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The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was at the heart of the five-game win streak to end the 2025 season. Moreover, Minnesota was able to retain its defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, as he looks to carry over what his unit did last season into 2026.
Moreover, one potential need for the Vikings this offseason is at defensive tackle. Jalen Redmond has been a diamond in the rough signing for Minnesota. Still, they also cut ties with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason, so bolstering that position could be on the agenda with the NFL Draft approaching in April.
However, they could turn to free agency, as ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on March 20 that free-agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins fully intends to play this season. Nonetheless, the player is still rehabbing his foot injury.
As a result, FanSided’s Austen Bundy believes that the Vikings would be an ideal landing spot if Wilkins can prove that he’s healthy.
“The departures of DTs Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen will be felt in Minneapolis. Despite mediocre grades, the pair were veteran presences that will need to be filled,” Bundy wrote in his article published on March 22. “Youngsters like Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins can’t be expected to pick up that slack on their own.
“Wilkins would be a significant addition who is already familiar with the defensive style in Minnesota. He played for Brian Flores when he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins. A reunion could benefit the Vikings, especially when their dominant defense was the only thing keeping them afloat last season.”
Could the Vikings End Up Trading a D-Lineman?
While the Vikings are predicted to be a landing spot for Wilkins, Minnesota is also seeing one of their defensive lineman in the speculation mill as Jonathan Greenard is reportedly drawing interest from other teams.
With the draft a few weeks away, Zach Berman of The Athletic wrote in a March 20 article that the Philadelphia Eagles still have an interest in Greenard to help bolster their pass rush for the upcoming season.
“Edge rusher is a big position to watch, even with Ebiketie,” Berman wrote. “Greenard is challenging to predict because it requires compensation in a trade and with a new deal, but the interest is present.”
Two Teams Make Sense for Jonathan Greenard
The Vikings could receive a serious offer from a team keen on Greenard in the lead-up to the draft. Moreover, Alec Lewis of The Athletic revealed two potential landing spots that make sense for the Vikings pass rusher.
“I think over the course of the last week or last two weeks, it probably seemed more imminent than it was,” Lewis said on the March 18 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show.”
“I would say that the Minnesota Vikings have been very clear from the outset that they are doing this on their terms. So they are not going to trade a talented player that they’ve really liked having, Jonathan Greenard, unless it makes a lot of sense for them to do that.
“I would say the Philadelphia Eagles definitely still need edge rusher talent. I mean, they have Jalyx Hunt, they signed Arnold Ebiketie, they have Nolan Smith Jr., but to have another elite edge rusher, it’s part of the reason they were in on Jaelan Phillips. And then I think the Indianapolis Colts are kind of in a similar vein.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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