​The Minnesota Vikings made a notable organizational shift this offseason at a particularly unusual moment. Despite having just locked him into a contract extension the previous year, the Vikings decided to fire general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January. The timing was curious, given that the front office had already spent significant time preparing for the upcoming draft class and with February’s NFL Scouting Combine looming. Nevertheless, the Vikings pressed ahead and did not look back. Months later, long after the 2026 NFL Draft had concluded, the team removed the interim tag from acting GM Rob Brzezinski, restoring him to a more traditional role as executive vice president of football operations and leveraging his cap-management expertise. In the wake of this shift, Minnesota hired Nolan Teasley away from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to assume the role of general manager.
Teasley has been in his post only since June 1 and has yet to leave a lasting imprint on the roster. Still, fans have been clamoring for change well before he accepted the position. The Athletic’s Vikings insider Alec Lewis recently published the outlet’s annual fan survey, which seeks to capture the sentiment of outsiders about the team. The poll spans a broad range of questions, including who fans want as the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2026—the answer being Kyler Murray.
The survey also touched on a topic that has vexed fans since the team traded Jonathan Greenard away during draft weekend: Should the Vikings add another edge rusher? The results were decisively clear. An overwhelming 79.6% of Vikings fans voted yes, expressing that Minnesota should bring in another pass-rusher before the season begins.
There are still several veteran edge rushers available in free agency who either have ties to the Vikings’ coaching staff or could make a significant impact in a rotational role within Brian Flores’ defense. I previously explored a number of potential Vikings targets at edge rusher.
Another notable takeaway from the survey is that 42.6% of the 3,029 voters named Andrew Van Ginkel as their favorite player not named Justin Jefferson among Vikings fans. In a surprising entry, All-Pro kicker Will Reichard ranked second with 17.8% of the votes. This reflects a broader discussion about the team’s identity and the players who resonate most with the fan base.