The start of the NFL season isn’t too far away now but there is still time to get some rankings in ahead of the 2026 season. The good folk over at Pro Football Focus have been doing just that. I previously looked at where PFF ranked the Vikings’ offensive playmakers and offensive linemen. For my third and final look at PFF’s rankings heading into the 2026 season, I will look at the Vikings defense.
Last season the Vikings offense struggled while the Vikings defense performed miracles to keep their team in games. It’s telling of how Brian Flores’ defense – and perhaps PFF grading – works, that while the offense had eight players rank inside the top 32 at their position the Vikings defense only had three!
There are some omissions from PFF’s lists that I think should be there, including Jalen Redmond and Byron Murphy. However, Flores’ whole mantra is about getting the best out of what he has available and success being about the scheme rather than having individual star players. That is evidenced further by all three of the players on the Vikings defense that do make the ranking all land in the 20s.
Whether in Houston or Minnesota, Cashman has generally performed at a strong level; since 2023, he slots 11th in overall PFF grade at the position (77.3). Yet it’s worrisome that his grades have fallen in each of the past two seasons, including to a 63.6 in 2025. Cashman had particular trouble in coverage, where his 12.3 yards per reception was the fifth-worst. A lot is on the line for Cashman as he enters a contract year, especially with the Vikings adding multiple linebackers this offseason.
Not helped by a series of some minor injuries, Blake Cashman hasn’t quite reached the levels he did in Houston before moving back home to Minnesota.
The former Golden Gopher who was born in Eden Prairie is still a very good inside linebacker and a vital cog in the Flores defense. Cashman is the chief communicator who makes everything flow as well as being excellent at coming downhill to make tackles. A fully healthy Cashman for 17 games could significantly climb these rankings and that’s just what the Vikings defense needs. Van Ginkel is a versatile edge defender and is one of just five players at the position to have spent more than 100 snaps in coverage in 2025. His production as a pass-rusher did dip last season, but he also missed time due to injury, and his 66.8 PFF pass-rush grade was still respectable. With Brian Flores back as the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, expect to see Van Ginkel dropping back into coverage plenty, and making an impact there as well as when he rushes the passer.
Andrew Van Ginkel is not your typical edge defender.
It’s a position that is usually all about rushing the passer, and good run defense is a bonus. Van Ginkel’s ability to drop into coverage is fairly unique and perfect for Flores as he looks to mastermind another good Vikings defense in 2026.
To be rubbing shoulders with the star names at this position Van Ginkel needs to be intercepting passes and taking them to the house as he did twice in 2024 on the way to winning second-team All-Pro honors. A ranking of 22nd is a fair placement for the 31-year-old in 2026. This season Van Ginkel has a very important role as a veteran as Minnesota will have to lean heavily on the young duo of Dallas Turner and Jake Golday.
Rodgers finally got a starting opportunity in 2025 and took full advantage of it. His 74.1 PFF coverage grade ranked 21st among qualified cornerbacks. He’s now earned at least a 70.0 coverage grade in all five seasons that he’s played in his career. The highlight of Rodgers’ 2025 season came in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he scored two defensive touchdowns and earned the first 99.9 game grade in PFF history.
Murphy is the Vikings’ best cornerback but Isaiah Rodgers had a better PFF grade last season and so makes their list. The problem for me is that the incredible game against the Bengals does a lot of the heavy lifting for all of Rodgers’ stats in 2025. He never hit those heights again and a ranking of 22nd feels generous.
He did have a reasonable season in a system that asks a lot of its cornerbacks. The addition of James Pierre means there will be competition for playing time; hopefully, that makes for a stronger Vikings defense.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance. 
Where Players on The Vikings Defense Land in PFF Rankings Heading Into 2026
Blake Cashman – LB Rank – 25th
Andrew Van Ginkel – Edge Ranking – 22nd
Isaiah Rodgers – CB Rank – 22nd
