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USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Wisconsin Badgers land in PFF's list of the NFL's top edge rushers ahead of 2025
Three Wisconsin Badgers land in PFF's list of the NFL's top edge rushers ahead of 2025 A trio of former Wisconsin Badgers appeared on ProFootballFocus' list of the top 32 edge rushers ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Led by Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, PFF's list includes former Badgers T.J. Watt, Andrew Van Ginkel and Nick Herbig. Watt, who is entering his ninth season representing the Pittsburgh Steelers, landed at No. 3 on the hierarchy behind Garrett and Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Watt earned the No. 3 designation ahead of San Francisco 49ers great Nick Bosa and Detroit Lions rising star Aidan Hutchinson in the top 5. In 17 starts at left outside linebacker for Mike Tomlin's crew, Watt tallied 60 total tackles (40 solo), 27 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, a league-best six forced fumbles and four pass deflections. The former Badger pocketed his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, was named second-team All-Pro and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Patrick Surtain II (winner), Trey Hendrickson and Garrett. Watt has also led the NFL in sacks three times at linebacker as arguably the most consistent defensive player since he was first named a Pro Bowler in 2018. Here's PFF's analysis of the superstar ahead of the 2025 campaign: "Watt is best known for his pass-rushing prowess, which was on full display once again in 2024. His 90.1 PFF pass-rush grade marked the fifth time in six seasons he earned a grade of 90.0 or higher. He also took home PFF Run Defender of the Year honors last season, backed by a 1.63-yard average depth of tackle and a 3.2% negatively graded play rate, the lowest among all box defenders in the NFL." The second Badger to make an appearance on the ranking is Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who earned a one-year, $23 million contract extension on April 29 for his contributions for Brian Flores' defensive unit during the 2024 season. The Wisconsin product totaled 79 tackles, 18 for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, six pass deflections, one forced fumble and two pick-sixes a season ago, enough to pocket him a Pro Bowl nod, second-team All-Pro selection and No. 7 finish in Defensive Player of the Year ballots. The former Badger displayed glimpses of his dominance from 2019-23 with the Miami Dolphins prior to his 2024 output with Minnesota. His overall emergence is unexpected following his fifth-round selection in the 2019 NFL draft. Here's what PFF's staff had to say: "Van Ginkel reunited with former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in Minnesota and delivered the most productive season of his career, recording 50 pressures for the second straight year and a career-high 11.5 sacks. His pass-rushing numbers could have been even higher if not for his frequent coverage responsibilities — he dropped into coverage 212 times in 2024, by far the most among edge defenders. Still, with three pick-sixes over the past two seasons, it's a skill set the Vikings are wise to utilize." The third and final Badger to secure a spot on PFF's list is Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig, a first-team All-Big Ten team member in 2022 and emerging playmaker behind Watt. In 13 total appearances, the Hawaii native tallied 22 total tackles (13 solo), 11 quarterback hits, 5 1/2 sacks, five tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Following a strong preseason, Herbig flashed his brilliance early in the season, including a three-tackle, two-sack performance in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. While he doesn't draw the headlines like some of his teammates, Herbig is a versatile player on a loaded defense. "No player embodied the 'pass-rushing specialist' role better than Herbig in 2024. The second-year pro was elite in limited snaps, earning a 91.5 PFF pass-rush grade — fourth among 109 qualifying edge defenders. However, he struggled against the run, grading out at 48.2 (101st), and will need to improve in that area to move up this list next season." All three will look to build off what they accomplished during the 2024 campaign with strong individual outputs this fall. Pittsburgh begins its season on Sept. 7 against the New York Jets, and Minnesota kicks off on Sept. 8 in Chicago. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings sign linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to 1-year, $23 million extension: Reports
Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is staying put in Minnesota. On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Ginkel and the Vikings agreed to a one-year extension worth $23 million. The deal guarantees Van Ginkel $22.4 million, per Schefter. The 29-year-old was entering the final season of the two-year deal he signed with Minnesota last offseason. 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. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025 Van Ginkel started in all 17 games for the Vikings last season and finished with a career-high 11.5 sacks, with 18 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits. He also recorded two interceptions, both resulting in touchdowns. He was on the field for the Vikings in 81 percent of their defensive snaps. Van Ginkel quickly became a key player in Minnesota's defense as the team went 14-3 before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game. After five seasons in Miami, Van Ginkel arrived in Minnesota as a familiar face to defensive coordinator Brian Flores from their time with the Dolphins. In 90 career games (59 starts), Van Ginkel recorded 28.5 sacks, 49 tackles for loss, and 76 quarterback hits with four interceptions, 27 passes defensed, and five forced fumbles. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2019.
