The Minnesota Vikings kick off their preseason slate on Saturday. Although the quarterback position is of the utmost intrigue, there are other roster spots to watch. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has hit on some UDFA’s in the past. There are a few that will be given time to shine against the Raiders.
Which UDFA’s can make an impact for the Minnesota Vikings?
Kevin O’Connell has already laid out the plan for his quarterbacks on Saturday. The Minnesota Vikings will start Sam Darnold. Rookie J.J. McCarthy will get a significant amount of run . 2023 draft pick Jaren Hall will see action as well. There are no UDFA’s at quarterback, but a few of them are looking to crack the 53-man roster. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis outlined a group that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Last year, the Vikings uncovered an undrafted free-agent gem in linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. This year, four players have impressed in camp. (Gabriel Murphy, edge; Jeshaun Jones, WR; Dwight McGlothern, CB; Owen Porter, edge). Murphy, an edge rusher from UCLA, has not practiced fully in recent days with an undisclosed injury. He has, however, earned rave reviews from Flores. McGlothern’s size and ball skills have excited coaches. Jones snags multiple passes a day and is likely to play major minutes Saturday. And Porter is a potential special teams contributor with defensive versatility. All of these players are vying for roster spots, and there hasn’t been a better opportunity for them to display their worth than Saturday against the Raiders.
Minnesota would love to unearth another version of Ivan Pace Jr. The crop they have at their disposal this season present a real opportunity to do that. The defense needs an influx of developed talent. Brian Flores will be looking for guys that can immediately step up and make plays.
With the passing of Khyree Jackson , the Minnesota Vikings lost a player that could have factored in at the cornerback position. Dwight McGlothern possesses similar size traits. If he can show a quick learning curve, a position that sorely needs help could find it. The third wide receiver position is largely up in the air. That would present an opening for Jeshaun Jones to work his way up the depth chart as well.
Although preseason action is typically boring, Minnesota brings plenty of storylines to the table this weekend.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local Minneapolis, MN
Most Popular
Comments / 0