The Minnesota Vikings may have found a difference maker on defense with this late-round pick.

The Minnesota Vikings have undergone many changes on defense over the last several seasons. Harrison Smith is the only tenured player left on the once-vaunted defense of the Mike Zimmer era. The team has brought in a group of young players to hopefully grow and develop into pivotal franchise pieces with their eyes set on the future.

General manager Kwesi-Adofo Mensah has been able to find impact players late in the NFL Draft on numerous occasions so far in his tenure with the Vikings. Bringing in Ivan Pace Jr as an undrafted free agent last year is paying off in huge ways. 2022 sixth-round pick Jalen Nailor seems to be taking strides this offseason to become an explosive wide receiver next to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and 2023 fourth-round-pick Jay Ward has been utilized as a key contributor on special teams and rotated between both cornerback and safety in training camp.

So far this preseason, Mensah has found another late-round player that could immediately impact the Vikings' defense. Seventh-round pick Levi Drake Rodriguez out of Texas A&M Commerce is making a solid case to make the initial 53-man roster in training camp and has showcased why he is a home wrecker along the defensive line.

Rodriguez was taken with the 232nd pick in the seventh round in this past April’s NFL Draft and has one of the most incredible and exciting NFL Draft call moments you will ever see. After just one preseason game, he is making waves on the Vikings' defense.

On Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders , Rodriguez totaled a pair of tackles, including a sack, but showed a constant ability to wreak havoc on the opposing offensive line. He has a bigger body at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, but he has exceptional speed and a quick first step. He was able to showcase dominance with his strength and size combined with his agility to take defenders away from his teammates or get in the backfield to make plays.

Rodriguez has been rotating a lot with the first and second-team defense and has a good chance at making the initial 53-man roster. If Rodriguez makes the team, the seventh-round pick could find his way into the starting lineup soon and once again give the Vikings a late-round steal, making impact plays on the roster.

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