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Which Vikings player is next in line for an extension? The 5 most likely candidates
One of the under-the-radar, no-nonsense traits of the Minnesota Vikings leadership team is the way it orchestrates new deals. Justin Jefferson's hefty contract? Secured without the hoopla. Christian Darrisaw's extension? The same story. Last week, superagent Drew Rosenhaus visited the TCO Performance Center and met with Vikings cap whiz Rob Brzezinski — and the rest was history. Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel signed a deal to stay in Minnesota for another season with barely a peep. A dream situation for @AndrewVanGinkel 🏠 — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 30, 2025 This summer won't see big-ticket items like Jefferson or Darrisaw brought to the table. Still, even with Van Ginkel's future finalized, there are some moves for the Vikings to make. Who's next? Here are five potential names with recent signings serving as a guide: Josh Metellus, S/LB Let's start with a statistic: Metellus was one of two NFL players last season to play 10 percent of his team's snaps on the line of scrimmage, as a slot corner, at safety and at linebacker. The other player to do it? Derwin James. Metellus is a one-man embodiment of what defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks for. It's versatility. It's aptitude. It's a chess piece that can be moved just about anywhere on the board. Metellus is a perfect extension candidate. First, he is still young, having just turned 27 in January. Second, his contract is set to void after the 2025 season. Third, he is one of the cornerstone leaders in a Vikings locker room that will need consistent voices when (or if?) Harrison Smith retires. And fourth, Metellus wants to remain in Minnesota. He signed his last contract in 2023, a $6 million guaranteed leap of faith by the team and a security play for Metellus. A similar three-year structure makes sense this time around. The question is: At what cost? Cam Bynum, who just departed for the Indianapolis Colts via free agency, netted essentially $26 million fully guaranteed for three seasons. The Detroit Lions' Kerby Joseph received a contract extension at a comparable value. Metellus' price might hover around $20 million over three years fully guaranteed, but the Vikings and Metellus' agent, Rosenhaus, should have a positive enough relationship to consummate a new deal. LIVE: @NoExcuses_23 talks to the media during the offseason program — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 29, 2025 Josh Oliver, TE Nothing about Oliver's game is sexy. Steely Dan's 'Dirty Work' could conceivably be about this tight end, who grapples with elite edge rushers every week. Two years ago, coach Kevin O'Connell was focused on improving the run game. The answer then? Adding Oliver, who looks so much like an edge rusher that one of the local media members mistook him for one in his initial news conference. Oliver has played more than 1,000 offensive snaps over the last two seasons. He held his own in T.J. Hockenson's absence in the early part of 2024. His pass-catching ability might still be a tad underrated. His blocking prowess always will be. His contract circumstances mirror Metellus' in that his initial three-year agreement is set to void after this season. The tight end depth behind him is unproven. Losing Johnny Mundt didn't (and shouldn't have) spurred headlines, but the Vikings staff winced at his signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team believes in what sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew and undrafted signing Ben Yurosek can be, especially under the tutelage of tight ends coach Brian Angelichio. However, neither player will be the force on the edge that Oliver is. Washington's John Bates signed a three-year extension in March worth around $11.5 million guaranteed. He and Oliver are both 28, and Oliver, who was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded run-blocking tight end, has a sensible argument to top him at around $12 million. Brian O'Neill, OT There might not be a more interesting Vikings contract consideration than O'Neill's. He is signed through 2026, so having this discussion now might be a tad early. It's important enough to talk through, though. The Vikings love O'Neill, and understandably so. O'Connell leans on him heavily for leadership, and O'Neill's voice carries more weight than most. That's because of his performance, durability and reliability. He has started 106 games since 2018. He partially tore his Achilles tendon late in the 2022 season, returned the following year and played 14 games, then stacked 17 more on top of that in 2024. Once Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL, O'Connell left O'Neill mostly on islands throughout the back half of the season, and O'Neill handled the challenge the way he often has, despite playing next to subpar sideboards at right guard. O'Neill's cap number for 2025 is around $26 million, which ranks as the third highest among all right tackles. That number will dip in 2026, but by then, O'Neill's agent may want a reworked contract. How should the Vikings proceed? It's a fascinating question given O'Neill's importance, his age (he turns 30 this fall) and the lack of an obvious replacement. As for what O'Neill could ask for, there aren't many comparable situations at right tackle. This spring, the Baltimore Ravens re-upped core left tackle Ronnie Stanley for $44 million fully guaranteed over three seasons. At right tackle, that would come close to the top of the market, but O'Neill would likely lie somewhere near $40 million guaranteed. C.J. Ham, FB Last season, the Vikings