Pace burst onto the NFL scene in 2023, appearing in all 17 games and starting 11. Pro Football Focus rated him as the 17th-best linebacker that year among those with enough snaps to qualify. His follow-up seasons were rocky: hamstring injuries cut his 2024 campaign short, and in 2025 he struggled in coverage and saw a notable decline in run defense, finishing with limited playing time compared to his rookie year.
Last season, Pace logged 324 defensive snaps across 17 games (six starts) and contributed heavily on special teams, with 333 snaps there—up from 88 the prior year. In total, he played 45 Vikings games and started 27, but the trajectory suggested his role would be more of a reserve, primarily on special teams, in 2026.
Eric Wilson seized Pace’s starting role last season and later signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with Minnesota in free agency. Minnesota kept Pace on a value tender instead of releasing him, preserving first right of refusal if another team had extended an offer—an opportunity that did not materialize, keeping Pace in the Vikings’ fold for 2026.
The move aligns with Minnesota’s approach to building versatile, cost-effective depth. Pace’s return provides the Vikings with an experienced option at linebacker who can contribute on special teams and serve as a reserve in the defense, while giving the team flexibility as it continues to shape its 2026 roster.
