The Minnesota Vikings took last offseason to address the edge rusher position and it paid major dividends.
They were the fifth-best scoring defense, fifth-best in sacks, and second-best rushing defense in the National Football League. Adding Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner fixed the inconsistent pass rush they had in 2023.
Both Greenard and Van Ginkel were voted starters in the Pro Bowl Games and Turner was a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who flashed during the season. Even with the massive additions they made last year, there could be one that elevates them to another level.
Could the Vikings trade for Myles Garrett?
The edge rusher position isn’t one that the Vikings need right now, but it’s not every day that a future Pro Football Hall of Fame edge rusher is potentially available. On Monday morning, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett requested a trade.
Garrett, 29, has been considered one of the best edge rushers in the NFL for the past half-decade plus. He was the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Brown and he ‘s been terrorizing offensive linemen ever since.
In his career, Garrett notched 14.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles with 102.5 sacks and 20 forced fumbles in his career. He has the highest pass rush win rate at 24.4% over the past three seasons.
It’s unquestionable that Garrett would be a positive addition to any franchise. He’s arguably the best defensive player in this generation. The question is a different one: would he be worth adding considering the cost?
The edge rusher group is arguably the strongest position on the Vikings right now. You could argue wide receiver and offensive tackle as well, but it’s an interesting question.
Let’s start here: what would the cost be? The start is two first-round picks. With the limited draft capital the Vikings have, that would be a tough sell, especially because it would mean just three draft picks in 2024 and down to just five in 2026 if they traded their next two first-round picks.
It’s a fair price to pay for a player like Garrett, and you could argue that two first-round picks isn’t enough. However, he would bring you everything that you could ever want for that cost.
If the Vikings were to do this, they would have to know that Garrett would elevate their defense to a Super Bowl level immediately. They need draft capital to build up the youth on the roster. Should they do it? That’s up to you to decide, but don’t expect the Vikings to make the move.
