Vikings sign undrafted free agent the rest of the NFL forgot about during the draft
Not only did the Minnesota Vikings walk away with an extremely talented 2023 draft class, but the team was also able to find a forgotten gem after the NFL’s annual event. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikes’ scouting department deserves a ton of credit for identifying the best undrafted free agent in this year’s […]
Not only did the Minnesota Vikings walk away with an extremely talented 2023 draft class, but the team was also able to find a forgotten gem after the NFL’s annual event. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikes’ scouting department deserves a ton of credit for identifying the best undrafted free agent in this year’s crop.
Army EDGE Andre Carter II was highly touted heading into the draft. He earned third-team AP All-American honors in 2021 after registering 15.5 sacks for the Black Knights. His 6’6” 256-pound frame had many draft experts label him as a player expected to come off the board in Day 2.
However seven rounds came and went without Carter hearing his name called. The draft ended with Carter ranked as the second-best player on Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board. Minnesota jumped at the opportunity to ink him in what could be a regret the 31 other teams will have to live with for a long time.
Perhaps Carter’s draft slide can be attributed to a 2022 season in which he failed to match the elite productivity from the season before. In 2022, Carter totaled 41 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven TFLs and two pass breakups.
When turning on Carter’s tape it’s impossible to ignore his athleticism at his size. He has all of the physical tools to become a premier pass rusher in the NFL, but his skills are in need of some sharpening from a technique perspective.
Carter enters a Vikings linebacker room with plenty of question marks. Minnesota added Marcus Davenport in free agency as an attempt to boost their pass rush. Also in the room is Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, though Smith and the team have been at odds this offseason.
With a strong showing in training camp, Carter will have an opportunity to crack the team’s 53-man roster. In doing so, he will also make 31 general managers across the NFL toss and turn at night thinking about what could have been.
