The Best Linebackers for Vikings to Target in Free Agency

The Minnesota Vikings have two significant linebacker decisions with one week to go before free agency: to re-sign or not […]

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The Best Linebackers for Vikings to Target in Free Agency

[The Best Linebackers for Vikings to Target in Free Agency]

New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (41) catches a ball in a drill during Mandatory Minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Giants Training Center in East Rutherford on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. © Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Dustin Baker

Mon, March 2, 2026 at 1:22 AM UTC·
6 min read

The Minnesota Vikings have two significant linebacker decisions with one week to go before free agency: to re-sign or not to re-sign Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr. If the club signs zero or one, it may need another linebacker from the open market. The following list provides the best candidates.

Here are the best LB options for Minnesota, ranked by fit, price range, and role.

The Vikings must be frugal in free agency because their salary cap space is teensy, so balancing youth and affordability, these are the top off-ball linebackers for Minnesota to examine.

Flores Fits Include Speed, Coverage, and Downhill Thump

Ranked from good to best, here’s the LB menu (No. 1 = Vikings’ best LB option).

[Noah Brown catches a pass in front of Micah McFadden during a game at MetLife Stadium. vikings free agent linebackers 2026.]

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) catches a pass Nov. 3, 2024 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during first-half action against the New York Giants. Brown secured the reception in front of linebacker Micah McFadden as Washington moved the ball through the air in the divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

5. Micah McFadden

Age: 26
2024 PFF Grade: 62.8
PFF Pass Coverage: 53.5
PFF Run Stopping: 66.0
PFF Pass Rush: 79.6
Estimated Market Value: $3-$4M

McFadden suffered a major foot injury in Week 1 of 2025, missing the rest of the season and requiring surgery. The timing couldn’t be worse — a contract year for the Wisconsin alumnus.

But when McFadden is healthy, the man can ball. The Giants employed him as a full-time starter in 2023 and 2024, where he tabulated 101 and 107 total tackles, respectively. Minnesota, under Brian Flores, loves linebackers who can get after the quarterback, and that’s McFadden.

He just turned 26, having more than enough time to start his career’s second chapter in Minnesota.

4. Devin Bush

Age: 27
2025 PFF Grade: 87.6
PFF Pass Coverage: 80.4
PFF Run Stopping: 87.3
PFF Pass Rush: 68.7
Estimated Market Value: $8-$10M

Pace Jr.’s future in Minnesota is uncertain, and his departure seems probable. In contrast, Wilson is expected to return after a strong 2025 season.

This could leave Flores entering 2026 with Blake Cashman and Wilson as his primary inside linebackers. This scenario raises concerns, as it involves two linebackers over 30, and Cashman has a history of injury-related absences.

This creates an opportunity for another linebacker, potentially Devin Bush.

Flores previously coached Bush in Pittsburgh in 2022, when he was the Steelers’ linebackers coach. A reunion would be logical, and Minnesota could acquire Bush on a two-year contract for approximately $18 million.

At 27, Bush is younger than both Cashman and Wilson. Last season with Cleveland, he recorded 125 tackles and 3 interceptions, offering Flores another experienced linebacker with bonafide production.

3. Nakobe Dean

Age: 25
2025 PFF Grade: 61.7
PFF Pass Coverage: 62.0
PFF Run Stopping: 42.9
PFF Pass Rush: 92.3
Estimated Market Value: $8-$10M

After an unexpected slide in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dean was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd Round, despite projections that placed him as an earlier pick.

Since joining the Eagles, Dean has played in 47 games, starting 27, and has recorded 226 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and one interception. His most productive season was in 2024, when he amassed 128 tackles and 3 sacks in 15 games.

Dean excels as a downhill attacker and demonstrates impressive pass-rushing and run defense abilities. However, his coverage skills have been less consistent than those of other linebackers of similar caliber.

2 Quay Walker

Age: 25
2025 PFF Grade: 48.5
PFF Pass Coverage: 44.9
PFF Run Stopping: 54.5
PFF Pass Rush: 62.0
Estimated Market Value: $8-$10M

Sometimes, PFF doesn’t love certain linebackers — like Roquan Smith during the Chicago Bears days — and Walker is a recent example. But he’s an outstanding tackler, logging over 100 in each of his four seasons as a pro.

[Quay Walker lines up on defense during a Packers game at State Farm Stadium.]

Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) lines up on defense Oct. 19, 2025 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during a game against the Arizona Cardinals. Walker positioned himself before the snap as Green Bay’s defense prepared for the next play in the regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Meanwhile, at least one former Packers player joins the Vikings’ roster per offseason. Perhaps that will be Walker this go-round.

The Athletic‘s Daniel Popper on Walker: “A first-round pick in 2022, Walker has premium athletic traits, with the speed to carry vertical routes in coverage, particularly as a middle-of-the-field runner in Cover 2. He has good instincts and reactions as an underneath zone defender when he can drive on checkdowns. Overall, though, Walker has not yet lived up to his draft slot.”

“He is sometimes late to diagnose against the run, which allows interior offensive linemen to climb up to him at the second level. He can get swallowed up as a blitzer — he ranked 35th in pass-rush efficiency among off-ball linebackers with at least 50 pass-rush snaps. The potential is there. When Walker diagnoses against the run and triggers, he can fire downhill and be disruptive in that phase.”

1. Leo Chenal

Age: 25
2025 PFF Grade: 75.1
PFF Pass Coverage: 72.6
PFF Run Stopping: 76.2
PFF Pass Rush: 57.2
Estimated Market Value: $5-$7M

Since getting drafted by Kansas City in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Leo Chenal has played in 65 games, starting 44. Although his defensive role has been somewhat limited, never exceeding 450 snaps in a single season, a full-time starting opportunity could unlock his full potential, much like Harrison Phillips thrived after transitioning from a rotational role with the Vikings (from Buffalo).

[Justin Fields throws a pass while pressured by Leo Chenal at Arrowhead Stadium.]

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) throws a pass Sep. 24, 2023 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, during second-half action against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fields released the ball under pressure from linebacker Leo Chenal as Chicago tried to generate offense in the regular-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports.

His full PFF body of work:

2025: 75.1

2024: 81.5

2023: 84.0

2022: 70.3

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