Vikings’ rookie finds himself on a list any UDFA would want to be on, and his contract highlights that
Over the last four seasons, the Minnesota Vikings have kept 15 UDFAs on the initial 53-man roster, and this year will likely include more.
When former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in control of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster, they prioritized the undrafted free agency process. Over those four seasons, the Vikings kept 15 UDFAs on the initial 53-man roster, with a whopping seven last season.
This year, they still made the UDFA process a priority. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski signed a whopping 19 UDFAs and has already moved on from a few of them, choosing to go in a different direction.
Jacob Thomas receives praise ahead of OTAs
There are four UDFAs on the Vikings roster who got over $100k in fully guaranteed salary, with three of them getting the equivalent of a practice squad salary fully guaranteed. The one who didn’t in that group is James Madison safety Jacob Thomas. Bleacher Report called him the most exciting UDFA on the roster.
A small-school standout at James Madison, being an undrafted free agent shouldn’t shake Thomas—he was also a walk-on in college.
Bleacher Report
But the 6’1″, 212-pounder has been starting since his sophomore year, and Alec Lewis of The Athletic expects him to turn heads over the summer:
“Thomas fits the exact prototype of what defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks for in his safeties: experience, ball skills and a thumper. He makes plays in the box. He lines up in the deep parts of the field and follows the quarterback’s eyes. He darts in from the edge as a blitzer. Don’t be surprised if he finds some snaps with some of the top defenders on the depth chart come camp.”
Thomas has good size. He can play multiple spots in the secondary. And he makes up for what he lacks in elite athleticism with excellent instincts and hard-nosed play.
He’s unlikely to start as a rookie, but he has a real shot to make the roster.
Safety is an interesting position for the Vikings. Outside of Josh Metellus, they don’t have anything set in stone. Harrison Smith is currently MIA, Theo Jackson got benched last season, Jay Ward has flashed, but is in the final year of his deal, and third-round pick Jakobe Thomas is an unknown. Thomas is currently entering a position group with a lot of questions, and his profile fits what Brian Flores likes.
Never doubt a player with experience coming into Flores’ unit.