight end with a solid athletic profile. He needs to improve his lower-body strength to increase his effectiveness as a run-blocker. He has a chance to become a TE3 at best for NFL offenses, but he may end up as more of an H-back/offset alignment player.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
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HEIGHT: 6'4
WEIGHT: 245
HAND: 9⅝"
ARM: 33⅛"
WINGSPAN: 80⅞"
40-YARD DASH: 4.64
3-CONE: 7.16
SHUTTLE: 4.39
VERTICAL: 31.5"
BROAD: 9'7"
POSITIVES
— Buildup speed to stride past defenders off play-action fakes.
— A combat-and-collision catcher who makes difficult grabs.
— Great length/wingspan to extend at the catch point and away from his frame.
NEGATIVES
— Lacks power at the point of attack in the run game.
— Not a great route-runner or salesman.
— Physical coverage disrupts timing during route stems.
J.J. McCarthy Won't Have Limitations in Vikings' Offseason Program Amid Injury Rehab
Andrew Peters
Apr 21, 2025
J.J. McCarthy spent the entire 2024 season on the sidelines because of a torn meniscus in his right knee, but the Minnesota Vikings quarterback will be a full participant in the team's offseason program.
Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday that McCarthy won't have any limitations this offseason.
"I think he's ready to hit the ground running as of today," O'Connell said.
Minnesota picked McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with hopes he would compete for the starting job as a rookie, but his season came to an end in preseason after he suffered a torn meniscus. He underwent a second knee surgery in November.
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While he lost his rookie year due to injury, all the cards are in place for him to have a strong second campaign.
McCarthy hasn't been named the starter yet, but with the offseason departures of Sam Darnold, who went to the Seattle Seahawks, and Daniel Jones, who joined the Indianapolis Colts, the likelihood of McCarthy getting the starting nod seems high. The Vikings also passed on free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, which is a good sign that Minnesota is ready to move forward with McCarthy.
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According to Seifert, the Vikings haven't yet closed the door on adding another quarterback to a room that features just McCarthy and Brett Rypien. O'Connell said the team has a "pretty detailed plan for how we want to go about" bringing in another quarterback.
But with most of the top free agent quarterbacks already off the market, "Vikings players are preparing for the likelihood that McCarthy will be the starter," per Seifert.
McCarthy threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions in his final year with Michigan, leading the Wolverines to a national championship. While he still has no NFL reps, he's spent the past year learning from an offensive-minded coach in O'Connell and is now looking to use what he's learned under center in Minnesota.
Tai Felton NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Minnesota Vikings WR
Nicholas Nathanson
Apr 21, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings selected Maryland WR Tai Felton with the No. 102 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Tai Felton is a plus-level route runner with good timing to hit his landmarks.
Felton wins with short-area quickness and footwork. He can shake defenders with hesitation maneuvers and the rocket step technique. Felton separates well in the short and intermediate portions of the field. Good push on the vertical plane to create opportunities to separate on in/out-breaking routes. His cuts at the breaking point have good suddenness and sharpness to create natural separation. Separating from coverage is his best skill set and he does it well.
Tai Felton Highlights
Felton's coverage recognition is a strong part of his process. He has good zone recognition and can work inside the soft spots of the coverage. On the outside, he is effective on slants, daggers, quick hitches, and comeback routes. With the ball, Felton has a good motor to take on contact and fight for extra yards—doesn't go down without a fight.
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However, play strength is a missing part of his game. Felton struggles to counter physical/handsy defenders. Both inside the contact window and during his route stems—will be knocked off his path easier than I'd like. Not for the lack of trying, Felton does not reel in contested catches at a high rate. His lack of strength and a plus wingspan show up. Felton's short-area burst is fine but top-end speed will not overwhelm defenders. Defensive backs are consistently stride for stride with him down the field if they do not lose leverage quickly at the line of scrimmage. Felton's frame appears wiry on tape, combined with the lack of play strength, which can lead to him playing mostly in the slot in the NFL.
In conclusion, Tai Felton projects as a slot/movement Z receiver with quick route runner and separation abilities. If paired with a true number-one receiver, he can find success on the lesser defenders on the opposing defense. He is an adequate NFL wide receiver with a solid ceiling to buy into.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 186
HAND: 8⅞"
ARM: 30⅜"
WINGSPAN: 72¾"
40-YARD DASH: 4.37
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: 39.5"
BROAD: 10'10"
POSITIVES
— Locates and exploits soft spots within zone coverage.
— Quick route runner and a natural separator.
— Short-area burst/acceleration at the top of his route.
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NEGATIVES
— Does not possess top-end speed to be a consistent vertical threat.
— Thin, wiry frame and lacks desired play strength for a perimeter receiver.
— Physical coverage disrupts timing and pushes him off the route path.
Donovan Jackson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Minnesota Vikings IOL
Alex Kay
Apr 21, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings selected Ohio State IOL Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Donovan Jackson is a three-year starter at left guard inside the Buckeyes' 54-48 run-pass split, multiple-run scheme offense centered around zone and pin-pull with gap principles mixed in. Jackson has a well-rounded, muscular and lean build with good arm length, solid athletic ability and play strength.
Jackson is best as a downhill run-blocker, being thick and heavy on vertical double-teams with connected elbows and hips to generate displacement. He is a functional puller who can seal or kick the end man on the line of scrimmage and has a good feel on when to stay or release on zone combinations. He brings a physical presence and strains hard to finish once latched. Jackson runs into trouble against tightly aligned or head-up defenders where he tends to step out of his stance, misjudge his aiming points, and fall off of blocks quickly. He also will fail to redirect, reset, and recover from consistently compromising positions, usually being late.
Donovan Jackson Highlights
In pass protection, Jackson shows good lower half mobility and pad level to sink, brace, and root his feet against the bull rush while being adept at handling basic line games and stunts. He shows notable improvement in this area and spatial awareness to maintain levels when uncovered in 2024 compared to 2023. Jackson will be tardy to redirect against high-level sub-package rushers who can set him up with stutters and hesitations, but has flashes of an effective catch hand to slow down moves across his face.
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Overall, Jackson hasn't quite lived up to the hype as the nation's best guard coming out of high school largely due to a robotic playing style with some erratic footwork, but has the necessary build, raw strength and enough movement skills to compete for a job as a rookie and stick if he can continue to tighten up his game from the ground up.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 320
HAND: 9⅞"
ARM: 33½"
WINGSPAN: 83¾"
40-YARD DASH: NA
3-CONE: NA
SHUTTLE: 4.60
VERTICAL: 32.5"
BROAD: 8'11"
POSITIVES
— Solid play strength with flashes of more thanks to a muscular, well-rounded build, strong upper body and heavy hands.
— Can root his feet, brace and grind down the bull-rush with low pad level and tight, firm hands to help remain centered on the block.
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— Quickly delivers his punch to pass off the penetrator on stunts while being firm picking up loopers.
— Is thick and heavy on vertical double-teams with the play strength to generate displacement.
— Does a nice job of securing the first-level in the zone run game before releasing, using his eyes to track second-level movement before committing.
— Notable improvement in his anchor and processing skills from 2023 to 2024
NEGATIVES
— Has a robotic playing style with mediocre redirect and recovery skills.
— Still ironing out false steps in his footwork in the run game that throw off his aiming points and lead to quick penetration, especially against tight and head-up alignments.
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NOTES
— Born Dec. 4, 2002
— 5-star recruit and nation's top-ranked guard from the 2021 class, per 247Sports
