Skip to Main Content
EyePartInnerEyePartCorner
player headshot

Minnesota Vikings DST

Player Outlook
Brian Flores calls one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL, with constant pressure that led to 49 sacks and 24 turnovers during the 2025 season. The Vikings also allowed just 19.6 points per game (seventh-fewest), 158.5 passing yards per game (second-fewest), and 318.5 total yards per game (third-fewest) in 2025. Flores re-signed with the Vikings, and they have since added more talent to their defense via the draft. After finishing as a top-12 scoring DST in 2025, there is no reason to believe Minnesota will regress in 2026. Draft them with confidence.

Fantasy News

  • Texans' Sione Takitaki: Gets opportunity with Texans

    Rotowire
    Houston is set to sign Takitaki to a contract, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Takitaki took part in a workout with the Texans on Friday, and he impressed enough to be offered a contract. The veteran linebacker should get a chance to log meaningful training camp reps due to fellow linebackers E.J. Speed (quadriceps), Jamal Hill (wrist) and Jake Hansen (ankle) all being sidelined by injuries. Takitaki has started 40 of the 86 regular-season games he has played in his career, though he's mostly worked in a rotational role since parting ways with Cleveland after the 2023 campaign.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Sione Takitaki: Gets look from Houston

    Rotowire
    The Texans hosted Takitaki (undisclosed) for a tryout Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Takitaki appeared in the final three games of the regular season for the Vikings in 2025 but sustained a hamstring injury in Week 18 against the Packers. The 2019 third-rounder is in search of a team that is looking to add depth to its linebacker corps.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Caleb Banks: Healthy for training camp

    Rotowire
    Banks (foot) is participating at the Vikings' training camp, Jason Harmon of Sports Illustrated reports. Banks has been unable to partake in team activities to this point after fracturing his foot during the lead-up to the NFL Scouting Combine, so he'll probably be playing some catch-up off the bat. With that said, Minnesota spent the 18th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Banks, so the team will likely expect him to be able to contribute right away as long as he's available.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Panthers' Cam Gill: Rejoining Carolina

    Rotowire
    The Panthers signed Gill to a contract Friday. This is not Gill's first stint with the Panthers, as he first suited up in Carolina in October 2024 after a stint on the Lions' practice squad. The linebacker spent this past spring in the UFL, where he led the league with 10.0 sacks in 2026. Gill will replace Nic Scourton (knee) on the active roster for the time being after the weak-side linebacker went down with an ACL injury during the first practice of training camp.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Caleb Banks: Expected back for training camp

    Rotowire
    Coach Kevin O'Connell said in June that Banks (foot), who did not participate in spring practices, is expected to be ready by the start of training camp, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports. Minnesota's rookies are set to report to training camp by July 26, with training camp kicking off for the full team Aug. 1. The Vikings took a cautious approach in the spring with Banks, whom Minnesota drafted 18th overall in April. He sat out spring practices while recovering from a broken bone in his foot, which the defensive tackle out of Florida sustained at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Monkell Goodwine: Gets cut with injury settlement

    Rotowire
    Minnesota waived Goodwine (undisclosed) with an injury settlement Tuesday, per the NFL's transactions log. If he doesn't get claimed by another team, Goodwine is on track to become an unrestricted free agent. The undrafted rookie would be available to play as soon as he has recovered from his injury.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Charles Demmings: Taken by Vikings

    Rotowire
    The Vikings selected Demmings in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 163rd overall. Demmings (6-foot-1, 193 pounds) heads to Minnesota after five years at Stephen F. Austin, serving as a starter for the final 3.5 seasons. He never recorded more than 18 tackles in a season, but he piled up 39 pass breakups and eight interceptions over 32 games through his final three years. With a 4.41 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Demmings has the tools and experience to develop into a starter in the NFL, and his physicality should provide an immediate boost on special teams.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Eagles' Jonathan Greenard: Dealt to Philadelphia

    Rotowire
    The Eagles have traded a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as well as a 2027 third-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Greenard (shoulder) and the 244th overall pick of this year's draft, Lindsey Young of the Vikings' official site reports. Greenard also is signing a four-year extension worth up to $100 million with his new team, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz. The veteran is coming off a lackluster 2025 campaign in which he recorded just 38 tackles (19 solo), including 3.0 sacks, across 12 regular-season appearances, but he totaled 24.5 sacks across the 2023 and 2024 seasons and will now be a prime bounceback candidate under Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Greenard is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery undergone in December.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Jaylon Hutchings: Cut by Minnesota

    Rotowire
    The Vikings waived Hutchings (undisclosed) with a non-football injury designation Tuesday. Hutchings went undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2024 and has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL contest.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Ivan Pace: Signs as restricted free agent

