The 40 Most Important Vikings of 2026: No. 24 — Eric Wilson

The Minnesota Vikings’ first regular season game is less than six weeks away, and VikesNow is counting down the most vital players of 2026. After veteran cornerback James Pierre opened the Top 25, it’s time for another battle-tested defender: linebacker Eric Wilson.

The Vikings re-upped with Wilson for three more years this offseason, and he’s on tap to start next to Blake Cashman when the season kicks off against the Green Bay Packers.

Wilson Turned a Reunion into a Long-Term Job

Wilson’s Role in 2026

Wilson is back for more – – in a literal sense. He snuck into the starting lineup early last season and never relinquished the job, shoving Ivan Pace Jr. aside in his wake. This summer, Wilson won’t have to battle much for a starting spot. His three-year extension worth $22.5 million does the talking. That’s starting ILB money.

Wilson started 16 games, totaled 115 tackles, 6.5 official sacks, one interception, and four forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus credited him with six sacks and 37 pressures, both first among 88 qualifying off-ball linebackers, while his 52 defensive stops ranked ninth. His 72.9 run-defense grade and 70.2 pass-rush grade were solid, and he handled a hefty 965 snaps.

Coverage was the obvious scourge: a 36.7 grade, 76th among off-ball linebackers, plus a 99.6 passer rating allowed. Tackling was messy, too, with 22 misses. Still, Wilson proved he can blitz and create splash plays. In Brian Flores’s defense, that versatility matters, even if Minnesota must protect him somewhat in coverage on passing downs.

The Vikings basically need Wilson to do it again. He’s no longer known as a special-teams-first linebacker.

What Success Looks Like

Success looks like a continuation for Wilson. There’s a small chance that 2025 was an outlier – – that happens to athletes sometimes, popping up for one magnificent season before regressing to the status quo – – but Minnesota’s brass and coaching staff don’t think that’s likely. Money talks, and in this case, the extension speaks volumes about Wilson’s trajectory.

In case Wilson falters, the Vikings have Blake Cashman, rookie Jake Golday, the aforementioned Pace Jr., and veteran newcomers Jamal Adams at ILB. There are contingency plans.

But based on how Wilson jelled with Flores’s defensive setup, all signs point to another productive campaign for the 31-year-old.

What Could Make This Ranking Look Too Low – – or Too High

This ranking will be too low if Wilson takes yet another step inside the Vikings’ defense. After all, onlookers didn’t expect much from him in 2025 – – and then he led all inside linebackers in pressures and sacks. Whoodathunkit? Wilson’s 2025 numbers weren’t too far away from Pro Bowl consideration. If he improves once again, a Pro Bowl nod would be his ceiling.

Too high? The downside scenario involves Golday or Pace reclaiming defensive snaps and Wilson sliding toward a reduced rotational role. He has handled that type of hybrid defensive and special teams assignment before, although he was a substantial defensive contributor for Green Bay in 2024.

Overall, the safe assumption about Wilson’s 2026 campaign is running it back. There’s no reason to believe that he will decline so soon.

Next in the Countdown

From 40 to 24, here’s how we got to Wilson:

Jay Ward is up next at No. 23, a fourth-year defender with a chance to become a certifiable starter in 2026 if Harrison Smith doesn’t return. Ward finished the season unusually strong in 2025, so much so that he could start next to Josh Metellus when showtime arrives on September 13: Packers at Vikings.

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VikesNow Verdict: Wilson’s 2025 breakout came unusually late, but Minnesota clearly believes it was legitimate. His blitzing and knack for creating negative plays fit Flores’s system exceptionally well. Coverage and missed tackles remain concerns, and age makes another leap unlikely. Still, if Wilson supplies something close to last year’s pressure production while remaining available for 800-plus snaps, No. 24 will prove entirely reasonable. Book it.
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About The Author

Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is the co-founder and editor of VikesNow, a novelist, a writer at CBS Sports, and a political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders, is out now, along with his debut thriller, The Motor Route. He hosts VikesNow on YouTube and has followed the Minnesota Vikings intently since 1996. Guilty pleasures include peanut butter ice cream, The Sopranos, Basset Hounds, and The Doors.

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