A look back on history.
The draft is officially in the rear-view mirror for the Minnesota Vikings. With a league-low five total selections, attention swiftly moved on to those players who did not hear their name called.
The Vikings have a history of unearthing some great undrafted talent. In recent years, the likes of Dwight McGlothern and Najee Thompson have made the 53-man roster. Ivan Pace Jr. was undrafted but quickly corralled one of the starting linebacker roles.
Going back a little bit further, team captain CJ Ham was invited for a trial at the 2016 rookie minicamp. After bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster, he has become an integral part of the Vikings offence.
Adam Thielen took slightly longer to solidify his spot in the team. Then, he put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was selected to two Pro Bowls.
Finally, there is the most successful undrafted free agent (UDFA) of all. John Randle was passed over by every team in the NFL before the Vikings brought him in. He paid them back with over 100 sacks in 11 seasons and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
This year’s candidates
Having reviewed the 20 UDFA signings the Vikings made this off-season, I have picked out the four who, in my opinion, have the best chance of making the team.
Max Brosner – Quarterback, Minnesota
This one is more to do with the current Vikings quarterback room than anything Brosner has done to elevate himself above his competition.
With just JJ McCarthy, the recently acquired Sam Howell and Brett Rypien under contract, Brosner will get plenty of opportunities in camp to show what he can do. A likely practice squad candidate to begin with, he could work his way on to the roster given time.
Silas Bolden – Wide receiver, Texas
With the departure of Brandon Powell, there is a need for a new punt returner in Minnesota. During his college career, Bolden returned 31 punts for 396 yards with two touchdowns.
Rondale Moore was signed in free agency and may get the first opportunity as the return man. But if Bolden can shine in training camp, he has a good chance to win the job and make the roster.
Logan Brown – Offensive tackle, Kansas
Brown is the jewel of the class. Ranking 12th out of all tackles at the Combine, it was a real surprise not to hear his name called. Despite some off-field issues, which saw a transfer from Wisconsin to Kansas, he seemed to have done enough to warrant an early Day 3 selection.
While the two tackle spots are securely held by Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, there is a definite need for a solid back-up swing tackle. That could be Brown.
Oscar Chapman – Punter, Auburn
Current punter Ryan Wright has had a couple of ordinary seasons. His inability to consistently pin teams inside the 20 is precisely why some competition has been brought in.
Chapman is an Australian who has come through the International Player Pathway Program. With 59 college games and an impressive 81 punts pinned inside the 20, this will definitely be a battle to watch.