    Rotowire
    Pace signed a one-year contract with the Vikings on Monday. No organization submitted a better offer sheet for Pace's services in the restricted free agency window. As such, the linebacker has signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract to remain with the Vikings through the 2026 season. The 25-year-old was a reliable depth piece in 2025, playing heavy snaps to start the year before returning to the reserve role that he will likely maintain in 2026.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Jalen Redmond: Inks tender with Vikings

    Rotowire
    Redmond officially signed his exclusive rights free-agent tender with Minnesota on Tuesday, Howard Balzer of USA Today reports. Redmond will officially remain with the Vikings on a one-year deal after a breakout campaign in 2025. The defensive tackle totaled 62 tackles (33 solo), including 6.0 sacks, with five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games and starting 15 of them.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Stephon Gilmore: Hanging it up after 13 seasons

    Rotowire
    Gilmore announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Gilmore will hang up his cleats after a rather impressive career, most notably being selected as a first-team All-Pro twice while also winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. The cornerback compiled 617 total tackles (521 solo), 149 passes defensed, including 32 interceptions, while also adding eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over 180 regular-season contests with the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts, Cowboys and Vikings. Gilmore was also a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots in 2018.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Bengals' Jonathan Allen: Coming to Cincinnati

    Rotowire
    Allen and the Bengals agreed to terms on a two-year, $26 million deal Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 31-year-old defensive lineman from Alabama is set to join the Bengals after spending his 2025 campaign with the Vikings. Allen has appeared in 25 regular-season games over the last two seasons, recording 87 total tackles, including 6.5 sacks. Additionally, he earned Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022 while playing for the Commanders. Now in Cincinnati, Allen is expected to operate as the Bengals' top interior defensive lineman during the 2026 season.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Packers' Javon Hargrave: Inks two-year deal with Green Bay

    Rotowire
    The Packers agreed to terms with Hargrave on a two-year, $23 million contract Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Hargrave was released by Minnesota in a cost-cutting move earlier Wednesday. He quickly lands back on his feet with the division-rival Packers. Now 33 years old, Hargrave remains productive after accruing 52 tackles (18 solo), including 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season contests in 2025. He figures to slot in at nose tackle for Green Bay.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Harrison Smith: Released by Vikings

    Rotowire
    Minnesota announced the release of Smith with a post-June 1 designation Wednesday, Craig Peters of the team's official site reports. The transaction is largely procedural, as it allows the Vikings to avoid a $25 million base salary guarantee for 2026 in Smith's contract. Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports reports that Smith has not yet made a decision regarding whether to return for a 15th season in the NFL, but if he does decide to play in 2026 a reunion with Minnesota would seem likely. Across 15 regular-season appearances in 2025, Smith logged 54 tackles (37 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 defensed passes (including two interceptions), a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Javon Hargrave: Let go by Vikings

    Rotowire
    Hargrave is slated to be released by Minnesota on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Hargrave's release doesn't come as a surprise, as the team informed him of the planned transaction in early March, and a trade never seemed likely to materialized. The veteran defensive tackle stands to draw solid interest as a free agent.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Tavierre Thomas: Returning to Minnesota

    Rotowire
    Thomas is re-signing with the Vikings on a two-year, $4.6 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Thomas played all 17 regular-season games with Minnesota in 2025, operating as a versatile depth option at cornerback and a key special-teams contributor. The eight-year veteran projects to handle a similar role over the next two seasons.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Eric Wilson: Inks long-term deal with Minnesota

    Rotowire
    Wilson and the Vikings agreed on a three-year, $22.5 million contract with $12.5 million fully guaranteed Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Wilson made his return to Minnesota in 2025 after leaving the team following the 2020 campaign. The linebacker stepped up his production with the Vikings, recording 115 total tackles (60 solo), which was his highest total since 2020, while also notching a career-high 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. As a result of the monster year, he now has been rewarded handsomely with a lucrative three-year deal.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Jonathan Allen: Slated to be released

    Rotowire
    The Vikings are expected to release Allen in the coming days, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Allen inked a three-year, $51 million deal with the Vikings last offseason, but Minnesota is way over the salary cap and needs to make cost-cutting moves. In releasing Allen, Minnesota would clear $6.5 million in cap space but also retain more than $17.3 million in dead money. In his lone season with the Vikings, Allen started all 17 regular-season contests, recording a career-high 68 tackles (29 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery on 76 percent of the defensive snaps.
    ... See More ... See Less

  • Vikings' Jalen Redmond: Tendered by Minnesota

    Rotowire
    The Vikings placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Redmond on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Redmond will be back with Minnesota for the 2026 campaign after having a breakout second season with the Vikings. He started 15 of 17 regular-season contests in 2025 and recorded 62 tackles (33 solo), including 6.0 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble on 74 percent of the defensive snaps.
    ... See More ... See Less
Show more Fantasy news