were more efficient running the football with Ham on the field, but the numbers weren't starkly different. Minnesota used 21 personnel at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL, but that was still less than 15 percent of their offensive snaps. The case for Ham is more about what he brings to special teams and the locker room. He'll turn 32 this summer, and while his offensive snap count has increased each season, his impact in the run-blocking and pass-catching phases varies. His contract is up after the 2025 season, so if the Vikings believe in his influence as much as the coaches say they do, an extension worth around $2 million for 2026 seems appropriate. Blake Cashman, LB Cashman is a year younger than Van Ginkel, but this conversation isn't wildly different from Van Ginkel's. The Vikings signed both in the spring of 2024. Both had durability concerns. Both were stars in their debut season in Minnesota. Van Ginkel earned second-team All-Pro honors, and Cashman was snubbed from the Pro Bowl. Before Van Ginkel signed his extension, his contract ran through 2026. That's how Cashman's is. His cap number for 2026 ranks 19th among NFL off-ball linebackers. Securing Cashman into 2027 feels appropriate, even if his injury history gives pause for how sustainable his 2024 production was. More than anything, this would be validating what Cashman is capable of. The New England Patriots signed linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year contract worth $11 million annually this spring. That's about $3.5 million more than Cashman's annual value, and Cashman's coverage success (especially in Flores' defense) warrants a reassessment. (Photo of Josh Metellus: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
CBS News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Vikings extend Pro Bowl edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel
The Minnesota Vikings and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel reached an agreement on Tuesday on a one-year, $23 million contract extension coming off his first Pro Bowl selection and a career-high 11 1/2 sacks last season. The deal, negotiated with the Vikings by Van Ginkel's agents Drew Rosenhaus and Jason Rosenhaus, includes $22.4 million guaranteed. The 29-year-old Van Ginkel tied with teammate Jonathan Greenard for fourth in the NFL in 2024 with 18 tackles for loss. Van Ginkel returned two interceptions for touchdowns with six passes defensed and one forced fumble in a breakout season, his first with Minnesota after signing a two-year, $20 million contract as a free agent following five seasons with Miami. The arrival of Van Ginkel and Greenard was instrumental in ramping up the pass rush for defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was the head coach of the Dolphins during Van Ginkel's first three years in the league. Van Ginkel was a fifth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin. Van Ginkel was also named to the All-Pro second team last season. The extension will also give Van Ginkel more time to mentor young rusher Dallas Turner, whom the Vikings traded up to draft in the first round last year. Turner and Van Ginkel have similar size and some comparative athletic testing, so the young linebacker is a natural fit to play Van Ginkel's role in Flores' defense.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin football standout linebacker earns major NFL payday
Former Wisconsin football standout linebacker earns major NFL payday The Minnesota Vikings awarded former Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel a one-year, $23 million contract extension on Tuesday. The deal, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, includes $22.4 million guaranteed. It is yet another major payday for the former Wisconsin standout after a breakout 2024 season. The deal extends his contract into the 2026 season, after he previously signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent last offseason. Van Ginkel had the best season of his six-year NFL career in 2024, totaling 79 tackles, 18 for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, six pass deflections, one forced fumble and two interceptions -- both of which he returned for touchdowns. Those totals earned him a Pro Bowl nod and Second-Team All-Pro selection, as well as a No. 7 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The former Badger previously spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. He was a consistent force on the team's defensive front during that time, averaging 50 tackles, 6.2 for loss, 9.5 quarterback hits and 3.4 sacks per season. That production, both in Miami and Minnesota, is far more than what was expected from Van Ginkel when the Dolphins selected No. 151 overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Van Ginkel's $23 million salary, when it comes into play next season, would rank 10th out of all NFL edge rushers. One other notable Wisconsin product is on that list: Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt ($28 million). Those two are part of a larger group of former Badger linebackers finding success in the NFL. T.J. Edwards, Zack Baun and Leo Chenal are all also fresh off strong 2024 campaigns. Van Ginkel played for two seasons for the Badgers (2017-18). He joined the program after one year at the Football Championship Subdivision (South Dakota) and one year in JUCO (Iowa Western). As a Badger, the linebacker totaled 99 tackles, 20 for loss, 12 sacks, two interceptions, five pass deflections and four forced fumbles. Even with that terrific production, it would have been challenging to predict his current level of success at the NFL level. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
