It’s crazy to think how much better Minnesota fans can view the Vikings linebackers with the signing of a UDFA. Last season, Minnesota stole the draft by signing Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. to a UDFA contract. Pace Jr. went on to start for Minnesota and become one of the best young linebackers in the game.
Led by Pace Jr., Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 linebacker rooms in the NFL, and the Vikings have the 10th-best room.
Undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr. was one of the best stories of the 2023 season after winning a starting role in the Vikings’ defense and earning a 77.7 PFF coverage grade. They are pairing him with Blake Cashman this season, with the former fifth-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft coming off a career year in 2023 (82.1 PFF grade).
Pace Jr. and Cashman will form a younger but formidable presence as linebackers for Brian Flores and the Vikings. Minnesota also signed Andrew Van Ginkel, but he is more of an Edge player. He is listed as a linebacker in some places. Brian Asamoah II was supposed to become the next starting linebacker for the Vikings, but he has yet to come into his own fully. He’s not a terrible backup option for the Minnesota defense, though.
Past Pace Jr., Cashman, and Asamoah II, the Vikings linebacker depth is not great. There are some players who do not have much experience, and that could be a place Minnesota looks toward filling in free agency if an injury would occur.
