Minnesota Vikings UDFA rankings highlight excellent scouting on defensive side of the football
The Minnesota Vikings have evolved their scouting process over the last couple of years. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made the undrafted free agent process a major process of his draft strategy. Last year, the Vikings found a starting linebacker in Ivan Pace Jr., a high-upside pass rusher in Andre Carter II and a special […]
The Minnesota Vikings have evolved their scouting process over the last couple of years. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has made the undrafted free agent process a major process of his draft strategy.
Last year, the Vikings found a starting linebacker in Ivan Pace Jr., a high-upside pass rusher in Andre Carter II and a special teams ace NaJee Thompson. Finding these players is very important to the backend of the roster but finding players who can be major contributors is a huge win.
The Vikings brought in 17 undrafted free agents, and now, only 13 remain on the roster. Who has stood out the most among them? There are a few who have a legitimate chance to make the roster.
1. OLB Bo Richter
Richter came out of nowhere to sit atop this list. Coming out of Air Force, Richter had played both outside and inside linebacker, but his best season came in 2023 when he was playing on the edge.
Richter took a major step toward making the team against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. He got a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass batted down. His explosiveness was evident around the edge and as a looper. Richter still has work to do but it was a great sight to see.
2. WR Jeshaun Jones
The Vikings gave Jones and Gabriel Murphy $225k in guaranteed money and Jones has looked really good throughout training camp. During the practices I attended, Jones continued to stand out. He was running crisp routes, attacking the football in the air, creating separation and catching passes with ease.
His path to the NFL has been interesting. He spent six years at Maryland mainly because he tore his ACL in both 2020 and 2021. Those injuries and some subpar testing helped him fall, but Pro Football Focus had Jones with a 93rd percentile Game Athletic Score (GAS) which measures in game athleticism. If he ends up making the team, Jones should theoretically work his way up to getting some playing time.
3. CB Dwight McGlothern
The cornerback position has been decimated this offseason. Khyree Jackson passed away at the beginning of July, Mehki Blackmon tore his ACL during the first training camp practice and Andrew Booth Jr. was traded. Those three were the biggest competition for McGlothern to earn a roster spot.
With the amount of talent having left the competition for a roster spot, McGlothern is taking advantage of it. He has gotten some first-team reps and the first one he received ended up being a pass breakup. McGlothern also finished with a 92nd percentile GAS score, which is significantly better than his relative athletic score.
4. OLB Gabriel Murphy
Murphy was the prized player in the undrafted free agent pool as the top undrafted free agent. The Vikings rewarded him with $225k guaranteed and he's looked really good so far during training camp practice. The main reason he falls down to fourth is that he's been hurt for over a week and is set to miss his second consecutive preseason game. As Mike Zimmer said, you can't make the club in a tub.
5. OLB Owen Porter
Porter wasn't heralded coming out of Marshall but he's made an impression at edge. No matter what unit Porter is playing on, he finds a way to make an impact. Even with Richter and Murphy, Porter could usurp both of them for a roster spot.
6. ILB Dallas Gant
Gant initially committed to Ohio State out of high school but failed to crack the starting lineup at linebacker. He transferred to Toledo where was first-team MAC along with playing a total of nearly 1,000 snaps on special teams. He finished with a team-high PFF grade on defense against the Raiders and showed some explosiveness.
7. OT Doug Nester
Nester has some inside-out flexibility but hasn't stood out in a major way. The flexibility could have him earn a spot on the practice squad.
8. OG Jeremy Flax
Flax is a massive man at over 340 lbs. and shows how the Vikings are prioritizing gap concept runs. He could end up on the practice squad.
9. DT Taki Taimani
With the defensive line in the shape it is, Taimani could still make a run at a roster spot, but practice squad is more likely. The Vikings did give him $95k guaranteed as a UDFA and they have the inside track on him in Oregon's OL coach A'Lique Terry, who was with the Vikings prior to heading to Eugene.
10. TE Trey Knox
Knox is an interesting player. He started at Arkansas as a receiver and is new to the tight end position. Knox was one of the Vikings UDFAs who tested highly in the GAS metric in the 94th percentile.
11. DT Tyler Manoa
Manoa is a defensive tackle but played left tackle in 2022 at UCLA before transferring to Arizona. That is very intriguing. The practice squad is his only possibility.
12. WR Ty James
James was a star at Mercer but hasn't looked up to par compared to his contemporaries. The FCS level is a few steps below the NFL so it's okay to see some struggles. He might be worth keeping on the practice squad.
13. OG Spencer Rolland
Rolland is the hometown guy from Apple Valley, MN which is around 15 minutes from TCO Performance Center. Rolland could potentially make the practice squad.
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