Vikings sign edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel to a contract extension through 2026

The Vikings will retain a key piece of their defense through 2026, signing edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel to a contract extension on Tuesday.

The extension is for a single season and $23 million, $22.4 of which is guaranteed, according to a league source with knowledge of the deal.

Van Ginkel, who originally signed with the Vikings in March 2024 on a two-year deal worth up to $20 million, had the second-most sacks (11.5) and quarterback hurries (19) on the team last season behind fellow outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard.

Van Ginkel, 29, had three double-sack games last season — against the Lions, Titans and Seahawks. He was the NFC defensive player of the week after the Seattle game; his sacks were the only two against quarterback Geno Smith in the game.

Van Ginkel also returned two interceptions for touchdowns, including a 63-yarder against the Jets in Week 5 in London.

Van Ginkel was one of seven Vikings players to earn a Pro Bowl spot. It was his first time being selected, following the first season where he started all 17 games. He made a career-high 79 tackles.

“Everybody knows that he’s like a Swiss Army knife, middle linebacker on the edge, nickel, you name it,” Greenard said of Van Ginkel after the Jets game. “He’s just a special player, and he’s a guy who’s also been in a [Flores] system before, so he can help us out with certain things to expect out of offenses.”

Van Ginkel was originally drafted by the Dolphins as a fifth-round pick in 2019 when Brian Flores, now the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, was head coach. He spent five seasons in Miami, starting in 42 games out of 73 appearances.

Van Ginkel’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus of Rosenhaus Sports, was seen at TCO Performance Center in Eagan on Tuesday morning. It was the first day of the offseason program with practice open to the news media.

Rosenhaus also represents Vikings safety Josh Metellus, who is in a contract year. Metellus did not want to discuss details of contract negotiations Tuesday, but said “the team knows where I stand.”

“Every time I come up here, I tell you how much I love it here and how much I love being part of this team and what we’ve built over the past three years,” Metellus said. “I would love to be here my whole career. All I can do is the 1,000 snaps I played last year, let the rest figure it out in the offseason and get ready to do it again this year.”

The Vikings inked deals with two other key defensive players earlier this offseason to keep them around: Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and safety Harrison Smith.

Murphy signed a three-year deal worth $66 million. Smith returns for his 14th season on a one-year, $11 million contract.

Running back Aaron Jones, also a client of Rosenhaus, signed a two-year extension with the Vikings in March worth up to $20 million.

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