The Vikings’ Bulldog at Linebacker Needs a Huge Week

Ivan Pace Jr. is the Vikings’ bulldog at linebacker. He’s unusually aggressive and physical at a position that attracts people who boast those some attributes.

What’s been missing has been consistent growth. Worse yet, he may have been declining over these past several years, failing to shore up the deficiencies in his coverage. There were then the missed tackles that led to him getting bumped down from LB2 to RB3 in favor of veteran add Eric Wilson. Very few on that defense needs a huge week in the same way as Pace.

The Vikings’ Bulldog ‘Backer Needs to Step Up

No matter how this thing goes, Ivan Pace has been a fantastic success.

Pace has started a pile of games across three seasons. As an undrafted pickup, Pace has done well by sticking around, helping on specials, and getting into plenty of snaps for Brian Flores.

Most undrafted young fellas get axed before long. Even living on the practice squad can be deemed a success for plenty of undrafted players. Not so with Pace.

So, why the pessimism? Why the insistence on him needing a huge week?

Well, he’s now the LB4. Blake Cashman and Wilson remain, gobbling up the LB1 and LB2 job along the way. The 2026 NFL Draft then featured going for the long-and-strong Jake Golday in the 2^nd. He’s a rangy, physical player who is going to surprise onlookers with how much work he earns in his debut NFL season. Pace may therefore be left a lesser role after already seeing his role diminish across the past pair of seasons.

Consider, as well, that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn’t in town any longer. GM Nolan Teasley is coming over from the Seahawks, a franchise that’s well-known for terrific defensive football. What does the new front office executive think of the small ‘backer with snarl?

Part of the cruel reality of training camp is that bodies go down. Guys get hurt, creating voids in the lineup that didn’t exist just a few weeks ago. Is there an open spot somewhere within the NFL’s other 31 teams to play more at linebacker? A trade isn’t that hard to foresee.

Again, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious path toward playing time in Minnesota short of injury. Special teams will remain central to what he’s going to offer but does the cap charge — $3.52 million (OTC), the entirety of which could get wiped off the books – make sense if he’s only doing specials work?

Pace is a young player who is at his best when allowed to be really aggressive. Upon first glance, that basic description means seeing what should be a perfect marriage between Flores and Pace. The reality, though, is that Flores craves being unpredictable.

Look at edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel. The edge rusher could be sent forward all the time but isn’t. Look at safety Josh Metellus. He, too, could be sent forward all the time but he isn’t. Why? Because being aggressive is just a means to an end; being unpredictable due to being multiple better fits the Flores ethos than just plain ol’ aggression.

Ivan Pace, with his limitations in coverage, is reasonably predictable: he’s almost certainly going to go in a certain direction and it’s not backwards. The other side knows that when seeing the linebacker on the field and can therefore plan accordingly. Problems that give rise to predictable solutions aren’t as potent as problems with an uncertain solution.

Now, all of the dot connecting can come to a screeching halt if the ‘backer shows huge growth. The Vikings’ opening preseason game involved some fantastic run defense from Mr. Pace (so says PFF alongside some of the film clips). That’s a nice step but then he needs to offer more.

Consider a trio of factors that would make Pace a compelling fit for the final roster:

1) Sensational Run Defense and an Unusual Level of Blitz Aggression
2) All-Out Effort on Specials that Means Gaining Field Position
3) At Least Passable Ability to Hang in Coverage, Creating a Possibility to Start if Needed

Seeing Ivan Pace tick off all the items on checklist will mean that he’s not going anywhere for the 2026 season. Seeing Ivan Pace show evidence of being able to complete his checklist throughout the upcoming week will therefore be huge.