MN Vikings Front Seven Ranked… No. 1 in NFL?

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Jonathan Allen
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Last season, the Minnesota Vikings transitioned the edge rush to a pair of new faces in the form of Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. That decision worked out and both have since earned contract extensions. They also drafted Dallas Turner out of Alabama No. 17 overall.

That same offseason, the front office also inked former Gopher Blake Cashman, to play alongside 2023 UDFA-turned-starter, Ivan Pace Jr., who’s since become a Viking fan favorite. And during the 2024 regular season, Minnesota’s investment on defense began to immediately pay dividends.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Together, the fivesome above accounted for 34 of Minnesota’s 48 sacks last season, led by Greenard and VanGinkel, who put up 23.5 all by themselves. They also claimed 1/3 of the team’s tackles (342/1094).

But even after the successful construction project last season, there was one clear weak spot on the front seven and it was up the middle of the defensive line. So, during the 2025 offseason, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah went back to work.

Defensive additions cement Minnesota Vikings front seven

This spring, the Minnesota Vikings replaced Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery with Pro Bowl caliber interior defensive linemen, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, upgrades that, on paper, should lift the Vikings defense both against the run and especially the pass.

Longtime football analytics guy, Warren Sharp (Sharp Football) agrees. On Monday, he ranked the MN Vikings front seven as the best in the entire league, up 24 spots from 2024.

The biggest mover across our entire rankings was the Minnesota front seven, which jumped 24 spots to No. 1 this year. The Vikings added both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to a defensive front that finished sixth in pressure rate and fourth in sacks last season. 

Warren Sharp – Sharp Football

It’s certainly a shock to see the Minnesota Vikings front seven ranked as the best in the sport. If anything though, it’s a reflection of just how close they were to having one of the most dominant defenses in the league last seaosn

The edge rushers and linebackers were already in place. Harrison Phillips is a legitimate piece and remains as such. But now, the additions of Hargrave and Allen should make the 2025 Vikings defense look more like the purple people eaters than anything we have seen in a long time.

Of course, both Allen and Hargrave are in their 30s and come with injury concerns. After eight relatively healthy NFL seasons, Hargrave played just three games for San Francisco last year. He tore his right triceps and finished with just one sack and seven tackles. He’s now 32 years old and will have to remain on the field for the Vikings.

Related: Bears Nearly Drafted JJ McCarthy Over Caleb Williams with No. 1 Pick

Allen spent the first eight years of his career with Washington. Now he’s 30 years old and coming off an eight game season in which he tore his pectoral muscle. He finished with an underwhelming three sacks in his limited games played last season, part of 19 total tackles.

But Minnesota’s training staff clearly likes where both guys are at physically, opinions that head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the organization hold in the highest (damn near cocky) regard. And if the Vikings’ new interior tandem can stay healthy though, then their latest defensive investment should prove more than worth it.

Is the MN Vikings front seven for real?

Beyond just the new additions though, Minnesota has depth to both push and back them. We already mentioned Dallas Turner, who finished with three sacks in his rookie season and has unlimited room for growth, given his freaky athletic profile.

There could be more from talents who pop at camp too, including youngsters like Bo Richter and Gabriel Murphy as well. The Minnesota Vikings also used a fifth round pick this April on Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, one of the most athletic late round picks in the draft.

Inside linebacker Kobe King comes in as a sixth round pick. They also went out and got a deal done with veteran free agent linebacker, Eric Wilson, and he already has familiarity here.

In short, the Vikings are in a position to make noise in the NFC North. If new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy can shoulder the load offensively, this is a defense prepared to win football games.

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