UDFA Luiji Vilain named as a player to watch for Vikings

Don’t sleep on Vilain.

Undrafted rookie free agent Luiji Vilain is a player few are talking about that could make a legitimate impact for the Minnesota Vikings.

And that impact could come right away.

The Athletic’s Chad Graff listed the former Wake Forest defensive end as the best UDFA fit for the Vikings and a player to watch in 2022. People tend to snub their noses at players that go undrafted, as if they’re undesirable leftovers on the market.

Well, the individuals with that opinion obviously never experienced the euphoric mouth splendor of leftover meatloaf or chili. Kurt Warner, James Harrison, John Randle and some of the best players throughout NFL history never heard their name called off a draft board.

So many impactful legends over the years would be considered by some as “leftovers.”

Vilain, the former Wake Forest defensive end, faced some setbacks in his collegiate career due to injuries. So the sample size for NFL teams to go on was a bit limited heading into the 2022 NFL draft.

However, he did manage to impress in his first year of stability last season after transferring to play for the Demon Deacons. He finished the season with eight sacks, nine tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Here’s to hoping he packed a big lunch because there will be plenty of work awaiting him in Eagan. He’s clearly an athletic specimen with surprising strength and speed when coming off the edge.

Danielle Hunter missed most of last season with a pec injury, and a back injury kept Za’Darius Smith out for the whole year. Vilain is a player that could work his way into the rotation as a reserve edge rusher for the Vikings in his first season.

You can never find enough guys capable of making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Vilain could be one of those players, even with the UDFA tag attached to his name.

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