Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revealed why he extended Andrew Van Ginkel and it's not just about football
When the Minnesota Vikings signed edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel to an extension on Tuesday, it came somewhat out of left field. What was most surprising about it was that it was for just one year. The dollar amount was also hefty, but it's essentially $17 million per year when you combine his one remaining […]
When the Minnesota Vikings signed edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel to an extension on Tuesday, it came somewhat out of left field. What was most surprising about it was that it was for just one year. The dollar amount was also hefty, but it's essentially $17 million per year when you combine his one remaining year with the extension.
The defense is going to be in a better place now and in the future, especially at edge rusher. The trenches are going to be in a better spot this year and beyond.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks Andrew Van Ginkel contract extension
The reasons behind the Van Ginkel extension are both obvious and not certain, He was a second-team All Pro and a starter in the Pro Bowl Games in his first season with the Vikings after he earned 11.5 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made an appearance with Paul Allen on KFAN discussing the extension and one piece stood out: foundational players.
"You always want to have foundational players. We call them, program players that meet the needs of your culture, meet the needs of your scheme fits, and then from a talent standpoint, obviously, we've seen what he was able to do. And for agency, we actually tried to sign into a three year deal. There was another team that came in and offered a two year deal that we had to compete with. So you try, and you obviously always want the longer term to get deal as much as possible, knowing that if he plays well, this is the type of thing that you're going to be able to do. So look, you know, we're excited to add a year, and also, really to reward him for the year he had, so he would make more money this year and and we're excited about that group."
Considering that Adofo-Mensah talked about him as a foundational player, initially offering him a three-year deal, but having to compete with a shorter term explains a lot. If the Vikings had signed Van Ginkel to a three-year, $43 million contract, it would have been a really solid deal. Plus, having four void years already built into the deal was an important factor in the extension.
It also seems a little weird that he was called a foundational player, especially since you wouldn't necessarily think of him that way. However, foundational means multiple things, including being a great culture guy.
It also doesn't signal anything for Dallas Turner, as Adofo-Mensah said they are very high on the group as a whole.
Once we get contract details about Van Ginkel, we will understand more on how it impacts the team. As things sit, it's a great move for the Vikings.
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